I had hoped there would be some rain so I'd be able to sprout and kill weed seeds over the summer. I may have to water to do it instead. I'm in the severe drought area. Heavy oak leaf mulch is in the plans. If it's a normal year I'd figure about 4 weeks even with mulch. Where I'd really gain the time establishing is in the spring. I imagine raspberries are waking up in February here even in a bad year. When I planted them in the spring they took forever to wake up and they don't ship to me until April. I'll make the order. Thanks.

Seeing as how one of the (normally) easy crops has fizzled, I would trash everything and start again, but HEY, that's just me. I guess that is due to my initial experiences while growing shallots (newbie - 2 years). First, buy seed stock that is from a reputable source. Stuff from grocery stores often has been treated with "growth inhibitors" to prevent sprouting so the shallots remain saleable (and eat-able?). Hmmmm. I got my original "seed stock" from one of the "big" mail order companies. I received first year "rounds," 3/4" to 1" length. Planted each year at (or close to) March first here in zone 6A and have had two good crops. I used the smallest leftover cloves of the previous years' crop as my seed stock. Hey, it seems like ther is no bolting if you do a spring (vs. fall) planting. I get sizeable bulbs, usually 4-7 on a finished plant. The soil has been worked with compost and is crumbly if dug with the fist - high organic content, yet with enough clay to hold some moisture. Hope this helps you.

As long your impulse purchases are locally hardy ferns, there shouldn't be any problem. Do you know the varieties? Positioning is obviously important, most ferns are shade-loving but some can tolerate some degree of direct sun. I do amend the soil by adding in a generous amount of peat moss and mulching the plant afterwards. Make sure it is kept watered if the weather is dry. That's about it. Good luck!

Thanks for the reply, that makes me feel better, because I went ahead and put plants in last week. The first frost for my zone is October 1, but October 15 is more typical for my neighborhood. I plan on putting in additional plants this weekend or next. I may be pushing my luck planting past mid September, but to me it is worth a try. Thanks again.