Bare root perennials- what on earth do I do with them?

[Midlifeponderer]

I ordered some of these earlier in the year (on offer from Thompson & Morgan), never tried them before. Implanted them all up and have kept them in a cool room. They are sprouting now and I’ve planted up a few. The aquilegia seem OK, but the others are a disaster so far. I’ve kept some - echinops, echinacea, and a few others - in the house for now and I just can’t even imagine them being strong enough to plant in my fairly exposed garden.

Have I gone wrong by planting them
Up indoors first? Thanks for any advice

I think you’re meant to plant them straight outside tbh but can’t see how that would make a massive difference. They need a good soaking before planting and a decent sized hole with good compost.

I planted some last year in early April which didn’t grow so I asked for my money back, only to find shoots coming up this spring (oops). They are Astilbes and look really good now. Does it depend what species you have?

Thanks @Vursayles. I did soak them well but maybe I should have just planted them straight out. I now seem to have very tender plants which I think will get hammered in all this rain at the moment!

The warmth of even a cool room isn't matched by the light levels, so you'll have growth stimulated by the warmth, rather etiolated in its search for more light.

As long as there was a reasonably sturdy ventre to the mass of roots, they'd have been OK being planted out, and when ready would have sent out strong shoots.

As it is, you can plant out when you want, but will have to harden them off a bit first by putting the pots outside in the daytime and bringing them in on colder nights.

If you receive bare root plants and haven't time to plant them out, you can "heel them in" - open a deep slit in the soil with your spade, drop the roots in, and close up the slit.

Don't be despondent - seeing what happens when you don't follow the advice is a good way to learn.

I planted loads of bare root plants from Wilko and not a single one has germinated so you are doing better than me.

I usually pot them up and grow them on in a seat sheltered spot til, they look like they can handle themselves...unless they are really butch looking.

Plant them out, they may not do much this year but should come back next year.

Glad it’s not just me that is a bit flummoxed about them!

@MereDintofPandiculation, thank you so much for that information, it’s at least 100 times better that what was sent out with the plants. I can see that some plants have definitely etiolated (learnt something new there) and had been wondering about the warmth v light thing.

As you say, it’s all a learning game!

How big are they? I've had some in the past that I planted out straight away, but they were so titchy they didn't stand a chance and didn't come to anything.

I am waiting for some more to be delivered this week and will wait to see how big they are. With this horrendously awful weather I would definitely consider letting them grow up in a pot for a bit first.

They were pretty small really and have definitely become leggy and quite fragile looking. I’m sticking them outside and will see what happens. One to put down to experience I think.