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Bare root fruit bushes arrived sooner than expected just in time for this weekends cold snap! Help!

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Posts

  • johnbaronjohnbaron Posts: 75
    Actually had time to get them in properly fortunately, their final location is nice and sheltered so I decided to plant them properly. Had a smattering of snow/hail interspersed with bright sunshine so it's nothing dreadful yet!

    I wish I could kick back with a cuppa, have friends arriving for my partners 25th later so I have a list of tidying and cooking chores! 


    Red currant Rovada cordons and Ben sarek black currant (low spread)
  • stuart.dotstuart.dot Posts: 127
    "Why as warm as possible?"
    Well, as warm as is possible outdoors this weekend, given that nothing was allowed indoors! I think dry root plants are brought on a bit so they're showing signs of life  for retail sales, so technically they're probably coming from a greenhouse, and I wouldn't shove them straight into frozen soil.
  • clarawicksclarawicks Posts: 53
    Hi... stupid question... “heel them in”??
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    clarawicks said:
    Hi... stupid question... “heel them in”??
    It means dig a temporary narrow trench, place the bare-rooted plants in and back-fill so the roots are covered.  Compacting the soil with your heel afterwards eliminates air pockets so helps make sure the roots are in contact with the soil.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • johnbaronjohnbaron Posts: 75
    Turns out we had a bit more snow than I was anticipating... hopefully they will cope with being freshly planted and snowed in! 
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    That's a nice sheltered little corner there John - I'm sure they'll be fine :)
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree with Topbird ... they'll be fine ... nice and snug under that duvet ... warmer underneath it than on top  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    You don't have to plant them tomorrow morning ...  it'll only take a few moments to heel them in https://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/gardening-advice/fruit-tree-advice/heeling-in 

    they'll be fine over the cold snap and you can plant them properly when the weather improves. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Here you are Clara  :)

     https://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/gardening-advice/fruit-tree-advice/heeling-in 

    No such thing as a stupid question .... if you don't know it would be stupid not to ask  :)


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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