Buying vegetable plants online offers gardeners access to specialty varieties and the convenience of home delivery, often bypassing the limitations of local garden centers. This method is useful for securing unusual heirloom varieties or specific cultivars that are regionally unavailable. Ordering starts through the mail also saves weeks of indoor seed-starting time, allowing gardeners to jump directly into the transplanting stage. Success depends heavily on selecting a reputable vendor and understanding the specific logistics of shipping live plants. This requires careful evaluation and precise timing to ensure the young plants arrive healthy and ready for the garden.
Evaluating Online Vegetable Plant Nurseries
The first step in a successful online plant purchase is verifying the seller’s reputation. Look for recent customer reviews and feedback specifically discussing the condition of live plant shipments and the quality of their packaging. Checking independent gardening forums or social media groups can provide insights into vendor reliability and product health.
A reputable nursery provides a clear plant guarantee or return policy, detailing what happens if the plants arrive damaged, dead, or fail to thrive shortly after planting. These policies frequently offer a replacement or refund, although they may require photographic evidence. Assess the depth of the vendor’s selection, which often indicates their expertise; specialty nurseries frequently stock unique hybrid varieties not commonly found in big box stores.
Critical Considerations for Ordering and Shipping
Understanding the format of the vegetable plant you are ordering is important, as this affects both cost and handling. Common formats include plugs, which are small, deeply rooted seedlings often shipped in trays, or starts, which are slightly larger, more established plants in small pots. Bare-root plants, such as asparagus crowns or rhubarb, are dormant and shipped without soil, requiring immediate attention upon arrival to rehydrate the roots.
Timing the order must be precise and directly tied to your local average last frost date, which defines the start of your growing season. Nurseries often use your USDA hardiness zone to determine an appropriate ship date, but the frost date is the practical measurement for planting tender vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. You should aim to place orders well in advance, sometimes six to eight weeks ahead, especially for popular or specialty varieties that sell out quickly and may involve pre-order waiting lists.
When reviewing shipping options, prioritize methods that minimize transit time, as even one extra day in a dark, confined box significantly stresses a young plant. Look for indications that the vendor uses robust, protective packaging designed to prevent crushing and ensure adequate ventilation during shipment. Some responsible nurseries will proactively delay shipping a tender variety if the weather forecast in your region or along the delivery route predicts a temperature dip that could damage the plant.
Post-Delivery Care for Newly Arrived Plants
The package must be opened immediately upon arrival to prevent the plants from overheating or suffering damage from prolonged darkness. Carefully inspect each plant for broken stems, wilted leaves, or signs of pests or mold, removing any damaged material with clean shears to prevent the spread of decay. This initial inspection helps determine if the plants are healthy enough to survive or if you need to contact the vendor about the guarantee policy.
Plants received via mail often experience shipping shock, appearing slightly wilted or pale due to the journey. To address this, water the plants thoroughly but gently, ensuring the soil is moist. Then, place them in a protected, shaded location away from direct sun and wind. Allow the plants to rest and rehydrate for at least 24 hours before beginning the process of acclimatization.
The most important step before transplanting is hardening off, which gradually introduces the young plants to the full intensity of outdoor conditions. Start by placing the plants outdoors in a shaded, sheltered spot for a few hours each day, slowly increasing their exposure to direct sunlight, wind, and cooler temperatures over seven to ten days. This process encourages the development of a thicker cuticle layer and firmer growth, helping the tender greenhouse-raised tissues withstand the garden environment.