Some advice on perennials would be much appreciated

[Rico]

Hi I recently picked up some potted perennials in the sale at a local nursery,they include Foxglove Camelot, Echinops Veitch's Blue, Echinacea Magnus.

At present they are in a south facing plastic greenhouse. What I was wondering is when might be the best time to plant them out? my thinking being is it better to have them brave some of the elements as they would have naturally done, or hang tight a bit until the potential worst of weather passes?

They will be going in a west facing border that is about 2ft from the house, which appears provides some heat.

[mcdood]

Hi Rico, Personally, I'd leave them potted up in the plastic greenhouse and plant out in spring when it warms up a bit.

[nickdub]

All depends on the weather - best put out when the weather is going to be mild and warm for a while but not too dry - but avoid digging in cold or frosty weather.

[Mitzi]

Depends whereabouts in the country you are but personally I'd probably leave it another couple of months. Having said that, I had some hollyhock seedlings indoors that I've just chucked outside to fend for themselves as I need the windowsill for chillies now.

[Rico]

Thanks for the replies. I live in the North East of England, as it stands it has been a mild winter here, the odd frost but nothing too heavy. This is pretty much my first experience of growing herbaceous perennials, at least from end of season sale plants . I've read quite a bit and realised some of them benefit from vernalization to flower better etc. They are cool/cold in the greenhouse so hopefully this would suffice.

Mitzi I suppose circumstances occur in gardening( and life generally when we just have to try things and hope for the best

[Scarlet]

If they were mine I would follow Mcdoods advice. The Echinacea is fickle, a few too many frosts and it can be lost. Some protection now is good. My Echinops in the garden is green at the moment but with the added protection you are given it they should flower a bit earlier.

[Rico]

Yes Scarlet I am going to leave them in the greenhouse until winter has passed
The echinacea in it's pot looks dead as a dodo as it stands, I did check the roots though and they looked healthy so hopefully it'll spring to life when the time is right. I also have some echinacea 'bulbs' that I bought in b&q, they look more like bare roots after a peak in the box and some seeds, so got a few bases covered.

[mcdood]

Most herbaceous perennials will look dead this time of year. Plant them up in spring and watch out for the slugs and snails eating the young shoots when they emerge in spring and all will be good.

[Rico]

Most herbaceous perennials will look dead this time of year. Plant them up in spring and watch out for the slugs and snails eating the young shoots when they emerge in spring and all will be good.

Thanks will do. Slugs and snails are something I do have experience both in my gardens and at the allotment unfortunately