Why should you get switched on to plug plants?


Get creative and ideas-driven with a flying start this summer, says Chris Day.

How impatient are you? Come on, be brutally honest now! The way we garden and how much time we spend doing it really depends on our lifestyle but when those ever-so innovative nurserymen decided to market part-grown seedlings and cuttings just a few years ago, they were on to a winner from day one. Because, let’s be frank here, when it comes to germination, our patience can be stretched to the extreme!

Please don’t get me wrong I still grow plants from seed, but guaranteed results, especially with bedding plants, is what we want these days. That explains why major seedsmen offer supplements to their catalogues extolling the virtues of plugs in all their variety.
Plugs and pots of seedlings offer instant results, so follow our guide on how to get the best from them…

My 7 tips to plug success…
1. Don’t buy too early if you do not have the space to grow on your plants under heated conditions. The counter-balance is, if you leave it too late, the retailer might well sell out!
If you can’t plant them up straight away grow them on a bright windowsill, spacing the plants out.
2. The mesh pots can dry out very quickly indeed. The best way is to sit them in a tray of water for a few minutes so they take moisture from the base upwards.
Seedling pots have a short shelf life and cannot hang around too long before they need moving on.
3. The compost you opt for is important. Consider using a multi-purpose potting compost (Levington, Westland, Bower’s and diy own brands), making sure it is fresh. Plants susceptible to vine weevil (fuchsias) and sap-sucking aphids may benefit from potting into Levington Plant Protection Compost. One of the major suppliers of young plants, KinderGarden Plants grow many of their plants in this compost, so you can continue with the plants protection by potting into this special compost at home.
4. Carefully water the seedlings and allow them to drain for half an hour. You must keep the compost damp, watering when the top surface starts to feel dry. It’s worth noting that more seedlings die through drowning in misplaced kindness.
Seedlings benefit from being moved into individual compartment trays so they can be moved without disturbance.
5. Mesh pots need to be moved into individual 9cm (31¼2in) pots if you are not planting straight into baskets or similar planters. Hanging basket plants like trailing verbenas and fuchsias may need pinching to encourage a branching plant.
6. Most compost contains sufficient food to last around six weeks. Commence a liquid feed (liquid or soluble-based) after potting. You may need to adjust the regularity of weekly feeds if a slow-release food has been incorporated into the compost.
7. Keep a note of the plants you’ve grown from seedlings, seed and mesh pots for future reference. See how they perform and make sure you check out new varieties to keep you one-step ahead in the bedding plant display stakes!