To plant or not to plant?????

Hi all,

I have 2 clematis that i have grown from cuttings (Jan Powell and The President). They're still only small and in 6" pots on the patio.

Can I plant these out now or should I leave them outside in pots until Spring????

 

If your ground is soft enough to plant, I'd go for it. They won't do any better in their pots, that's for sure, and if you take them in you'll have to re-do the hardening off.

If you put up a few canes around them, you could give them a bit of protection if there's a heavy frost forecast - but if they've been outside all the time, and have had a light frost already, I'd say they'll be ok.

 

Nice one Dendy Was hoping that would be the answer!! Trying to cut down my number of pots before the gales begin :rolleyes:

 

Whilst on the subject guys, can I take cuttings this time of year from clematis? :confused:

 

Late summer is the preferred time. http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0702/climber_prop.asp

There isn't as much light at this time of year, so it's not such a good time to do it, but if you are pruning the clematis at the moment, you might as well have a shot.

The BBC link is possibly the easiest guide to follow if you haven't done it before.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/propagation_takeclematiscuttings.shtml#top

 

I was going to have a go at growing from cuttings in the conservatory. Do you also prune hard this time of year?