Echinops- when does it emerge?

[GardenGeisha]

I live in Salt Lake City, Utah, Zone 6ish. I am wondering whether my echinops plants made it through the winter. Should they be up yet, and if so, what should they look like if they are still alive? They did poorly last summer I have my doubts that they survived. I was hoping they might have self-sown, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[897tgigvib]

When I lived up in barely zone 4 Montana I recall the Echinops showing signs of life earlier than some, sometime in May.

That was 3 or 4 weeks before the usual last frost. One of the die back perennials.

 

[digitS']

That clump of dead thistles looks pretty bad until the pale green shoots begin to grow.

I wouldn't discount them right now because you aren't out of your season of frosts, right GardenGeisha?

The echinops in one of my gardens must be 20 years old. I've had a "careful" relationship with it for 18 of those years and tore it apart once to transplant here and there. Yeah, it is still growing fine. Once established, it is darn tuff.

Steve

 

[897tgigvib]

We used to cut them down to the nubs before winter.

 

[nelson castro]

Echinops flourish in ordinary garden soil, but it must be deeply dug and well manured before planting. A sunny, well- drained position in the flower border is needed. Propagate Echinops plants by taking root cuttings in the spring or by dividing them in the fall.

 

[GardenGeisha]

I think I may be seeing some signs of life in them. Yippee. Thanks, everyone.

 

[nelson castro]

The pleasure is ours. Glad to know that we did help you.

 

[897tgigvib]

GardenGeisha, is it now about 3 or 4 weeks before your last frost?

Ya know, some perennials can be more reliable than anything else to tell us what time of the season it is.

 

[GardenGeisha]

Our last frost is probably about May 15.

 

[GardenGeisha]

The man at a garden center several miles south of where I live said the frost-free date is May 5.

My Echinops are looking good! I feel I don't have them in quite enough sun, though. Maybe this is why they stayed somewhat puny last summer, althought it was their first full summer in my garden.

Also, I had thrown the chicken water on them, not realizing they don't like much water, and a half gallon of chicken water has 1/2 T of apple cider vinegar in it. I'm sure they didn't care for that vinegar. I will be more careful this year and not overwater them or put vinegary water on them.

It is desert country here, with very hot summers, so maybe it's okay they are in a bit of shade?

So far they are looking great! I'm excited they seemed to have survived all this unintentional abuse so well? They must be pretty tough!