Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Planting out perennials in winter

bluerigibluerigi Posts: 9
in Plants
I have been given some astilbe plants (in 9cm pots) and 3 bergenia eroica plants (in small pots). As it is the end of November and getting frosty should I plant them in the garden or overwinter them in their containers until the spring ? I live on the coast in Devon. 

Posts

  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    A lot depends on how big they are. Devon is a kindly climate but tiny plants struggle. I would be inclined to wait for spring.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I’m in Devon the pond was iced over and the frost was on the grass, ice on the GH windows I don’t plant anything new out until April or May. Keep putting on so you have a nice big plant for next year. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • bluerigibluerigi Posts: 9
    Thank you for your advice. I don't have a greenhouse but I do have a shed with a window through which the early morning sun shines ! I'm wondering if I should pot up the small plants and keep them in the shed when it gets really cold ?  Or should I leave them out all through the winter in a sheltered spot ?  Sorry to ask such basic questions but I am a newish gardener keen to learn and appreciative of your help !
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    For hardy plants a sheltered spot outside with plenty of light is probably better than the shed.  You can always cover them temporarily if a really cold night is forecast (horticultural fleece, old net curtains, even sheets of newspaper - anything that will give a bit of extra protection without squashing the plants).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bluerigibluerigi Posts: 9
    Thank you JennyJ. That's very helpful
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Would you have room for one of those little plastic greenhouses, you need to rope it to the wall but I find them invaluable, they just keep frost and snow off the plants, very good for hardening off net year as you don’t need to move the plants in and out every night, just open the zips.
    Wilco do a very nice one and a good price. I’ve had one of those for years and my daughter had it before me. I have renewed the cover but they’re not a bad price. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Yes I use one of those outside in a sheltered spot too Lyn.  We have it against a wall, and we put a couple of long nails either side of the plastic greenhouse, so we can tie the greenhouse to the wall so it doesn't blow down.  Like you we close the cover at night when it is rough or cold weather. I keep tender seedlings in mine, and any plants that are delicate or young.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd just tick them up against a house wall or similar, or do what I do - stick them in amongst other shrubs and plants. 
    I leave all sorts of plants that size out all winter,through all kinds of weather, and our winters here last a while. Hardy plants will cope fine. Both those plants are tough, and don't suffer much with slugs/snails either, so you don't have to protect much from those.

    If they were slug fodder plants [delphiniums or something] it would be better to keep them under cover a bit in a cold frame/plastic growhouse or similar. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.