Hi all - first post so I hope I spell correctly, or you'll think I'm dyslax...disleck....dysexilic... can't spell properly. I have ten bare root Eryngium Alpinum, just arrived from a catalogue, which are already showing sprouting signs. No planting instructions with them(!) and the Internet tells me only that they are usually best planted late Winter / early Spring ie Feb-Mar (which for my location in Leeds, West Yorks, best to add a month to those). Anybody think I should plant them out now, seeing as they are sprouting, or is an alternative best to protect them from the wet times ahead? If I plant in large pots and keep them in the greenhouse, will I actually be weakening the plants for when they go outside in pretty cold - and still frosty - conditions, or should I plant them somewhere outside in a relatively sheltered spot and transplant in, say, March, to their intended spots? Help please.... moderator's note: split question into it's own topic
Hi there Boz. I've had some good results up here in Scotland with planting Eryngium Alpinum at this time of year. As you say it's best to plant them out in a sheletered spot in the garden though. As long as there are no frosts due for a week or two then they should be fine. If, however, you hear that a cold snap is on its way then mulch around the area, with either leaf mould or bark chippings, and cover the plants with garden fleece. Good luck.
Eileen, Many thanks - they are to be planted in a 'protected' spot in the front garden, planted in slits in Damp Proof Membrane and growing through medium to large sized plum slate chips (ave size two inches square, I suppose, though none of them ARE square!) This means I cannot use mulch - will the chips be enough to protect them (the roots are already sprouting as I mentioned before). Glad I can plant sometime soon, though with today's downpours, possibly a good job I did not do so yesterday!
The membrane you have down Boz should help to protect the roots - as will the slate chippings. I have both in my own front garden and have planted two small Japanese acers out there. Both have thrived even although my front garden isn't the most protected from frosts or high winds. If in doubt I would keep the garden fleece in mind to cover them with if severe weather is forecast. It helps to protect against wind, frost and even strong sunlight (something I don't need to worry about often here in Scotland ) Do keep in touch and let me know how your Eryngium Alpinum do won't you?
Thanks again, Eileen - as you;re even further up in the frozen north than I, your experiences give me pause for hope. I'll have to have a look round this site at photos from other peoples' gardens and decide if I should post any of mine! Many thanks again
Oh yes do post photographs of your garden Boz. It doesn't matter if it's not 100% perfect (after all who's is?)it's just nice to see where others play in the dirt and what they grow. :-D
