Rita,
All mine here in Salem are outside and unprotected. Some of them do suffer with the winter rains but a few really hate it, like the ciliosums. Because my belief as a hybridizer is that only the hardy should be introduced to the market, the seedlings are never protected. That way I know they've taken everything Mother Nature has dished out.
Having said that, mine are all in raised beds with a rather loose mix and chick grit around the plants so that water issues aren't as big a deal.
Kevin
