Autumn Border Plants

[Doug99]

My autumn/winter plug plants aren't coming on at all in my cold frame. Do they need a heated greenhouse to develop from plugs before planting out in my borders?
Cheers

 

[JohnD]

Surely heat will soften them and they will be less likely to survive outside later.

Did you fray out the roots before planting them? How long have they been out? What are they?

 

[Doug99]

Surely heat will soften them and they will be less likely to survive outside later.

Did you fray out the roots before planting them? How long have they been out? What are they?

Pansie, Viola and Wallflower. I have made up a couple of baskets and left many more in small pots in my cold frame expecting them to develop before planting out. I've had them about 3 weeks now and was expecting a lot more from them. Just wondering whether the drop in weather temp has stalled their development.
I purchased spring/summer plugs from the same supplier which did rather well.

 

[lostinthelight]

https://www.gardeningdirect.co.uk/wallflowers-guide

 

[sodthisforfun]

Pansie, Viola and Wallflower. I have made up a couple of baskets and left many more in small pots in my cold frame expecting them to develop before planting out. I've had them about 3 weeks now and was expecting a lot more from them. Just wondering whether the drop in weather temp has stalled their development.
I purchased spring/summer plugs from the same supplier which did rather well.

It's just down to the cold and lack of sunshine - not surprising this time of year! Pansies go dormant in the winter, which allows them to survive the cold. Pansies, violas and wallflowers come into their own in the Spring, growing well, spreading out and a ton of flowers. I think it's too optimistic to expect vibrant winter displays in this country, I've certainly never achieved it

Just a thought, your last few plants in small pots, I'd plant them into deeper soil to protect the roots from the winter frosts.