Advice & Guides

What to Expect When Ordering Plants

What to Expect When Ordering Plants

The original 'Unusual Plants' sign introduced by Beth to
ensure only the best plants are selected
 
 
 

Our extensive range of plants, grown from cuttings, seeds and divisions from selections in Beth's garden and stockbeds, are available to purchase all year round if stock allows. We ensure only the strongest, healthiest, and fully rooted plants make their way to your garden as we want them to be ready for planting as soon as they reach your doorstep. Our hardy plants grow 'tough' which means we let them take their time to grow and flourish, without interfering with artificial heat or light. This way, they adjust to their natural rhythm, building robustness and resilience and bloom in sync with the changing seasons

 

 

What to Expect When Ordering Plants

Mel is part of the team who help care for plants
until they are ready for delivery

 

Our knowledgable team propagate more than 2,000 varieties of plants, producing over 150,000 plants each year. All our plants are grown in peat free compost. Our team understand the importance of growing these plants to be resilient and robust, and their hard work and dedication ensures that once in your garden, they will flourish in the conditions they like best.

 

Buying plants at different times of year

Ordering in the spring

An exciting time planning for the gardening year ahead. Some plants may show little top growth at this time of year but will grow rapidly once warmer weather and longer days arrive.

 

Ordering in the summer

Most of our herbaceous perennials will have put on all their top growth by the summer. Occasionally we will cut back some of the plants to avoid damage and to tidy up ones which have already finished flowering to promote new growth.

 

Ordering in autumn

An ideal time for ordering and planting as the moisture and warmth in the soil encourages roots to settle before winter sets in. As herbaceous plants naturally die back over winter, the top growth on many of the plants will have started this process. To tidy plants up before they arrive, we will cut back the top growth.

 

Ordering in winter

Herbaceous plants will die back to the crown and remain dormant during winter. Although there will be no signs of life during this time, the plants energy will be stored in the roots, ready and waiting to send up new growth once the warmer weather arrives.

 

 

What to Expect When Ordering Plants

What to Expect When Ordering Plants

 


What to do when your plants arrive

Carefully unpack your plants from the box as soon as they arrive. Check the compost for moisture and give them a water especially if the weather is particularly hot. Ideally you would plant as soon as possible to help plants get their roots settled before the hot weather arrives in summer or the cold weather comes in winter.

If conditions aren’t favourable for planting, due to either waterlogged or frozen ground, plants should be placed outside in a sheltered spot- out of midday sun and wind- and kept watered until conditions improve. Although it is tempting to place pots in a greenhouse or polytunnel, these plants can then become stressed due to the change in conditions once planted out. A shed or garage will also be unsuitable for storing plants as this space will be too dark.

 

 Read on: Planting in Autumn

 

 What to Expect When Ordering Plants


What to Expect When Ordering Plants

Comments (1)

Glad to hear you have had dry weather in which to work in the garden. Here in Manchester it has been horrendously WET! It has been so difficult to get out and bring my succulents into the cool greenhouse. We have some respite this weekend so I can continue with the task.
You are so right about not keeping plants in the grenhouse or garage. I just bury the pots in a space in the garden. This keeps them snug and protects from freezing whilst enabling them to grow on!
You have used such a beautiful photograph on your opening page - so wish I lived nearer!!
Best wishes
Maureen
Maureen Sawyer | 14/10/2023
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