When can i plant out these fushias and petunias?

scarlkatieee · March 2022

I bought a couple of fushias and a couple of petunias from the garden centre last weekend but i’ve been holding off putting them outside as i believe they may be too young. can anyone advise if i can plant these out now or should i wait till april/may?

Buttercupdays · March 2022

They are not hardy, so unless you are able to protect them in some way they cannot be planted out until after the last frost. They will need potting on before that and it may be tricky stopping them from growing too leggy from too much heat and too little light. If you are able to juggle it you might manage to get a few cuttings from your plants, as they will need pinching out.

Fairygirl · March 2022

Petunias aren't hardy, so you'd need to wait until conditions are mild enough. That could be May, or later - depending where you're located.

If the fuchsias are also annual bedding types, it would be the same.
Hardy ones could go out sooner, but it's often better to pot them on for a while [if the roots are filling the pots ] so that they're bigger and tougher. It also depends how you're using them. If they're going in pots or baskets, that's easier than them going in the ground

JennyJ · March 2022

I think Snowcap is a reasonably hardy one but Happy Wedding Day isn't. But they're still small and have probably been growing in nice cosy conditions in a glasshouse, so I wouldn't put any of them out until there's no (or low) risk of frost. It would be about late May here, but I'd probably chance them in a cold frame with the lid shut at night from about the beginning if May.

Nanny Beach · March 2022

Depends where you live
I wouldn't risk putting them outside till early may,in the day getting them in at night. Then if there's no frosts, leave them out overnight till the end of may.

GardenerSuze · March 2022

Not all Garden Centres let their customers know that these plants are not frost hardy.
So people who probably don't have a greenhouse end up having to keep them going as best they can or they put them out side not realising that it is too cold!

Fairygirl · March 2022

I'd say most of them don't @GardenerSuze. They want them to come back when the plants have all died and buy more

Cynical? Moi? Never....

GardenerSuze · March 2022

@Fairygirl Yes you are absolutely right, I thought the same but decided not to write it!
Just feel sorry for new gardeners who are unaware not very encouraging. The concern is they think they have got it wrong when in fact it's the professionals fault.

Liriodendron · March 2022

I was discouraged from putting "protect from frost" signs out on the bedding plants sold in the garden centre I worked at, in Yorks. I still put them out though...

Fairygirl · March 2022

I don't think it'll ever change @GardenerSuze

That proves the point @Liriodendron, and it's unacceptable. I can understand the DIY stores or other outlets not doing it, because they aren't 'plants people' or growers, but GCs have no excuse.
I don't really buy bedding plants, but I'd be boycotting that place if it was my local one if that was their attitude.

MrMow · March 2022

I just visited a garden centre as I needed to purchase some more bags of top soil to do a make over on my new lawns.They need some major work but were heading for a good season.

I was hoping that they had a lot more plug plants in stock but they did not, they had Fuchsia plugs but not a lot else, I wanted some trailing plants for hanging baskets, they had some plugs for veg plants.

Not sure I would knock a garden centre for not putting out a sign about frost. Most have had a very tough few years, how many average home owners would be looking for bedding plants in March.

As for the op its mid March, we have not had winter yet, maybe we will maybe we won't but its MARCH.

When can i plant out these fushias and petunias?

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