Plants bought online

Hello, wasn't entirely sure where to put this so mods, please move it if it would be better elsewhere.

I have a question regarding plants bought online. When online plug plants/potted plants are marked as "Dispatched by end Oct" etc, does this mean that I'll need to buy them now and then grow them on in pots inside until it's warm enough in spring to plant them out in to the garden?

Sorry for the daft question, it's all a bit new to me.

 

I have ordered David Austin bare root roses in the past .... they tell you when they will be delivered, and they normally send them when it's time to plant in the ground

I presume that plug plants would be the same?

what are the plug plants?

 

I am no expert, so if I am wrong be happy to be corrected but to me :-

It means the company will send you the plants by the end of October. The company will be growing them now ready for sending them to you at end of the month. Whether they need to be planted outside or inside in pots will depend on the plants you are buying. Usually plants despatched this late in the year are to be put in the ground before the winter fully sets in, but as I said depends on the plants. The company you are buying them from should give you full instructions of what to do with the plants when you receive them.

I have a fruit garden to be despatched by end of November, now all of those plants will be put in the ground, then fleeced over till next spring. I also have bulbs being delivered in the next 7 days and they also will go in the ground, and hopefully flower next spring and summer.

Debbie

 

Thank you, I tried to reply to the post above yours but it got eaten by the system, possibly because I put a link to an explaination, is that not allowed here?

Hmmm... in that case I'll probably need to reassess my plans as I won't have the area dug over until November and by then it's likely to getting frosty. I better go back and read through the descriptions a bit more.

Thank you for your help

 

Plug plants need to be grown on a bit somewhere frost free.

More established potted plants should be ok to go out, as long as they're accustomed to outside temperatures. If they've been grown in a giant polytunnel like big nurseries use, they may be a bit tender. I guess it depends on what plants they are, as some are drama queens while others are as tough as old boots.

Then there's bare root plants, often shrubs are supplied as bare root plants from around the end of october. These can usually go straight into the ground (provided the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged) because they are dormant ready for winter. They'll just sit there in their new site waiting for spring.

 

You also need to be aware that not all suppliers are completely reliable.
Delivery dates can slip, or plants supplied may be very small and would not survive being stressed.
I would advise potting on into either 2"sq. multi packs, or individually into 3" pots and look after until well established.
Then you can consider putting into a cold frame or greenhouse.

Plugs are unlikely to survive outside unless the local environment is very mild.

 

Plug plants need to be grown on in a greenhouse for 3-4 weeks.

If your plants are forming any flower buds, but are still small, cut the flowers off and they'll grow a stronger root system.

 

Thank you for all the helpful advice.

Having read the descriptions of the plants a bit further a number of them do say to protect until frosts have passed, would they be ok indoors as I don't have a greenhouse? Also when plants have a "dispatch by end of" date does this mean they'll only be available until that point or is that just the earliest they'll be despatched and I'll still be able to get them later?

Sorry, I've never bought plants online before so it's all very new to me.

 

When they say 'despatched by' a certain date, they usually mean that advance orders will be sent out by then, but you may be able to still get them after that. It depends on the individual supplier, and also what plants they are and how they are shipped. For example, the bare root window closes around the beginning of february. Its not the suppliers being awkward, its just that they can only be dug up and shipped while they are dormant, otherwise there's a high chance that the plants will not survive the trauma.

Best thing to do would be to just give the nursery a call and ask them. A good nursery will not ship plants unless the time is right.

 

Thankyou clueless (though you're clearly not)

I hadn't even thought of ringing them.