Perennials

Frequently Asked Questions about preordering native perennial plants

• Do I have to sign up for the perennial plant list if I'm already on your email list?  Answer: NO!
  
  If you are already on our email list as a CSA customer or vegetable customer or simply as a community member, you do NOT need to sign up again for the email list.  If you are new to our farm, please sign up to receive info about our plants.
   
• How do I place an order for perennial plants in 2021?
  
  Get on our email list to be notified of when our plants are available to order.
  
  In the meantime here is a link to our current perennial plant list with pictures and descriptions.
   
• What will picking up my perennial plants look like?
  
  You will come to the farm to get your plants on the scheduled pickup date between the scheduled times. We will have your plants picked out for you, packaged in small plastic bags, and ready to go. You will need to bring a container (cardboard box, cooler, etc.) to put your bare root plants into inside your car. We will not have crates or flats to take the plants home in.
  
  In case a variety is sold out unexpectedly, we will issue you credit based on your payment method.
   
• Do you offer order volume discounts?  Answer: YES!
  
  Pricing and volume discounts will be announced when the order form is ready for 2021.  But, yes there will be volume discounts TBA!
   
• Do I have to plant my bare root perennial plants the day I pick them up? Answer: NO!

  
  Though you don't have to plant your bare root perennial plants right away, it is ideal that you get them in the ground as soon as possible.  Bare root plants are happiest in the ground. If immediate planting is not possible, see the storage tips below.

  Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. These are hardy perennials. Cool and damp spring conditions are just what they need to make a smooth transition to a new home.
   

• If I can't plant them right away, how do I store the bare root plants to keep them in the best condition?
  
  If you are unable to plant right away, it is important to keep your plants happy by meeting their basic needs.

  # 1 Moisture:

  Happy bare root perennials are stored to keep the roots:
  Not too dry and desiccating;
  Not too wet and saturated;
  Just right (think Goldilocks here), all nice and gently moist.

  #2 Temperature and Light:

  Happy bare root perennials like the cool and dark. Ideally, plants should be stored in a refrigerator (34-38° F) before planting. Next best is a cool, shady spot. Warmer temperatures or direct sunlight can cause excessive premature growth or mold in the bag or cause the roots to dry out. Freezing can damage or kill the roots, especially when they’ve already begun to grow.

  #3 Air:

  A happy bare root perennial can breathe, but doesn’t like drafts. Don’t seal shut the plastic bag. Just leave it loosely shut.
   

• Can I just stop by the farm and pickup some plants without preordering them? Answer: Maybe!
  
  We will definitely be holding a preoder plant sale in 2021 online.  We are not sure if there will be an in person sale on the farm in 2021.  Get on our email list to be updated with the latest info. 
   

• What if I have questions about how and when to plant a garden?
  
  Check out our blog post: How to make a garden with bare root perennials.  Also please refer to our plant list with pictures and descriptions to help you decide what to plant in what conditions.

• We are also available to answer any questions you have via email. Email us at ripleyfarm@gmail.com. Other great resources for planning and planting a perennial garden with a focus on native plants are found at the websites of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Native Plant Trust, Wild Seed Project, and Prairie Moon Nursery. 
   

• Are your perennial plants organic?
  
  Yes, all of our perennial plants are MOFGA/USDA Certified Organic and grown without the use of neonicotinoids or other pesticides or fungicides. 
   

• Are they grown from seed?  If so, where do you get your seeds?
  
  Almost all of our perennial plants are seed grown.  The few that aren't are propagated from our existing stock by division.  We do not wild harvest plants for sale.  We source our seeds from a variety of seed companies, including Prairie Moon Nursery, Wild Seed Project, Native Haunts, and several others.  Many of our native perennials are grown from seeds of local provenance responsibly collected from wild populations.
   

• Do you ship perennial plants?
  
  Good question.  We are working on the ability to be able to ship plants in the future, so please join our email list to be notified of when we'll be able to ship.  Hopefully as soon as spring 2021.
   

• How will my bare root perennial plants be packaged when I receive them?
  
  Our bare root perennial plants will be packaged with a little damp peat moss around the roots and placed into small plastic bags to keep the moisture on the roots.  They will not be in pots.  When you come to the farm to get your order, your plants will be held aside for you in one of our plastic crates. You will need to bring your own container to transfer your plants into for transportation to your home in your vehicle.

If you have questions that are not answered here, please feel free to get in touch with Gene and Mary Margaret by emailing ripleyfarm@gmail.com or calling 207-564-0563.  

For new wholesale inquiries please contact Gene at ripleyfarm@gmail.com or 207-564-0563. 

Sign up for our email list and we'll let you know when our plants are ready to order for 2021.