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Got up early today and checked the forum out before starting some work. Wanted to "speak out" as i did on a couple of posts about the pruning groups and advice to those new to clems.
The pruning groups are NOT A DIFFICULTY LADDER, and there is no need for someone new to clems to restrict themselves to group 3's. in fact some group 3's can be quite picky and not easy to establish.
Let's face it, the most difficult thing about clems is how long they take to establish. People lose interest after a couple of failures with little liners and how long it is going to take to get the look they dreamed of. most people do not have the time, patience or space for that.
My advice is forget the groups when selecting.
Instead:
Buy as many clems locally as you can when you start...if they are in WELL ROOTED gallons. gallons sold locally are selected for the area and usually proven performers in that zone or area. Buy the gallon and grow it till it is well rooted before you plant it if it is not well rooted.
Next choice,buy the biggest roots you can find by mail order. you are skipping ahead a couple of years by this, as you are with the well rooted gallon.
as you gain some experience, if you are really interested in clems, take advantage of little bargain clems to build your collection if you want and grow them out in pots or ground as your experience and time to care for the plants dictate.
The groups were established to take the difficulty and mystery out of growing clems in the garden...not to add mystery and develop the myth that 3's are what you have to start with. Many 3's are fussy and many 1's are easy in most climates and many 2's the same...there is no "easy guide" within these pruning group guidelines.
the TIME TO ESTABLISH IS THE DIFFICULTY CURVE, some 3's do establish quicker and it is great to get those "thugs" in the garden...but please do not take the good work that the pruning groups have done and add another layer of mystery by making it into a difficultly ladder, which it was not intended for.
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