Bare root/tuber type perennials - have I killed em!

[Confuseddotcom12345]

Advice would be greatly appreciated. These arrived by courier (roots in soil of dicentra - ie bleeding heart - and aquilegia). From wilko. Instructions were minimal but I followed them and planted at advised depth. I noticed a bit on each that looked a bit greener/more stem and foliage looking but minimal. These were also underground at the indicated depth.

I have since looked online and apparently I should’ve soaked the tubers for an hour first?? And the green foliage bits should have been poking out the soil once planted??

Have I done this wrong and can it be rectified? Please advise! 😫 Thank you in advance

One of the most magical aspects of gardening is that, just when you are sure something has died below the soil, it pops it's head back up to say hello. Things want to live. They want to grow. And often they find a way to do just that.

Keep the faith. It's still very early in the year for much growth so don't despair for at least 2 months yet

I had a two packets of three strawberry plant bare roots from wilko and only one of the 6 plants survived! I think they don't last very long. I had a similar experience with the rhubarb ones too. I think I'm only going to bother with seeds or plants from now on as it's very expensive to put dead roots in the soil and get nothing!

Thank you. To be clear it was only today that I planted them so I’m just wondering if I have definitely done it wrong? 🌱🤞

If it's just today, you can always dig them up and try again. They would suffer no harm from that, I think.

However, personally I wouldn't. I'd leave them to get on and grow

Bare roots are tricky... they might grow, they might not! You could try watering them well instead of soaking - don't drown them, but if they're in damp compost that will have a similar effect.

Put them somewhere bright and sheltered and cross fingers!

You never know! I found some hellebores that had been sat outside all winter so I shoved them in last spring. They don't look spectacularly healthy admittedly, but I think they'll bounce back next year.

I'm having this anxiety about my peony. I've planted it, but where is it? Yes it's still early, but it's so warm, and so much else is popping up...

Peonies are one of those that make you wait.

I have ten years of memories of thinking, each spring, "oh no, I think the peonies have died". They never have and will pop up when they are ready. So far I only have 2/6 showing any signs of growth - but they are all well established so I have faith the others will be along in a bit...

@DidymusAmbrosius

Peonies are one of those that make you wait.

I have ten years of memories of thinking, each spring, "oh no, I think the peonies have died". They never have and will pop up when they are ready. So far I only have 2/6 showing any signs of growth - but they are all well established so I have faith the others will be along in a bit...

I've never grown them before. And they ARE making me wait I am fretting as to whether I planted too deep, or let them get too dry. Meanwhile other things gd right by are popping up.

I also didn't mark where I planted so it's not impossible I've forked it dead...

Don't fret.
I planted a dicentra straight into a large pot and assumed that it was the wrong thing to do.

It grew beautifully.

I planted Wilko’s bare root aquilegia a week ago and they’ve looking nearer dying than living! I put them in pots but they came out it the packages etiolated and looking pretty anaemic. Not holding out much hope to be honest ☹️

Let’s update in a couple months and see what’s happened. For what it’s worth, I did end up digging mine up today and soaking in a bucket before replanting 🤞