Exactly, I’ll try to clarify further. We’ve tried Okra. It can be grown in the subarctic. The reality is, you get less than a handful per plant and it’s not worth it. We talk about it because some say it can’t be done, but it can technically be done. I suspect if I put my mind to it, I could get baby sweet potatoes, too. In the end, I think different regions have their advantages and disadvantages. The theme I pursue is to play to my strengths. We can grow some great cool weather crops here. It’s fun to explore the limits, but the bulk of our gardens generally play towards cool climate success.

This is surprisingly common among many genus of plants. There can be differences in cold tolerance based entirely on the exact cultivar (or specific variety of a plant) you received. Some types of mangaves are hardy to zone 4, whereas others require much warmer zones. If you purchased from a reliable seller and they stated they were relatively cold tolerant, you are likely safe! If you know the exact cultivar you received, it will be important to narrow your research to that type (e.g. Blue Mammoth) as opposed to the genus (e.g. mangave) as a whole.

If you just don’t know what you have, I would probably suggest hedging your bets. Put some in the ground and some in pots that can be overwintered. If yours survive the winter, you can likely put them all out next year! Good luck and thanks for the comment!