Bargain to be had - T&M

Thanks for the advice Bilbo. I think I'll do them individually. Glad you're pleased with yours too.

 

With those really small plugs I would:

Pot on to 3" or 9cm, individually one-per-pot

Provide initial protection - e.g. greenhouse - but not too hot if possible. So either some shading, or in a greenhouse with doors / windows wide open so it doesn't get soaring daytime temperatures. Or cold frame where you can open lid completely on hot days.

Those little plants will struggle with wind, rain, slugs, etc. and thus some protection for a few weeks until they get under way is important.

Once they are growing and look strong I would put them outside so that they harden up a bit before the Winter. I would leave them out until we get frosty nights, and then I would bring them in for the Winter (they can go back out if we get a subsequent mild snap). A few frosts won't do them any harm, so no rush to bring them in if it looks like a single night's light frost then warmer nights again.

They won't need much light during the winter, and they certainly don't want any warmth; +10C would be too warm IMHO. Left outside they will get drowned by the rain, and their roots will be frozen solid because the pots will offer no protection, that's basically what you are protecting against. A coldframe would do, although a cold greenhouse will offer more protection, and would be ideal. Failing that a shed but they will need to come out for light and air on mild days.

In the Spring they could go back out (Mid February, say, but not if there is severe weather, and if the weather then turned bad they would have to come in again), but my preference would be to use the greenhouse to bring them on "early", then harden them off like Annuals, and plant them out - they will be bigger than if they are outside and will make more established plants in their first year. Don't let them stay too long in the greenhouse otherwise you will force them into flower, and they will flower early, whilst still rather small, and you'll lose the benefit of the extra season's growth.

 

Fantastic advice there Kristen.

 

Forgot to say, did everyone get their free packet of seeds? with the plants; I nearly threw mine out, they were with the invoice and leaflets, a packet of wildflower seeds to attract bees

 

I was exactly the same. My missus noticed them, not me.

 

We DO have our uses Gretzky,

 

http://www.jparkers.co.uk/plant-1008496-a-1/23-bumper-garden-pack-of-perennialsshrubs/ Whats the concensus on this offer ,if I take it up I will be widening my borders , My T&m arrived last week ,tiny little plants but looking stronger already

 

Bit of a mish-mash:

5 Hardy Geraniums, 3 Camelias, a Hydrange Vanilla Fraise, 3 Hardy Ferns, 3 Coreopsis, a Hydrangea Amethyst, a Kerria Japonica Pleniflora, a Weigela shrub, 3 Hanging Basket Clematis and 2 Holly Shrubs (One Green and One Variegated)

Camelias only any good if you have Acid soil, need a West or North facing aspect otherwise the morning sun will destroy any flowers with frost on them.

"Hanging Basket Clematis" has a rather limited appeal perhaps?

"2 Holly Shrubs (One Green and One Variegated)" bit hit and miss whether they are Female, and berry-carrying, or not - although that may not be important to you.

Some of the others are a bit humdrum - nothing wrong with that, they will fill a space, but everyone else in the street is likely to have them too - Kerria, Weigela and Coreopsis for example.

Hardy ferns a bit difficult to "integrate" with the other plants ...

But if you can foresee a planting plan for them, and are happy to TLC them from small-beginnings through to plants of a size suitable for planting, without heavy losses :(, then its a bargain

 

I am the only one in my street with a garden, all the rest car parks, on reflection I had holly and put it outside my fence on spare ground.I have a weigela, camelias could be sheltered from morning sun easily,have a lace cap hydrangea ,have ferns,had coreopsis ,that was quite nice.
No I don`t think I will bother ,as space is tight and I will have to increase border size by next spring and would rather buy 1 really nice plant than several poorer ones,