I just let them die back naturally with the cold season. Then I clear away the runners and trim back the plants, take of the cover and replace with a new cover, carefully threading the plants through pre-cut holes.

This year I decided to start Tristar in a 4X4 square foot bed. I am now growing Mignonettes in an earthbox, and they are so big and lush that last winter I never even had the chance to change covers for them, so when they needed some fertilizing, my husband created a “fertilizer slurry” using about 2 cups of organic fertilizer in water and poured into the earthbox watering tube using a funnel. Not a good idea, it absolutely STINKS now when we water them! So we have to figure out something else. Suggestions are welcome!