Hello again everyone!
I did a forum search and didn't see an answer to this exact question (regarding plant age), so please excuse me if I overlooked it.

I finally got my beds and berms built, and plants should hopefully start arriving in the next few days.

My question is when is it too cold to plant 1" semp plugs that are young, unestablished and without a lot of roots? It's currently around 30 degrees at night, is that too cold? If so, what evening temps should I wait for?

Also, will a surprise frost or freeze harm them badly when this young? I think we're done with them for the year, but this winter has been one of the most bizarre and unpredictable I've seen in a long time.

Thanks for any help,
J.C.

Good morning J.C.
You can go right ahead and plant them now. Any freezes/frosts that come along will not harm them. What you will have to protect them from are critters (birds, squirrels, rodents of all kinds), until they become established. You can do that by using stakes into the ground and laying a lightweight garden cloth, one that will allow the sun and rain to penetrate. That way they critters won't pull them up and redistribute your little ones.
I have planted in January before and didn't lose a single offset, they love the cold. Meanwhile they will be making new roots.

I can't wait to see photos.

Thanks a ton Lynn!

I thought they might be okay, but I wanted to get your expert opinion.
I'd hate to have been waiting for them to arrive for months only to kill them in days.

I will be sure to post photos once everything arrives and is planted. (I ordered from a bunch of different places so the shipping is spread out from now until at least the end of April. Ugh.)

Thanks again!!
Have a great day,
J.C.

I can't wait to see photos when they all start arriving. That really is a great way to do, spreading them out for arrival. That way you won't be overwhelmed.

I wish I could say spacing shipments out was my brilliantly thought out plan, but it is just when the various companies open for spring shipping.
Even so, I will probably still be overwhelmed even though I'm only getting something like 60 plants.

JC that is a lot of planting!! Its going to look so good!! I've been looking at my photos from last summer and I'd forgotten how much they grew in just a year!!
Best of luck on this large scale project!

Thanks, I might need a bit of luck.

Can't wait for pictures!!

JC, You actually chose the best time to plant them!! Spring is the time when they grow the best and fastest, so you will have them in the ground to take advantage of their full growth season. Perfect timing.

Thanks @Twitcher.
Is there anything that can be done to help stimulate faster root growth? Or are there any tricks to keep tiny chicks alive while they develop roots?
I bought a package deal of 15 tiny chicks for a good price, but some have 0 roots at all.

I'm fully expecting to lose a few due to their size and lack of roots, but any tips would be appreciated.

Just set them on the soil, they will take care of making roots. You can place some kind of a wire cage over them so birds and rodents don't move them around.
Can't wait to see photos.

Just place them where they will not sit in water and, per Lynn, protect from predation and mischief. Best root growth appears when plant base is in contact with the ground and does not get disturbed, e.g. "moved". I like to mist new arrivals and think that helps them to grow.

Thanks Lynn,
I wasn't sure I'd have to worry about critters moving them around until I went out a couple days ago, and some were moved quite a distance.
Since they are so spread out I decided to use a "wire them to the ground" trick that I think I saw on here somewhere. Hope it works.

Should I water them any more than regular during this phase? Or anything I can do to keep leaf loss to a minimum?

Ah okay, I shall mist too.
Thanks Twitcher!

Also JC the young ones are more susceptible to harm from the sun, I usually shade them somewhat (even with rocks or an object, until they have more roots)
Good luck to ya!!

Good to know,
Thanks Greg!

Good point, greg.

JC, Are there enough people on here watching out for your best (semp) interests or what? Good luck on the babies and their rootings!