I have received plug plants through the post and have potted them on into small pots, I need some advice on how best to over winter them before planting out in the spring. Do I leave them outside or give them some shelter - unfortunately I don't have a green house.
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They are Digitalis, Verbena Bonariensis, Erigeron and Verbascum. I do have a cold frame. Should I put them in larger pots -they have grown into the ones I potted them in to, but are they likely to grow much more over the winter - would they need watering once in the cold frame?
Digitalis and verbascum can go in the ground where you want them to flower if the roots have filled a three inch pot. They will need no protection. The other two I would give a bit of protection in a cold frame and pot into fresh compost when they start growing in Spring. They only need to be damp over winter, let them dry out between waterings.
Thank you so much - I now have a plan.
I tend to leave things like Verb bon and foxgloves outside, but if they're smallish plants, I simply tuck them into a border somewhere. That gives them protection but also means the plants are outside dealing with the elements as well. Works well for me.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Foxgloves are outdoor plants, they grow perfectly well when they self seed, they do not need cosseting.
I think that there is a tendency to plant some stuff out when they are too small, and would do better if grown on a bit first, but it can be overdone.
Without trying to be rude, if you have never lost a plant Verdun: you are either supernatural, or you have not grown enough plants.
for the fag ends of the aristocracy.
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border