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

Another newbie question

susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
in Plants
I ordered salvia, alchemilla and verbena plants through the Gardeners World offer this month and they've arrived in 9cm pots. When I looked up when I should plant them, it advised not to plant them until next spring in case a wet cold winter hurt them in the ground. I live in south Devon so the climate is mild, and I wonder if you think it would be okay to plant them in the ground now (it's stony and not great, but I understand salvias in particular don't mind this)? Or would it be better to transplant them into bigger pots and keep them there until spring? Thanks. :)

Posts

  • RoddersUKRoddersUK Posts: 537
    I'm in the south coast. I've planted small salvia late in the year, from cuttings I took in spring. Most survived, a few didn't. I don't have a green house to keep anything over winter.
    The soils still warm, so they might establish quite well.
    I guess it's risk vs cost.
  • susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
    Thanks, @RoddersUK - that's encouraging. The cost is negligable, as it was one of GW's freebies, so I only paid postage. I think I might try planting them and hope for the best. :)
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I think the salvias should be okay (l take it you're not talking about the shrubby types). 
    As with everything, it is a bit of a lottery as none of us know what type of Winter we're going to get, but if they and the Verbena have good drainage they "should" be okay. Can't advise about the Alchemilla though.
    Are they big enough to take cuttings from ?
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Verbena and alchemilla should be fine in a sheltered spot - you could pop a bit of fleece on the in an emergency.  Salvia won't winter out for me, no matter how big the plant.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Alchemilla is as tough as old boots. Verbena and Salvia, it depends on the variety. Most of them do well for me (sandy pebbly free-draining soil, climate probably drier but colder than yours) but I wouldn't plant them out straight from 9cm pots, I would pot them on and keep them in a sheltered spot outside for the winter, against the house wall (I use the shelves of an old blowaway mini greenhouse, without the cover). I find that they don't mind some cold as long as the soil isn't soggy.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
    AnniD said:
    I think the salvias should be okay (l take it you're not talking about the shrubby types). 
    As with everything, it is a bit of a lottery as none of us know what type of Winter we're going to get, but if they and the Verbena have good drainage they "should" be okay. Can't advise about the Alchemilla though.
    Are they big enough to take cuttings from ?
    Thanks, @A@AnniD - I think the salvias will be the shrubby types when they get older. And no, not big enough for cuttings, though I have some more established salvias that I could try.
  • susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
    Posy said:
    Verbena and alchemilla should be fine in a sheltered spot - you could pop a bit of fleece on the in an emergency.  Salvia won't winter out for me, no matter how big the plant.
    Thanks, @Posy - I must have been lucky with my two older salvias - so far they have survived the winter. Will plant verbena and alchemilla in sheltered areas. :)
  • susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
    JennyJ said:
    Alchemilla is as tough as old boots. Verbena and Salvia, it depends on the variety. Most of them do well for me (sandy pebbly free-draining soil, climate probably drier but colder than yours) but I wouldn't plant them out straight from 9cm pots, I would pot them on and keep them in a sheltered spot outside for the winter, against the house wall (I use the shelves of an old blowaway mini greenhouse, without the cover). I find that they don't mind some cold as long as the soil isn't soggy.
    Thanks, @JennyJ - that sounds like a good plan. I'm lazy, so hoped to plant straight out, but I guess it would also give me time to think about where I'll plant them eventually...
Sign In or Register to comment.