Forum home› Plants

Hidcote and Munstead plugs

ValleysgirlValleysgirl Posts: 304
in Plants
Hello fellow gardeners from here in Wales, I have some new Lavender plugs of Hidcote and Munstead growing well in a tray of cells  about 8 cams tall now and I can see new growth in the last few days I keep moving them out of the kitchen, warmer and the our conservatory we'll do I just trim them all now or wait another two weeks say ? 
«1

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,361
    Why do you want to trim them?
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,645
    edited April 2018
    Pot them on so their roots can grow and make sturdy plants.   Pot on in increlents starting with a pot not much bigger than the plug and go on from there till they're in 10cm pots.  Then you'll have good strong lants ready for the border.

    Trim after flowering and just enough to dead head without scalping off all their leaves.  That will keep them neat and bushy and make them produce more flower stems each following year and no getting leggy.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • ValleysgirlValleysgirl Posts: 304
    Thanks for your advice thought if I trimmed now it would help them too thicken up and maybe grow from the bottom, or I will check the roots too see if they are good and strong, you see  I don't have green fingers when it comes to Lavenders  ! This is a big challenge for me but everything else in my garden is just coming back to Life .
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,645
    They like good drainage and prefer alkaline soils to acid so use John Innes no 2 type compost to start with - good for seedlings and young plants - and, if you have any, add some horticultural grit to improve drainage.  As the plants get bigger, use John Innes no 3 which has more nutrients. 

    Given plenty of light and sunshine, an annual spring feed and good drainage they'll grow compact and sturdy.   When they do get to size to flower, you dead head by cutting back the spent flower stems at their base and about 1/2 to 1 inch into the foliage.   This keeps the plants bushy.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • ValleysgirlValleysgirl Posts: 304
    Then all we need is some SUN 
  • ValleysgirlValleysgirl Posts: 304
  • ValleysgirlValleysgirl Posts: 304
    Quandary, my lavenders have good flower stems as you can see BUT they are not going to be a nice sized plant for my border this season are they, trimming them now all over now they are small is the best option  ? 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,645
    No!   Just let them grow.  They're so teeny you will probably have to wait till next year for flowers so have some patience and grow on till they're big enough to plant out - minimum 10cm pot sized - in a sunny, well drained spot.  They don't want to be wet in winter.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 53,963
    I'd agree with Obelixx. You have to be patient with them. They're teeny tiny plants and will take a long time to be big enough to fill a decent sized pot before finally planting out. They won't grow on as quickly as annuals would. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ValleysgirlValleysgirl Posts: 304
    I would of moved them on soon, but with the luck I have had with them will heed your advice then just water occasionally and put them out to take in this glorious Sunny day and leave them be to see how them come on , here in Wales  thanks
Sign In or Register to comment.