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Bare roots and corns from t&m by post

muckyhandsmikemuckyhandsmike Posts: 239
in Plants
I succumbed and took up a bare roots, tubers and bulbs offer from t&m a couple of weeks ago (very unlike me !) and they arrived today.
i have b/r agapanthus, aquilega, echinacea and begonia tubers & lily bulbs.
now im not wanting to plant any yet so my question is how are they best stored ?
tia

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Bare root plants need heeled in or potted up -  Aquilegias can be done like that and put outside. Lilies can be potted up for planting out later, but most can just go outdoors - it would depend on the type.
    Agapanthus would also be better planted, but may need protection as some are less hardy than others. Begonias are something I don't grow, but someone will advise on those - they need protection from frost though. I don't grow Echinacea either, but if they're bare roots, they'd need potted up. I think they're all hardy though, so would just go out as per the aquilegias.
    The only thing to watch is - whether they've they been grown outside, or under cover before you got them. If the latter- keep them sheltered somewhere until you can be sure the weather and temps are ok for planting out permanently.  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • muckyhandsmikemuckyhandsmike Posts: 239
    Ok thanks f/g .. was hoping to leave all in the garage for now as I’m poorly (over 4 weeks now) so I may have to ask my non gardening wife to lend a hand ….

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Oh that's a pity @muckyhandsmike. If I was nearer, I'd do them for you. I hope you're better soon. 
    The danger with just leaving them is that they can either dry out and wither away, or the opposite - getting damp and then mouldy. Most of them need light - the bare roots certainly, and they'd be fine on cool windowsills if you can't tuck them outdoors with some basic shelter from the worst weather for a little while. I think the begonias need warmth, but not something I have experience of. The lilies would be ok just popped into a pot with any compost or soil over them. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If you have to prioritise, the begonia tubers and lily bulbs will be OK for a couple of weeks as long as you can keep them somewhere cool-ish but frost-free in their packets. The bare-root plants do need planting or at least potting up, they need light and moisture. They'll be starting into growth very soon, if they haven't already.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I forgot to mention - are they very tiny @muckyhandsmike? They tend to be small specimens from that company, so you'd need to be careful that they don't dry out very rapidly.
    I've never bought aquilegias as bare roots, but the advantage of them is you can save seed. I swapped seed with another forum member last year, and have loads of small plants which have done very well over winter, tucked under the bench or similar. If you need, or fancy, some seed or a small plant later on, just ask.  :)

    Yes - the lilies will survive in their packets. I've often bought them quite late on in the year from various outlets, already sprouting well in them, and usually nicely reduced  ;)
    All the ones I have in this garden were bought for a couple of quid from Homebase or similar. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • muckyhandsmikemuckyhandsmike Posts: 239
    Fg, jj thank you for your kind thoughts and advice, which is noted !
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