Advice Please

Theveggardener

Last Sunday I bought 12 Strawberry plants and a Lavender. As I don't have a green house or cold frame and the weather was bad I kept them in doors on the kitchen window cill. I'd like to move them outside can I or would I risk losing them as they've been indoors in the warm.

Fairygirl

Strawberries are extremely tough, Dee. What size are the plants, and how long have they been undercover? Were they undercover where you bought them?

Theveggardener

Hi Fairygirl, thanks for your reply. I bought them last Sunday and they were sort of under cover but open to the elements, they were under a roof and the side's and back was closed, the front was fully open. I've had them indoors for 6 days. As you can see they are healthy and one or two are developing flowers due to being in the warmth of the house I think.

BobTheGardener

It might shock them a bit to go straight outside, so I would put them out during the day and bring in at night for 4-5 days.  They look quite small so would benefit by going into larger pots (eg 12cm) after that and kept outside until the roots are coming out of the bottom of the new pots, at which time plant them into their final positions.

Fairygirl

I'd try and acclimatise them a bit, Dee. Outside for a few hours each day somewhere sheltered - tucked in at the house wall or similar - and then you'll be able to keep them outside. Lavender's a wee bit more iffy as it's not keen on being waterlogged, but you can do the same with it. It won't take them long to get accustomed. Just make sure they're not left out too long at a time, and keep an eye on them. I have a couple of young plants which are in little pots, and they're just underneath a chair just now. That's all they need until they're ready to pot on or plant out. 

If you can keep them up off the ground a bit too, that'll help. A table, or even just a plank on a couple of bricks , will help prevent any waterlogging. Mine are on gravel. 

Once the weather's warmer, you can plant out the strawbs wherever you want them, or pot them on. They grow on very quickly. 

Theveggardener

Thanks BobTheGardener, I was thinking that I should pot them on and went to open the back door and it started to pour down. They are not very big as you can see and wondered if I put up my little polly tunnel, I bought it to grow lettuce under so not very tall and put then in there once I've potted then on would they be OK over night.

Theveggardener

Thanks Fairygirl, I do have one of the set benches which they could go on and cover then with fleece at night.I said to BobTheGardener I have a small polly tunnel I bought to grow my lettuce under to stop the pigeons getting at them and wondered if they would be OK over night under that it's not very tall about 20 inches I think might be less. I'd like them to go out as I don't want them getting to leggy also I wondered as they a small plants and already in bud and some flowers as well should I pinch them out to give the plant a chance to grow stronger?

Fairygirl

Ah - I see Bob has said the same as me. 
The wee polytunnel would be fine to shelter them under. They won't get leggy, they'll just get some protection from the worst of the weather while they're little. A few hours each day as we've said, and then bring them in. After a few weeks you can just keep them outside uncovered 
I've never taken the buds off strawbs, as I never remember, but it's usually recommended on small plants. Those are basically runners, so they're young, and it can help to remove them to let them build up for neat year. 

Theveggardener

Thanks again Fairygirl, yes you and BobTheGardener came back with the same good advice. Taking the flowers of is something I can do while they are indoors as it's raining here. I'll also pot them on once it stops raining, Ho for a green house but sadly no room.

Just wish it would stop raining I just want to get out and do things in the garden.

Fairygirl

Patience is the hardest thing to cultivate Dee!
I learned the hard way that you have to garden according to your own conditions. We're a good bit behind up here, so winters generally last a bit longer, and the growing season's a bit shorter. It usually pays off to give small plants a wee bit of time 
 
The strawbs will be great, and you can increase them by taking runners next year, and growing them on  too. 

Theveggardener

Thanks again Fairygirl. You live in one of my two favourite place in the UK Wales being the other place. It stopped raining so I'm of to the garden. Thanks again.