Delphiniums

[bassetfeet]

I have ordered some delphinium plug plants for my south facing border
Glorious flowers and very excited .
Can i plant them out in the border in the Autumn and overwinter them? Dont have a greenhouse sadly. If not where shall I look after them until spring? Thank you .

[loopyloou]

Watching with interest. I love delphiniums . Where did you order them?

[ZadokTheBeast]

Mine got eaten within 2 days, right down to the ground. They were established plants that I put in - bloody snails. So beware, they seem to be quite tasty! Nothing else was touched!

[bassetfeet]

loopy I have sent for them via the Mail ..yup I know . Free with postage.

Zadok this happened to mine a few years back when I was more solvent and bought some in spring from garden centre . Munch munch .
And we had thrushes then to eat the snails . None now around sadly.

Am thinking now to pot them in large container and bring them in if weather awful to garage ?

I so love them . thanks for replies

[loopyloou]

We have loads of slugs and snails - despite having lots of blackbirds visiting the garden Probably not worth me attempting to grow delphiniums, then?

Hope yours grow

[funnyperson]

I am nurturing some delphiniums in pots and plan to keep them in pots and plant them out in the spring

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

I am raising a second lot of delphinium plugs as I made the mistake of putting the first batch in the ground and the slugs got them all I don't have a greenhouse and so was going to over winter them in my shed (it has a window). If they survive, I might try them in containers as I couldn't bear to see them decimated again!

[Jux]

Slug pellets? Is that really bad?

I have a lovely delicate blue delphinium which has survived in a flower bed since July. I'd hate it to get chomped when there's nothing else for those sluggybuggers.

[Rhubarbgarden]

Yes, slug pellets are that bad. Anything eating the poisoned slugs (birds, frogs, hedgehogs etc) will also be poisoned.

Some dogs seem to find the pellets appealing too; I know a Labrador who ate half a boxful after she broke into someone's potting shed (Miraculously she survived).

[Jux]

I did use some earlier this year. The snails just liquefied, and the slugs dried up. Where they were on paving, they are still there unless We cleared them away. Maybe I had a special type of pellet?

[DorothyGherkins]

Had some degree of success with top dressing the soil around the plants with a thick layer of gritty sand - slugs cant crawl on it. Needs to be replaced after heavy rain though.