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Our Annual Sizes Explained
Annuals, as you can expect by their name, are plants that live for just one life cycle. Although they live for just one year, this doesn’t mean that they’re not valuable to the garden! Annuals are loved by gardeners across the globe, helping you add instant impact to containers, baskets and borders.
From left to right:Rapid Plug, Maxi Plug & Jumbo Plug
From left to right: Garden Ready Plugs, Maxi Plugs Jumbo Plugs
Annuals, as you can expect by their name, are plants that live for just one life cycle. Although they live for just one year, this doesn’t mean that they’re not valuable to the garden! Annuals are loved by gardeners across the globe, helping you add instant impact to containers, baskets, and borders. Our annuals are sold across two different seasons – autumn and spring.
Here’s an overview…
This is just a quick snapshot of our range.
For more in depth details such as delivery, plant height and tips, scroll further down.
Rapid Plugs
Our rapid plugs are tiny but mighty! They come in trays of 120/240 and need a bit of love and care before they can be planted outside.
Jumbo Plugs
Unilke our smaller plugs, our jumbo plugs come in tray sizes of 5 or 6. Our quality jumbo plugs will be ready for planting straight into baskets, borders, and pots.
Maxi Plugs
Our maxi plugs are our bestselling tray plant size, available in trays of 33, 66 or 132. They are slightly bigger than rapid plugs but will still need potting up before they can be transplanted outside.
Garden Ready Plants
Garden ready plugs are the largest in our range, supplied in trays of 20, 30, 40 or 60. As they are larger, they can be planted on arrival directly into their final location! Perfect for instant impact.
In More Detail...
Rapid Plugs
Our great value small but robust rapid plugs come in trays of 120/240 and are perfect if you are happy to pot on the plugs for several weeks. All products within this range are raised by dedicated UK nurseries, grown to the highest standards which we expect for our customers.
Spring Season
Last Dates for Ordering: Mid-April, whilst stocks last
Despatch Information: Delivery from Late-March onwards
Plant Height
4-7cm from the base of the plug to the top of the foliage
Plant Width
1.7cm at the top of the plug
Quantity in Each Tray
120
Parkers Tips
• Great value
• Delivered mid-March to early April
• Easy to grow & maintain
• Requires potting on but can be planted in final position once all risk of frost has passed
Maxi Plugs
Our maxi plugs, despite their name, are our mid-size plug – just slightly larger than our rapid plugs. They are available to order in trays of 33, 66 or 132, depending on the plant. They are 6-9cm from the base of the plug to the top of the foliage. They can be potted on when they arrive, or directly outside once the final frost has passed.
Like our rapid plugs, they can be potted up into 7-9cm pots to help them mature before they go outside in late spring/early summer. If you receive your maxi plugs in autumn, then we suggest potting them on indoors a bit longer than you would spring varieties. This helps them produce even stronger roots which can then withstand the winter weather.
Spring Season
Last Dates for Ordering: Early-May, whilst stocks last
Despatch Information: Delivery from early-April onwards
Autumn Season
Last Dates for Ordering: October, whilst stocks last
Despatch Information: From mid-August
Plant Height
6-9cm
Plant Width
2.2cm
Quantity in Each Tray
33, 66, 132
Parkers Tips
• Easy to grow and maintain
• Our bestselling plug plant size
• Spring varieties despatched from early April. Autumn varieties despatched from mid-August
• We advise potting on when they arrive, however they can be planted directly in their final location once all signs of frost have gone
Jumbo Plugs
Many of our summer bedding and basket plants are supplied as UK-grown jumbo plugs, grown in dedicated nurseries throughout the UK. Our quality jumbo plugs which are between 7 and 12cm from base to tip, will be ready for planting straight into baskets, borders, and pots. They are more mature than smaller plugs, meaning they will flower faster.
Spring Season
Last Dates for Ordering: Late-May, whilst stocks last
Despatch Information: Delivery from mid-April onwards
Plant Height
7-12cm
Plant Width
3-4cm
Quantity in Each Tray
See individual products for more information
Parkers Tips
• Quick to establish and bloom
• Can be planted outdoors on arrival
• Great value
Garden Ready Plants
Our Garden Ready plug plants are supplied as large plugs in trays of 20, 30, 40 or 60. They are the most mature plugs we sell and can be planted directly into their final location for near-instant results. Plants in this range will arrive approximately 10-15cm tall and 5cm in diameter. They are the quickest of any bedding and basket plug plant to establish and are sent at the optimum planting time for garden success. Depending on the variety, arrival before the last frost means they can be potted up or kept indoors before planting them outside.
Spring Season
Last Dates for Ordering: Early June, whilst stocks last
Despatch Information: Delivery from mid-May onwards
Autumn Season
Last Dates for Ordering: October, whilst stocks last
Despatch Information: Late-June to mid-September
Plant Height
10-15cm
Plant Width
5cm at the top of the plug
Quantity in Each Tray
20, 30, 40 or 60
Parkers Tips
• Packed in specially designed boxes with elasticated netting for foliage protection in transit
• Easiest to grow
• Quick to establish and bloom
• Latest season delivery at optimum planting time, from mid-May
• Suitable for planting straight out on arrival, into your borders, baskets or pots
Annual Plants FAQs
Q: What is an annual plant?
A: Annuals are plants that last just one growing cycle. Unlike a perennial or an evergreen plant, they will grow, flower, and die back all in just one calendar year. When they flower will vary, based on what plant you’re growing.
Q: What is the difference between annuals and perennials?
A: Annual plants complete their cycle within one calendar year, whereas perennials will reappear for several years without needing to be replaced.
Q: Do hardy annuals come back every year?
A: Hardy annuals are plants that can flower in late autumn and winter without an issue. These plants only last one cycle, like a spring or summer annual would.
Q: How do you plant annuals?
A: The process of growing annual plants will differ based on how big the plug is. Learn how to plant annuals in our blog ‘How to grow our plug plants’.
Q: What’s the difference between annual and biennial?
A: The difference between an annual, perennial, and a biennial plant is how long they live. Annuals are
plants that will last just one year. Biennials last two years, germinating and growing one year, flower and die back the next. Perennials can last several years, dying back and reappearing the following year.
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