Wilkinson young plants Pelargonium / Fuchsia

I have noticed that Wilkinsonâ??s are selling Pelargonium and Fuchsia young plants this week At 2.00 for a 9cm pot Is it not to late for these now, or can they be successfully over wintered for next year ?

Ben

 

I would have thought that it's a little late to plant them out.:skp: I overwinter mine on the patio covered with bubble-wrap. (No room in the G/house, it's too full of Brugs:hehe However I live in a relatively mild area and although last Winter was cold for a long time the night temps were never lower than -4C, they all survived all right.

 

Thanks - this year I planted hanging baskets and pots with Pelargonium and Fuchsia and Geranium in mid May and they made a fantastic display by mid July :D I know they will not have time to make plants now this year - I asked in store and nobody knew.

It does seem strange that no other retailer is offering these at the moment

Thanks Ben

 

Most retailers sell plants that are best suited to the time of year and are looking their best then! However Wilkinson's seem to be in their own little world a lot of the time. I would avoid a lot of the plants they sell; most seem to be dead or in the final stages of dying.

Anytime I try to overwinter Geraniums in the house, they end up looking rather spindly and weak, but we don't have a greenhouse or a cooler conservatory, just windowsills. I've given up doing it now.

 

Ben - you can overwinter them. But it wouldn't be worth it, as in spring many places will be selling young healthy plugs of these for even less, and with a long growing season ahead of them

 

Thanks Peter
I mentioned it to my (almost) local gardencentre yesterday the owner said exactley the same and couldent beleive anyone would offer now saying its irrisponsable - got in his car and drove off to have a look.

 

Hi Ben, again I second what PeterS has said , exactly.
Those plants will overwinter. But why bother ? You can buy them for exactly the same price in the spring.

Looks like Sussexgardener said the same thing.

 

Hello Ben
as Peter and Alice have stated now is not a good time to buy these plants. In fact from Wilkos, never may be a better term ! That is a little unfair, if the Wilko plants are fresh in that day , you can bag a bargain. But otherwise you will see some very sad looking plants on their shelves . Wilkos + plants + water , never happens.

 

The only time that I would buy something at this time of the year is if it was a good healthy plant and I wanted to take some cuttings. I woldn't normally take cuttings of any Fuchsia as you can buy so many similar ones is spring. But I love F. triphylla, as they seem to be such strong growers and they hold their flowers above the leaves, unlike most other Fuschias. You don't always see these for sale as plugs - so I will very shortly be taking some cutings.