Echinacea

Hi everyone.

I have been growing Echinacea for the past couple of years and usually they have been purchased as plants in flower or bud. This year I was desperately trying to buy the Hot Papaya variety & Tikki Torch. Unfortunately, the only ones I have managed to get are quite small specimens. I'm not sure how long they have been in the pots for, but the Tikki Torch received by mail order does say not to plant out until well rooted in the pot. Can anyone advise on the correct care for these plants please? Should I overwinter them in ther pots or put them in the border? I really don't want to lose them.

Many thanks in advance.

 

Good evening Denise and welcome to the site. If they are that small I would grow them on in the pots until next spring.:gnthb:

 

Thank you for the welcome and for the advice. Do you think I should keep them in a frost proof area? Just wondering in case we have another winter like the last one :(

 

Most definitely. Leave them outside for as long as possible, then bring them indoors and keep them growing. Harden them off in the spring and then plant them.:thumb:

 

When you do plant them, give them protection from slugs and snails, as they seem to be extremely tempting when small.

 

Thank you so much. They will be brought indoors for the Winter and hopefully that will give them a flying start for next year. Regarding the slugs, I will keep a very keen eye on them.