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Too early for bedding plants yet?

MeomyeMeomye Posts: 944

I have bought a selection of bedding plants but but have yet to plant them out as I am concerned about ground frost. Is it still too early? I am in the south east of England but it is still quite cold here particularly in the mornings.

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,614

    What have you bought? some are hardier than others.

    If you plant out now, have some sheets of newspaper ready to drape overnight over the plants.That will be enough to keep a mild frost off.

    Petunias and busy lizzies are the most tender, they will not stand any frost. French marigolds are hardier. Pansies are OK outside now.

  • MeomyeMeomye Posts: 944

    Hi Fidgetbones, I have Geraniums, Diascia, Nemesia, Million Bells, Lobelia, Busy Lizzies and Petunias, some of which were intended for baskets and pots. What do you suggest please? 

  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502

    Hi Meomye,

    I've had pelargonium geraniums, diascia, nemesia and lobelia out for a few weeks now although not in their final pots/containers.

    They all look right as rain apart from the diascia keep getting chewed.  I did spend some time hardening them off though.

    I'm in the north east. Hope this helpsimage 

    Wearside, England.
  • cairnsiecairnsie Posts: 388

    Do I dare plant my dahlias yet the next few weeks the forecast is saying minimum temperature 8 but I know you cant rely on these things.

  • CharleyDCharleyD Posts: 440

    We're in the IOM and our temperatures seem to be minimum 7 or 8 too.  I'm expecting my summer and bedding plants including dahlias sometime this week.  I'm going to plant them straight out and if there is a ground frost predicted, I'll just cover them lightly with some bubble wrap or bin liners or newspaper etc. 

  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502

    I started the dahlia tubers off in pots and the 5 I overwintered have started sprouting and are doing okay outside (a few aphids). I put  3 new ones out at the same time but they haven't come up yet (all in pots).

    On the other hand the dahlias I grew from seed are fairly miserable outside- they are getting belted by the wind and the snails but I'll see what happens...

    Wearside, England.
  • Outdoor girlOutdoor girl Posts: 286

    Diascia are hardy so will be fine outside.

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