Growing Hostas in North Texas

October is the best month to plant new cultivars of hostas and gardeners in North Texas who have had the most success with growing hostas agree on the solution: pots.  First, if you are a gardener offended by the sight of the plants’ large leaves muddied with garden soil after watering; then resort to cultivating your hosta collection in containers. This is the solution to all the issues that hostas face — including slugs and bugs.  Hostas can live in the same pot for five years before they should be divided or transplanted to a slightly larger container. Hostas resent being disturbed and are happier being root-bound than being frequently transplanted.  Pots also allow the gardener to rotate them to and from prominent positions as the more heat-intolerant cultivars go dormant.

Gardeners can even move some of them under shelter if hail or high winds are predicted. You can also cover the plants with plastic tarps if you has enough warning.  Hostas like cold weather because that is when the plants develop roots. Being planted in pots instead of in the ground provides less insulation from the cold. In this case, that is helpful. Shopping tips – Local retailers, including big-box stores, stock good cultivars for North Texas, but there may not be enough variety to suit you. Mail-order sources offer many choices, even though they are more expensive.  You must be sure and only order cultivars that can grow in Zone 8b.  It is worth remembering that websites listing a particular plant as “sun tolerant” doesn’t mean the Texas sun.