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Advice needed for my new plants.

Last post 11-09-2009 8:53 PM by Hanow. 5 replies.

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  • 10/09/2009 07:52 PM
    • Hanow
    • Cornwall
    • 10 Sep 2009
    • 3
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     Hello there - new gardener here, killing most, but remarkably, much has actually survived me!  I want to try and keep a number of things alive (which I grew from seed) but am unsure as to what I should do with them at this stage -put them in or nurture in the greenhouse (no heat) over winter.  Thus far I have several lupins which are currently about 6" tall with 4-6 leaves. I also have several aquiligia which are now about 8" high - again with 4 - 6 leaves. Can I put them into the ground now or do I wait?  Many thanks for any advice.

  • 10/09/2009 10:19 PM
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    Top 75 Contributor
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    I have always left lupins and aquiligia in the ground over the winter with no special treatment and they survive just fine.  We don't get a lot of frost where I live, so I don't know what you'd do with these if you do get frost.  Not a lot of help I know, sorry, but I think a lot depends on where you live and the sort of weather conditions you get as to what you can leave outside and what you need to bring in.

    One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth.
  • 11/09/2009 07:34 AM
    In reply to
    • Nigel
    • Paignton
    • 27 May 2008
    • 27
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    Both Aquilegia and Lupins are pretty hardy. I would be inclined to put them in now so they can get established before winter starts. Lupins may suffer from slugs so you will need to keep an eye out for them.

    Nigel

  • 11/09/2009 07:55 AM
    In reply to
    • Hanow
    • Cornwall
    • 10 Sep 2009
    • 3
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     CH and Nigel,  thank you for the info/advice.  I think I shall play safe and plant some/save some?  As for the slugs - I have loads - but can't do too much about them.  I can't use pellets as my dog buries everything in the garden, to then dig it up at a later date to eat it!  I have tried a ground slug pot - filled with beer - but thus far have only got one - then felt guilty because I had killed it!   However, the other 5,000 have ignored it, thus many new plants has been munched to death.  So any other ideas about pet-friendly slug prevention would be appreciated.

    Thanks again for your replies.  H.

  • 11/09/2009 08:37 PM
    In reply to
    • Kit
    • Nottingham
    • 25 Jul 2009
    • 11
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    You can help protect young plants from slug damage by cutting the base and  neck off a 2-litre plastic pop bottle, and pushing the resulting plastic tube into the ground to surround your plant. Slugs and snails can climb, but they don't find it all that easy to climb up and over this sort of tube arrangement.

    If you want to create mini-greenhouses for new plants in the spring, you can do this by cutting the bottom off one of these bottles, but leaving the neck on (with the cap removed, of course, to let in air). It won't protect a tender plant from hard frost, but it does make the most of the warmth from any spring sunshine.
  • 11/09/2009 08:53 PM
    In reply to
    • Hanow
    • Cornwall
    • 10 Sep 2009
    • 3
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     Kit, brilliant idea. Thankyou, I'll give that a try.  I planted 20 cabbage plants - all chomped to the ground. I think in addition to the slug, I also have a shrew or vole. Small, mouse-like, but with no tail. I think he/she may well be nibbling away too, and your bottle idea will certainly help there, at least whilst the plant is getting established.