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Salvia planting - now or wait?

Ivy2Ivy2 Posts: 73
in Plants
This Salvia Caradonna arrived from Thompson & Morgan today and looks like it had a rough journey. Even the pot is damaged.

I was planning to put it in the ground today but read that May is the best time. Should I:

A put it in the ground (no frost forecast but could be a light frost in March)
B Keep it in pot for a month or two
C Replant it to a new pot (This one is damaged and root at the top is exposed a bit)

If I do keep it in the pot should i put it in the garage or in the house overnight?

First Salvia, any help welcome:)


Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's the only reliably hardy one, but even so, I'd let it have a few weeks to accustom itself to your site. Re pot it, sorting out the soil level, and put it somewhere sheltered.
    If you don't have a cold frame or similar, keep it on a cool windowsill for a few days, or up to a week depending on your conditions, putting it outside for an hour or two each day, increasing that time after a few days, then leave it outside against a house wall or similar, just to keep it safe. 

    It's likely to have been grown undercover, so it's better to be careful just now. Once the weather - and the soil [most important] are a bit warmer, then you can plant it out. Nice sunny site with good drainage  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    S.carradonna, is hardy, and yours is a good sized specimen, so I would plant it out.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I'd wait and see if the severe cold snap that forecasters are hinting at is likely to occur next month first.
    There's some tender new growth there and whilst I agree with punkdoc that they are very hardy plants. If the forecasters are right, may be best to follow fg's suggestion

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    it was minus 3 here last night. My S. caradonna looks nothing like that just now - wish it did!
    I'm probably more cautious about planting out, but I always feel it does no harm to wait a little while rather than risk losing a healthy plant. If temps are in reasonable single, or even double, digits through the day, it'll be fine outside for hours, and can stay out after a few days, but if not, give it a little more time. 
    I have some little perspex tables that double as a cold frame for anything that might have been grown in much warmer conditions than I have, and that's a good half way house for decent sized plants.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Ivy2Ivy2 Posts: 73
    Thanks all, willl  bring her in overnight for a while.
  • Ivy2Ivy2 Posts: 73
    edited February 2023
    Sorry one more. Got a couple of C Overdam today which is like a smaller Karl Forster ornamental grass. Can this one go in the ground now?
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I would say yes  :)
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    I would (and do) put any dormant perennial in the ground now, as long as it's hardy and the ground's not frozen or waterlogged
  • Ivy2Ivy2 Posts: 73
    Thanks. Will do :)
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