Repotting plants (novice here)

Mine grow everywhere, in the middle of the driveway, in pots where I haven’t planted them......just can’t get rid of the things. However, when I transplant them to pots they die.
Go figure.

Nicotiana look great crammed together in a large pot so they grow tall. It sounds as though yours are already well on the way so replant them all together.

When I do this I use a deep pot so you get the correct ratio of top to bottom to make it look balanced. You can fill the bottom of the pot with large chunks of polystyrene from used plant trays as you don't need the compost to go all the way to the bottom and it aids drainage.

Just keep watering and feeding them when necessary. Triffids is the effect you want.

I planted mine into patio planters months ago and tbh Triffids is a good description for them this year as they have gone mad. I think you could replant the entire pot of 3 into a bigger pot and let them find their own space. I don't think they'd be very happy at this stage to be separated as the roots will be very tangled. They're mostly grown as annuals so wont last that long anyway. Mine have flopped about quite a lot and constantly need dead heading. Just remember to seperate them earlier next year.

Can you plant them into a flowerbed or have you only containers? I have them in both large tubs and in beds but as they do get ‘triffid-like’ I find them easier to manage in the ground.

Anyway, as long as they’re well soaked (put pots in a bucket of water for a few hours), you can take them out, gently pull roots apart and move them where they have more space - large container with other plants will do. They do wilt quickly in hot weather but recover when watered.

Don’t throw them out- give them a chance!

Thank you Such quick responses - brilliant.

I've got some spare troughs somewhere, so I think I will try transplanting en masse into one of those and see how they get on.

Quite addictive, this gardening lark, isn't it !! I've always shunned it in the past, and now regret that.

Now that the family has grown and flown, I have gone from having my salary paid directly to the supermarket, to now having it paid directly to the garden centre, haha

Yes, I agree, just transfer them in groups into a bigger planter. I had a mixed variety of overdone seedlings left in the greenhouse, before I went on holiday. To give them a chance as I couldn’t bear to let them die, so I planted the whole lot outside in a large square, cheap, plastic planter. They thrived and DS got the beautiful mixed planter as a present for his garden.
I don’t think they really mind being close together, as long as they have water and compost.

HurdyGurdy, if you like dwarf french beans, it is easy to grow these in pots. I picked some last night to enjoy with chicken and roasties. It's rather nice picking your own stuff and eating it straight away. I also have strawberries in containers and pop out every morning to get a few to go on my cereal.

HurdyGurdy, I could agree more! I’ve just got back from a trip to collect something not gardening related and seem to have 3 plants and a planter from the 50% off section!
How did that happen?

J52 Let me know when you find the answer, please! It happens to me all the time ??? I shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near somewhere selling plants!

Liz46 - I have had a dreadful year fruit and veg wise. Barely any strawberries, the three raspberry bushes have produced about six berries between them, the golden courgette plant died before it even got to six inches tall, and I have only had two courgettes off the green courgette plant (we were over-run with the above last year).

My peas didn't even stick their heads through the soil, and the lettuces are limper in the trug than if they had been left in the fridge for a week. Even the tomato plants, whilst growing vigorously, have produced very few fruit.

I am pinning all my hopes on the carrots this year.

No idea where I went wrong this year, but really disappointed.

The chili plants that I grew from seed are growing well, so I'm hopeful they will produce something.

My chilli plants are growing well too If you have too many Hurdy Gordy it is a great way to give plants to friends I have friends I give things to and at 5hr moment I have sunflowers from seeds from Holland a beautiful morning glory from a friend in town and the most magnificent group of Californians poppies given to me by the birds
I love gardening and all the wonderful surprises

I have to 'weed' my California poppies, they pop up everywhere

Hurdygurdy, I am quite brutaĺ now, and would be inclined to separate them by cutting the roots with a carving knife and replanting them separately. Also cutting them back a bit, then keeping them well watered.
But will take no responsibility if they all die!!!

We got about 3 decent cucumbers then something went wrong and the plant is dying. We have watered it so it’s not that. The courgettes seem to be rotting on the plant before they get big enough to eat. However [fingers crossed] the tomatoes seem to be doing ok and so do DH’s chillies.
I had a nicotiana plant when I lived alone which I bought reduced from the garden centre and it thrived in my one border there. Sadly, I left it behind when I moved here.

This has reminded me that I used to grow nicotania plants years ago for the evening scent.
I must remember to grow some more another year - perhaps give away the surplus to friends, HurdyGurdy - I'm sure they will appreciate them.
Or just enjoy them.