Hostas - Plant Care - The Roaming Gnome

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Sunlight

Part to full shade

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Water

Moderate, even moisture

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Type

Perennial (zones 3–9)

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Soil

Moist, well-drained, fertile

Hostas are perennials in Minnesota (zones 3–9) — among the most cold-hardy perennials you can grow. They die back completely in winter and re-emerge each spring, forming larger clumps every year.
Sunlight: Part shade to full shade. Most hostas prefer dappled light or morning sun with afternoon shade. Deep green and blue-green varieties handle more shade; gold and yellow varieties need a bit more light to hold their color.
Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Hostas appreciate good soil more than most perennials.
Transplanting: Plant in spring after the last frost. Plant at the same depth as in the pot. Water well after planting.
Watering: Keep soil evenly moist, especially in their first season. Once established, hostas are reasonably drought-tolerant but look their best with consistent moisture. Avoid soggy conditions.
Fertilization: A balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring supports lush foliage. Avoid heavy feeding late in the season.

These plants were grown from seed this year and will be small at planting time — that's completely normal. Hostas are slow to establish but get dramatically better every year. By year three or four, they'll be impressive.
Slugs are the main pest — they chew holes in the leaves, particularly on thin-leaved varieties. Diatomaceous earth, iron phosphate bait, or a shallow dish of beer set in the ground are effective controls.
Cut flower stalks after blooming if you want to keep energy focused on foliage. The lavender flowers are pretty, though — your call.
Cut foliage back to the ground in late fall after a hard frost, or leave it and clean up in early spring before new growth emerges.
Mature clumps can be divided in spring or early fall. They're very forgiving of division.