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petalpatsy

Fall or spring shipping?

18 years ago

Hi all!

I'm brand new here and I need some advice. I called to order Petit's fall 07 "Aral Sea" and Ted himself answered the phone. He asked me when I wanted it shipped, and I didn't answer right away. He suggested I'd be happier if I took shipping next April, since the daylilies love the Florida winters. Speaking to Ted Petit, I said "Okay."

Now, I'm wondering if I shouldn't get it here to middle Tennessee this September and let it settle in and grow here. Might it grow a new fan or something this fall, or be more likely to do so in the spring? What do you guys think?

Comments (7)

  • 18 years ago

    I always take Spring shipping but I am a fair bit colder. You don't want to have a daylily just start to get settled in and then get snowed on.

    Edward

  • 18 years ago

    I'm a fan of fall planting. As long as you plant it at least six weeks before your average first frost date. Link below will help you find yours.
    Ed

    Here is a link that might be useful: Frost Dates

  • 18 years ago

    Patsy,
    I'm in middle Tennessee, and you are much safer planting in the spring - especially on an expensive intro. After I lost a couple of $200 intros after fall planting, I no longer plant in the fall. Trust Ted. He knows what he's talking about. Every time I planted in September or early October, I've lost about a third of the plants.

    Debra in Nashville, TN

  • 18 years ago

    Thanks Ed and Debra. I'm in Spring Hill. Debra, may I say YIKES! and EEGAD! This is dreadful news, because I have lots of plants coming in September.

  • 18 years ago

    Petalpatsy,
    Fall planting is dicey here because the weather is so unpredictable. It's not unusual for us to have temps near 90 with very high humidity through the first week of October. And then two days later have a freeze. Southern hybridizers have told me its best to plant when night time temps are in the 60s to best avoid crown rot. If you do plant in September or early October, water them in good and then do NOT water again until you see new growth coming from the middle of the fan. (This may take as long as two weeks.) My mistake initially was watering them several times a week after first planting. I had amazingly good luck with the evergreens I potted and put up against the foundation of my house on the side that gets the most morning sun. I didn't lose any of those. I did lose these which I planted in the garden in late September and the first week of October: Benz's DARK TERRITORY, Lambertson's BLUE THROAT, Stamile's PEACOCK FEATHERS, Morss' ISIS UNVEILED and SPACECOAST SHARP TOOTH. I also had crown rot but did not totally lose MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD, STRING BIKINI and JENNY BUTTERFIELD. Another dozen (mostly evergreens) planted the same week had no problems at all.

    Debra

  • 18 years ago

    One advantage of fall planting is that, if rust develops, winter can help control it.

  • 18 years ago

    Make sure the are planted in a well drained area to avoid frost heave and be sure to mulch well. I have lost about a quarter of my fall arrivals which was 5 of 20. They were free but I won't spend money on a 75% chance of survival. I am in Nova Scotia so I am alot farther North than you. Your new ones will probably be fine but I would expect the spring arrivals to do better. I am also a bit of a worrier.

    Edward