The unexpectedly cold weather we experienced in April has made our Alstroemeria afraid to show us their faces.
And understandably so. Those sub-zero temperatures were a shock to us too - we had to get all our winter woollies out of storage!
Like us, after the warm spell in March, you were probably all geared up to get to work on your garden over Easter. But with temperatures peaking in the single digits and snow in some areas during April, that just didn’t happen.
We hope those overnight frosts didn’t kill too much of your garden off!
Chief horticulturalist at the Royal Horticultural Society, Guy Barter, said: “Overnight frosts in April are dreaded by gardeners. Magnolia and camellia flowers are ruined, fruit blossom and young fruitlets including pears and apples are spoiled and the tender tips of potatoes will be burnt off if they appear above ground. Gardener’s hearts are in their mouths through April as they anxiously scan the weather forecasts for frost warnings ready to rush out and cover vulnerable plants to ward off damage.”
FLOWERING SEASON
Alstroemerias are very easy to grow.
In the UK they flower from May to November but are usually at their finest in July or August.
Of course, with all the topsy-turvy weather we’ve experienced, the season has been a bit delayed. So although flowering season is technically upon us we are still waiting to see them flowers!
But we should see those cute little faces popping out within the next few weeks.
WHAT TO EXPECT
If you put some Alstroemeria on backorder with us and wait patiently for them to arrive, what can you expect when they do?
Your plants will arrive in a box with a specialist care guide, which includes planting instructions and maintenance tips for your new plants. They will be carefully packed in a recyclable blister pack to hold them in place and keep them safe.
We keep our 9cm plants compact to ensure that all the energy is going into the roots of the plant to make sure they will thrive in their next home.
All our plants are picked over before shipping to remove any flower spikes and excess growth, ensuring they travel to their new home with as little damage as possible. This could mean that your new plants may have very little visible green shoots above the soil. This is not detrimental to the plant at all and does not mean that your plant is dead. Alstroemeria are extremely fast growing and will begin to shoot within a couple of weeks once planted.
There may be loose soil in the blister pack once you remove the plants, again this is not a problem - we would expect some soil to loosen on its journey. This can either be discarded or added when the Alstroemeria is planted in to the garden or a larger pot.