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Autumn is the BEST time for planting. - get them in this weekend, while the soil is still warm, and they will have all autumn for their root systems to start developing. - Then next spring they will romp away a lot faster than anything planted into cold spring soil.
I did a HUGE planting last autumn, one week before the first snow. - and had less than 2% failures (all of a batch of euphatorim didn't make it)
prepare the soil well, and get planting. :)
Definitely agree with Claire. I replanted a border in our garden with perennials last September and it did superbly even through the winter we had, not one fatality - I was chuffed to bits.
Apparently there could be some frosts from the 2nd week in October (if you believe the long range forecasts) so I'd suggest getting them asap.
Get 'em in sharpish Docky, perfect time for it.
I'm on London clay too as are most of my clients - and early autumn plantings usually work fine as others have said ( although after the last couple of winters I know it can make you worry a little). Sounds like you know what you are doing and have already prepared the ground well before planting - lots of bulky organic matter helps with soil structure with clay soil. I usually mulch as well after planting (e.g. composted bark or ornamental bark) which can help insulate the plants a bit from frosts and as Brigitt says, don't let them dry out while they are getting established. Good luck!
The best time for planting, though not 9cm.
This time last year we potted our stock, mostly from 9cm plants. They maybe cheaper, but it is a false economy.
We then lost 11k worth of stock last Winter that originated from 9cm plants, but only 250 plants from a 3 litre or bigger.
Small and cheap is not always the best option, 2 and 3 litre is best.
That's worth noting - I only have experience of planting 2L or bigger.
T & S, hope your Olympic work will recoup some of last year's losses - good work on getting such a big contract! Will you be doing things different this year to minimise stock losses?
Many thanks Jenny, not buying 9cm will help us this year. After 31 years of doing this, you would think that I should know better?
As we only grow 5 litre minimum, we have found some better leads this year to help us.
Jenny Bloom said:
Your responses are just fantastic - thanks so much! sorry to hear about your disaster last year T & C - but you're supplying Olympic park? how wonderful! can't wait to see the park - sounds amazing.
Does anybody have any experience of planting out 9cm plants at this time of year? I'm heartened but worried by all your lovely replies - I won't get these in the ground until at least next weekend poss even one after so this is beginning to look like a bit of a non starter.
Claire, Gaynor - have you ever done schemes at this time of year with 9p's?
Oh woe ....
The secret is all in the ground preparation. The more prep, the better the chance of survival.
My method is water, drain, dig, add organic matter, dig again, let worms work it for a week, water, drain, plant (shortened version obviously!)
thanks Sue and everybody else, I'm so impressed by all the responses, what a wonderful resource this is - I think I'm encouraged enough to give it a go and hope for the best. I do have serious concerns about the clay and drainage but intend to incorporate yet more composted bark fines (have researched soil structure improvement exhaustively and for the short term this seems to be the most sensible way to go?) and hope it'll be sufficient to aid survival!