Baby perennial plants

[Dibblecat]

I've just received a box of goodies from T and M. It's a perennial collection including the likes of hollyhocks, lupins, coreopsis, echinacea etc. The plants are about 2" each and have healthy looking roots systems. Should I be planting them out now? or potting them up and over wintering in a cold greenhouse? All adice gratefully received.

T
x

[poozie]

Hi Dibblecat,
If they were my little plants I would pot them on and keep them in a cold greenhouse, just to keep the frost away, and plant them out in the spring.

suzy

[Dibblecat]

Thanks for that Poozie. I was kind of thinking they wouldn't really enjoy the shock of being moved from nursery (with people who know what they are doing) straight to the dank outside at Amateur Towers!

[kentvegplot]

Those I grew this year are only about the same size. I've planted them in the tunnel to keep the winter rains off them, but they'll still get very cold, which shouldn't be a problem. (fingers crossed)

[Alice]

I would overwinter them with protection Dibblecat. I've never had any success with autumn planting. I just find they're never to be seen again. If you protect your little plants over winter and plant out in the spring they should be just fine. Maybe autumn planting works in other parts of the country, but not here for me.

[Two_Sheds]

I got some young plants last week, and planted them outside. We don't (usually) get any frosts here until February though.

[Comfreyfan]

I've kept my baby plants in this autumn. Normally I'd plant them out, we don't usually get frosts until Jan/Feb - but we've already had a week of hard frosts!