 Increasingly, plug plants are providing gardeners with an instant and reliable solution to the problem of failing seed crops. They have become ever more easy to obtain from several reputable companies, many operating from the Channel Islands where the increased sunshine and temperatures provide the ideal growing climate for plants to establish themselves, prior to sale in the UK via mail order and the internet. They are also tax exempt therefore, and cheaper for the buyer.
Plug plants are usually provided in cellular tray of between 20 and 150 plugs, for a price in the region of £12 per batch. They often come in three assorted size, with mini-plugs being approximately 4cm in height from base of the soil plug to the tip of the leaf. Mid-plugs will be approximately 7cm tall, while large plugs can be up to 10cm in height. For the amateur gardener, all of these sizes are appropriate for growing on in the greenhouse and can be cared for with a little attention and common sense. Buying plants should be considered carefully; review the mail order company and check their returns policy – many operate a no quibble refund/replace policy. This may be particularly important, as plants have been known to turn up damaged beyond repair or dead after being help in postal sorting warehouses for extensive periods of time. Equally, do not pay overly for these plugs, price does not equal quality. It simply means you are being ripped off.
Once you have selected the company, I always try to get the most for my money; purchasing 150 plugs for £10 is far more cost effective than £10 for only 40. With the 60 extra, grow them on and give them as gifts to your friends. You’ll be amazed at the friends you make with a little generosity. Equally, if 20 of the plants die in a frost, you still have a plant-able batch to work with!
Small plugs will always have to be grown indoors (in fact I advise growing EVERY plug on in the greenhouse) to ensure that they develop to their full potential, regardless of the seller’s instructions. Plugs should be placed into 3inch pots with multipurpose compost and a small pinch of Bonemeal too. They should be kept in the greenhouse, initially out of direct sunlight, but then brought into the warmest and lightest part of the greenhouse to ensure maximum growth. Water the plants carefully, taking care not to over water them or allow the compost to dry out completely.
Once large enough, you should harden the plants off by moving them outside in the daytime, then back in at night for a few days, before planting in the garden when all risk of frost has passed. This should provide you with a marvelous spread of colour and plants, at a fraction of their usual retail cost.
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