General Growing Tips

  • When you repot your plant, repot in one size larger container.  If repotted into too large of a container, it will be surrounded by a lot of excess soil and when that soil gets wet, there aren't enough roots to absorb the water, it's a recipe for root rot.
  • Do not ask us to ship in winter if you are in zone 3-7. Plants can easily get damaged from winter or late frost. Especially watch out for late frost. Late frost is very dangerous and can be harmful for plants that break dormancy. Cover the plants very nicely. To protect roots you can use high-quality straw. The roots will not develop if soil is cold so it is better to get plants when air and soil are warm. This prevents possible plant damage.
  • Do not disturb the root bulb when replanting.
  • Do not over-fertilize.
  • Keep Raspberries and Strawberries in containers until you see new growth.
  • Do not use drip irrigation systems on new plants, water by hand until plants are established.
  • Do not plant on standing water or high-water tables.
  • Do not let the soil dry out too much. Water your plants as needed.
  • Weed everything around (at least 5 feet circle) to not let the fungus weeds carry damaged plants.
  • Do not use acidic or dyed mulch. Read about mulch requirements on the website. Do not put any mulch around the plant base (at least 2-3 feet should stay mulch-free) until the plant gets established very well and starts growing vigorously then add mulch very carefully. First, do not put more than 1 inch. Please, watch how the plant reacts. Mulch should be Pine! No Cedar or Cypress, please,-too acidic. Hardwood mulch to be composted sucks out Nitrogen from the ground. You have to fertilize with high amounts of Nitrogen fertilizer to cover the deficit of Nitrogen. You can use the highest quality straw (to prevent weeds) for mulching in hot summers but it should not be pressed around. The straw should be fluffy so as not to prevent aeration.
  • Do not keep outside plants inside! It damages their root system very fast.
  • Do not place the plants you have received on the wooden, concrete, tile floors, porches, or patios. Also avoid wooden, metal tables, benches, or tables with metal netting. Plants must feel the ground. If you have weeds/grass on the ground, put some tarp or landscaping material to protect plants from fungus that weeds can develop.
  • Do not plant along or  too close to stone, brick, or concrete walls/ borders: it may decrease soil aeration, and keep too much moisture after rains or hand watering. It also can give too much shade or too much heat to increase those problems. Do not plant closer than 3 ft to any wooden walls, fences, floors, borders  etc, please,  be sure, that the plants have enough sunshine there and not over watered after the rains, working irrigation etc.
  • Protect plants from wild and domestic animals. Use metal netting, fencing, etc.
  • Keeping outdoor growing plants indoors will harm and potentially kill them. Keep Your plants outdoors on a tarp until you are ready to plant to keep them safe.
  • If you grow plants in planters in cold climates, you should protect them from winter damage. Mulch around planters and cover the plants with special white plant protective material.
  • Plant spacing, Soil requirements, pruning, pollination, watering, planting, protection, etc., can be found on our website in special chapters and below plant descriptions. 
  • Please note that shipping is always stressful on plants. Be sure to water upon receiving your plant. The best way to safeguard your plants is to keep them in a shaded, warm, protected area. DO NOT plant them in an instant,please! Typically, it can take 3-7 days for a plant to perk up upon arriving at its new home.