I had loads recently which I'd potted on or never really had the right place for. I sent my gardening mates a message offering them and they came and collected them from a safe distance. I wear gloves when I'm gardening. I also haven't been anywhere for 5 weeks now (thankfully I already worked from home). I have loads of tomato plants that I now need to rehome
I’ve been planting up spare boxes and pots and giving them to the neighbors . Figured why not try to encourage those around me to add something living to their balconies. All nicely washed down and handed off safely though.
Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
I've seen a few houses near us where plants have been put out as described by the OP. The risk of virus transfer (plant virus or human virus) will be low. If concerned, put a note up reminding people to wash their hands when they get home.
Supermarkets are selling plants and the risk, such as it is, will be much higher in that environment.
How many hands has a letter been through before you open an envelope?
You have the typist (handling it from the printer to the envelope) the person who franks the mail, the person who takes it to the post office, the person who sorts the mail, who allocates the mail, who delivers the mail and then you.
That's possibly 6 sets of hands in 3 working days.
The risk of a few pots on a garden wall is negligible, especially in comparison to the potential mental health benefit of receiving a free plant and being encouraged to do some gardening.
I've been sharing plants by posting on our street's covid-19 WhatsApp group - I put the right number outside for those who say they want one to collect, and for those who are self-isolating and not leaving their houses, I leave them on their doorstep (obviously I wash my hands before handling them, and they either leave them there for a period of quarantine, or wash their hands after handling them). Now they've asked me to post a tutorial on taking leaf cuttings, as the house plants I distributed to loads of people all came from one original plant and they're intrigued.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
I leave plants outside all the time but I appreciate the virus means a new modus operandi is necessary so this year I am leaving a message on the village Facebook group saying folk can come and help themselves. First, though, I will email the six or so households who have been especially solicitous and helpful during lockdown asking what they want reserved.
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I wonder how they deal with this in food stores these days? Haven't been in one since Saturday (which feels a whole lifetime away now)...
Doesn't mean people won't succumb though. You can only do your best to reassure, and encourage people to follow the same advice.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have loads of tomato plants that I now need to rehome
How many hands has a letter been through before you open an envelope?
You have the typist (handling it from the printer to the envelope) the person who franks the mail, the person who takes it to the post office, the person who sorts the mail, who allocates the mail, who delivers the mail and then you.
That's possibly 6 sets of hands in 3 working days.
The risk of a few pots on a garden wall is negligible, especially in comparison to the potential mental health benefit of receiving a free plant and being encouraged to do some gardening.
Put them out