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Cold and rain

UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
in Plants
This year I have noticed more than usual number of pot bound and even some small plug plants sold in 9cm pots and these were from well known garden centres. I even had some delivered that had all fallen out of their pots of loose compost and although large leave were  still in their tiny wrapping but charged as 9cm plants

In this cold and wet weather is it better to plant the pot bound before they get worse or wait for the weather to improve and maybe have to perform major surgery before planting and with the 9cm mini plugs keep them inside for a few more weeks.

Posts

  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    I have some plugs that I bought because I am not as well as I was and haven’t got the energy now ,to mess with seeds and stuff . Not bought them before but there is no way that they are anything like ready to plant out yet .
    I shall hang on as long as I can before I put them out to do their own thing . Weather is far too cold .
  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    Pot them on and wait, Winter hasn't released it's grip yet.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    To prevent frost etc. damage you might like to try getting your plants in the ground, but then inserting a cane beside each and placing a 5-litre clear plastic water bottle over them as a cloche.  Purely as a trial, I've done this with some spuds this year and all seem very healthy, fingers crossed. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If they're in 3 inch pots and falling apart when you take them out, it's because they've just been potted on into those, and are therefore too small and not well enough established to be planted out. They'd need grown on for a good while until the roots are filling those pots properly.
    Even pot bound plants in 3 inch pots would often need potted on, or re potted,  to ensure they're in good condition to plant out, but it depends on what they are.

    Where you put them depends on those two differing situations, and where you are. Temps and conditions vary around the country, but small plugs certainly need to be undercover for a while. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I agree, definitely keep the plug plants undercover. 
    This morning we have fog, it's more like November than April. 
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