How to grow Hostas in the UK
Big, beautiful leaves for shady corners, with tall lilac flowers in summer.
- DifficultyA bit more care
- WhereBeds or Pots
- Sunpart shade or shade
- Grows to50cm
- Spacing50cm
- Time to first pickabout 12 weeks
- Typeperennial
When to sow, plant and harvest hostas
| Plant | mid March to late May |
|---|---|
| In flower | early July to late August |
Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.
Planting it
- Water your new plants in their pots first
- Dig a hole a bit bigger than the pot
- Tip the plant out gently, holding the leaves, not the stem
- Pop it in the hole, firm the soil around it, and water well
- Space the plants about 50cm apart each way
Top tips for growing hostas
- Slugs and snails ADORE hostas - grow them in a pot to protect them.
Looking after hostas
- At planting: Check your hostas for slugs and snails - go out at dusk with a torch
Soil and feeding
Poor soil - really!. Nasturtiums flower best in poor soil. Feed them and you get all leaves and no flowers.
Pests and problems
- Slugs & snails: munch seedlings overnight, worst in wet weather
- Grow them in pots, and go on slug hunts at dusk
Harvesting and eating hostas
Enjoy the leaves - and the flower spikes in summer.
Saving your own hostas seed
Autumn or early spring.
- Dig up a big clump
- Pull or cut it into two or three pieces, each with roots and shoots
- Replant them - more plants for free, and the old one grows better too
Where to buy hostas plants
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
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Hostas questions
When do I plant out hostas?
Plant hostas out from mid March to late May.
When can I enjoy hostas?
Hostas is ready from early July to late August. Enjoy the leaves - and the flower spikes in summer.
How long do hostas take to grow?
Roughly 12 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are hostas easy to grow?
Hostas are rated 'a bit more care' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.
Plan your own garden: it tells you what to do and when, for your postcode.
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