Re: Van Bourgondien

Well, Corinne, in my experience, you need to treat bare root plants
like they were cuttings that had just been struck; you can't just
plant them out in the garden; they need a good dose of TLC first.  

I always pot mine.  If the roots are at all dry, they should be
soaked for an hour or so prior to potting up.  Once potted, they need
to be kept in a green house or cold frame or shady area, protected
from wind, until they have started to show some signs that the roots
have started working again and the plant is going to recover from its
ordeal....generally two to several weeks.  When you see signs of new
growth, you know the roots are working, but it's best to wait until
they have about filled the pot and you know the plant is going to
make it.  I've made the error of planting out bare root plants I've
potted too soon and lost them, when a few more weeks in the pot would
have prevented that.

Some plants tolerate bare rooting better than others but it is an
ordeal for any plant.  I once ordered from Van B. and got bare root
plants whose roots were totally dried out.  I think of that lot,
maybe two survived.  I would not order from them again - I don't care
how well they credit or replace or what plants they are offering;
their catalog goes straight into the recycle bin, I don't even look
at it.  In today's market, there are other, better sources out there
for just about anything they'd offer.  I don't order plants from
companies because they offer replacements or refunds; I order because
I want the durn plant *this season*!  I expect live material in
decent shape; don't always get it and don't expect I will because
plants are living entities and nurseries are operated by humans, so
there will be errors and losses along the way, but that should be the
exception, not the rule.  If I get something rotting or obviously
dead, I do expect replacement, but I don't normally order again from
places that send out that sort of material.

I've received many bare root plants over the years, from assorted
sources, whose roots were properly wrapped so that they were moist
upon arrival; those (all other factors being equal) survive and
recuperate well.  I've received some where the entire plant was
enclosed in a plastic zip lock bag.  If weather is cool and transport
time is very short, this will work, but you have got to get the
foliage out of that bag immediately before rot sets in.  I've also
gotten them where the entire plant was wrapped in damp newspaper and
rot had started to set in on the foliage...not good and happens fast
with material wrapped in damp newspaper (my least favorite method of
packing for shipping).  But, even those can often be salvaged if they
haven't gotten completely slimy...you have to cut off all rot and
wash them off and plant them immediately with, preferably, an
application of some sort of fungicide.

You need to deal with all bare root plants immediately upon
receipt...drop whatever you're doing and inspect the plants.  Either
pot up; put to soak or if it's totally impossible for you to take
time to do this, make sure the roots are enclosed in damp peat or
damp paper towels and preferably wrapped in plastic wrap so they stay
damp - just the roots, mind; not the top growth if there is any.  Top
growth needs air or rot sets in quickly.  Roots do not want to be
exposed to air as they dry out quickly; some roots tolerate this and
grow on fine but many will not.

All that said, probably the key to success with bare root plants is
getting them from a really good source in the first place and I don't
consider Van B's or even Dutch Gardens to be a really good source for
anything but the more standard bulbs.  There are better sources for
the more unusual bulbs, tubers and corms.  


Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
-----------------------------------------------
Current Article: Battling Bambi
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/shade_gardening
------------------------------------------------
Complete Index of Articles by Category and Date
http://mtalt.hort.net/article-index.html
------------------------------------------------
All Suite101.com garden topics :
http://www.suite101.com/topics.cfm/635



----------
> From: taramark <taramark@WCTAtel.net>
> Their catalogue has exceptionally fine pictures,
> and that is their big draw!   They have some
> unusual plants at time, but you pay a hefty
> price for them.
> 
> The bare root plants are usually a loss to me,
> but they have been good about replacements..
> 
> Perhaps someone can instruct me in the
> art of planting bare root plants?
> 
> Last year I bought ten bare root plants
> from Dutch Bulbs, tended to them with
> loving care, and not one grew!   Dutch
> Bulbs has credited me for the entire
> amount, which is more than fair.
> 
> Corinne

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Support hort.net -- join the hort.net fund drive!
http://www.hort.net/funds/
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index