planting now?

jiblets1

Hi all
I've been doing a little reading, and I really fancy some Berberis Atropurpurea Nana because I think it'll look good with my big load of hidcote lavender out the front.

The websites I've looked at to buy them here seem to suggest that I can plant them all year round. Would I be daft to try to plant now? I'm wondering if the prices are a little cheaper because we're out of season. Alternatively would be an idea to order them but not plant them yet, or would that just have the same problem but result in them being pot bound too?

I only started gardening last summer, and my confidence is starting to grow, but there's still so much I don't know. My instincts tell me planting while there's still frost around won't work, but the websites beg to differ....

Jake'sGran

As berberis is a tough plant and the soil is workable at the moment (at least here in the NW) I should think it would be OK to plant now.

Jack's_mummy

Berberis survives pretty much anything you throw at it so I'd do it now if your soil is diggable

maypole

Am I too late to plant my tulip bulbs, I forgot to do them in December:o

nodwah

maypole wrote: »

Am I too late to plant my tulip bulbs, I forgot to do them in December:o

I've not planted mine either because it's been too cold/frozen/stormy/wet for months!

I'm gonna plant mine in pots in the shed as I'm worrie d the shock of going in the ground might kill em now! (also that wil stop that ******** squirrel getting them)

maypole

nodwah wrote: »

I've not planted mine either because it's been too cold/frozen/stormy/wet for months!

I'm gonna plant mine in pots in the shed as I'm worrie d the shock of going in the ground might kill em now! (also that wil stop that ******** squirrel getting them)

aah good, it's not just me then;)

Jake'sGran

maypole wrote: »

Am I too late to plant my tulip bulbs, I forgot to do them in December:o

I would plant them now. They will come up a bit later than normal that's all.
I got some very cheap bulbs from a shop we use called Quality Save. Two packets of hyacinths and two of Tete a Tete narcissi each 10p. I put them all in plant pots at the weekend. Nothing to lose really although I think the daffs will definitely bloom.

mel_mel

I tend to find if I put my shrubs straight into the ground they take a longer time to get going or die off. Now I always pot them up when I buy them or pot them on if already in a pot. This way they settle into the compost better and get better aclimatised to my garden. I just put the pot where I will be planting them and leave them til I see new growth or the roots have started to grow in the pot. Depending on time of year but usually you can see a difference in about 6-8weeks. Then I did a hole and plant the whole lot, the roots aren't disturbed so much and they are already settled into compost so not such a shock to them, it also helps as our weather has been so unpredictable in spring and being quite wet in april/may. Hope this helps you

billieboy_2

mel_mel wrote: »

I tend to find if I put my shrubs straight into the ground they take a longer time to get going or die off. Now I always pot them up when I buy them or pot them on if already in a pot. This way they settle into the compost better and get better aclimatised to my garden. I just put the pot where I will be planting them and leave them til I see new growth or the roots have started to grow in the pot. Depending on time of year but usually you can see a difference in about 6-8weeks. Then I did a hole and plant the whole lot, the roots aren't disturbed so much and they are already settled into compost so not such a shock to them, it also helps as our weather has been so unpredictable in spring and being quite wet in april/may. Hope this helps you

So would you suggest doing this (potting) with raspberry canes. I received some on Tuesday and the instructions are to get them in the ground asap but when you read books on the subject they say to plant in March .

mel_mel

Yes. You might think its a lot of trouble, but I have done this the last 3-4yrs as I was getting fed up of losing things with our rotton weather. All plants and shrubs need a little while to settle even the most hardiest without getting drowned in the heavy rains we have had at the beginning of the last few years. You dont need to use big pots just as long as the roots are nice and covered. I often use 3-4inch pots or just empty pot if supplied and repot with new compost. As I said the roots get used to the compost and you can move them about better if the weather turns rotten. Its no different to heeling in bare root plants if you haven't got time to plant them yet, but with better protection.;)

billieboy_2

mel_mel wrote: »

Yes. You might think its a lot of trouble, but I have done this the last 3-4yrs as I was getting fed up of losing things with our rotton weather. All plants and shrubs need a little while to settle even the most hardiest without getting drowned in the heavy rains we have had at the beginning of the last few years. You dont need to use big pots just as long as the roots are nice and covered. I often use 3-4inch pots or just empty pot if supplied and repot with new compost. As I said the roots get used to the compost and you can move them about better if the weather turns rotten. Its no different to heeling in bare root plants if you haven't got time to plant them yet, but with better protection.;)

Think I will need bigger than 3-4" pots, the canes are about 2ft tall:rotfl: .

Also I bought some gooseberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants from Wilkinsons in cardboard boxes, should I treat them the same (they are already showing shoots and I'm keeping them in an unheated room at the mo with light)?