Hosta First Frost | 9cm Pot

A variegated, shade-loving, herbaceous perennial. Position: partial or full shade Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: July to August Hardiness: fully hardy ‘First Frost’ is an award-winning plantain lily prized for its attractive, dense mounds of bluish-green leaves that emerge with a gold margin in the spring, fading to white over the season and holding up well until the first serious nip of freezing weather. Light lavender flowers on 60cm (24”) stems appear in mid-summer, adding interest to a plant that makes excellent coverage for dying-back bulb foliage as well as an underplanting of roses and late into leaf shrubs. Garden care: You’ll get thicker, lusher leaves if you give your hostas a really good feed. An annual mulch in spring or autumn will help to keep the weeds down and is an easy way to improve soil and boost nutrient levels. Add a generous mulch of about 5-10cm (2-4in) deep of garden compost or leaf mould around the plant. Spraying the leaves regularly with a high nitrogen fertiliser during the growing season will also help to boost leaf size. Slugs and snails love hostas, so you will need to protect against them. Use an organic nematode treatment in early spring to ward off slugs, or simply stick to a container. Water your hostas well as soon as you plant them and from then on water regularly during their first growing season. Give them a water about once or twice a week around the base of the plant, avoiding the leaves. Little and often can be disastrous as it encourages the plant to produce roots closer to the surface in a desperate quest for moisture.