Hosta Growing Guide
Hosta (Hosta spp.) is a perennial, also called Plantain Lily, which is native to China, Japan and Korea will do well in USDA Zones 4 to 9 and prefer part sun to light shade.
Follow the instructions on the plant tag. Most varieties will not do well in deep full shade. Most varieties prefer some morning sun or late afternoon sun.
Keep in mind that full sun in the southern states will be different than full sun in the northern states. A variety that tolerates full sun in the north may burn in the south.
There are more than 3,000 registered varieties with leaf colors ranging from blue, dark green through lighter shades of green and then we have the colorful variegated varieties with creamy white/gold accents.
In general the darker the green the more shade tolerant they will be. The lighter shades and variegated foliage will need more sunlight to retain their white/gold stripes.
They are usually grown as a border plant for its low growth habit. Its best feature is as a foliage plant with many types of leaves of different sizes and colors. The small lily-like flowers attract hummingbirds and pollinators.
Starting from Seed
Follow the seed packet instructions, seeds can be started indoors 6 to 8-weeks before your last expected frost date.
You should stratify the seeds first by putting the seed packet in the refrigerator for at least 4-weeks. This cold stratification helps to break a seed’s dormancy and encourage the seed to germinate.
Sow the seeds in a sterile seed starting mix in cell packs or pots. Do not cover the seeds, because they need light to germinate. Press lightly into the soil and keep moist. Germination takes 4 to 5-weeks.
Bottom watering is the easiest way to keep moist without disturbing the newly sown seeds.
For more detailed information visit the seed starting page.
Seeds are not readily available. Most plants are divisions and are sold as potted plants in garden centers or shipped as bare root through the mail.
Soil Preparation
The soil should be nice loose well drained organic garden soil with a neutral soil pH between 6.5 to 7.5. As soon as the soil is frost-free and can be worked, till the soil by digging down 8 to 12-inches turning the soil over with a garden fork. Remove any large rocks and stones. The small stones remaining will do no harm and actually benefit the soil by adding some micronutrients to the soil.
When to Plant
They should be planted in the late spring after the last expected frost.
Planting Hostas
Follow the plant tag instructions. Depending on the variety, plant them 12 to 24-inches apart or in groups of 3 or 5 behind other shorter plants. Dig a hole as deep as the pot and twice as wide. To the soil you just removed add the same amount of good garden soil so you have a nice blend of new and native soil.
Take the plant out of the pot and gently loosen the root ball pulling away any roots that have grown in a circle around the pot.
Place the root ball in the hole with the growing crown of the plant even with or an inch higher than the surrounding soil. Gently spread out the roots and back fill the hole around the root ball leaving a shallow depression around your plant. Fill the depression with water to settle the soil around the roots adding more soil if necessary and water again. Water daily tapering off as the roots grow and get established.
If you received them as bare roots, plant them the same as potted plants.
Watering and Care
They are low maintenance and easy to care for. All you need to do is add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and keep out competing weeds. Your plants should get an inch of water each week and during dry spells give some water to keep the soil moist. They usually do not need any fertilizer, but a light side dressing of organic fertilizer can be placed around the plant in the spring.
Divisions
As the plants mature and get established they put out side shoots. To increase your hosta collection you can divide them in the early spring every 3 to 5-years.
When the growing tips emerge you can dig up the entire clump and divide it into sections with a sharp knife or shovel. You can also remove the side shoots from the mother plant, leaving as much of the roots attached as possible.
Plant the new divisions with the proper spacing in the ground at the same soil level they came from in their new location. Water them in as the roots get established.
Diseases
Hostas are generally disease free, but petiole rot also called leaf rot causes the foliage to turn yellow and brown. Fungus diseases are caused by warm humid conditions. Increase air circulation and keep mulch a few inches from the base of the plants to reduce the occurrence.
Pests
Slugs and snails will eat holes in the foliage. Use slug and snail traps or some sand or diatomaceous earth (DE) spread around the plants to control them. Follow the instructions and use the food grade diatomaceous earth, not the DE meant for use for swimming pools. The DE works when dry to create a barrier that slugs and snails do not like to cross.
Deer are especially fond of hostas. Some gardeners will plant daffodils in with the hostas with some limited success.
Hostas and tulips are often called deer candy. If you live on a street that has some traffic and want them in your garden try planting them near the street. Deer and other animals will usually avoid busy streets. An attractive planting around a mailbox has a good chance of surviving and is worth giving a try.
They are very hardy and are often planted in a long row along the road. In the winter they are buried under snow plowed from the road along with the salt and sand. In the spring they emerge looking beautiful.
Popular Varieties
Popular varieties: Blue Angle, Color Festival, Fire & Ice, First Frost, Fire Island, Halcyon, June, Minuteman, Orange Marmalade, Patriot, White Feather.
Sources: American Meadows, Burpee, Eden Brothers.
Tips and Warnings
The leaves and flowers are toxic to dogs and cats and may cause vomiting and diarrhea. The plant contains high amounts of saponins which occur naturally in smaller amounts in soybeans and other ingredients in pet food. It may be that their sensitive sense of smell makes them think that hostas are good to eat.
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