A new garden: Ferns

Freshly arrived from the store and I have not yet decided where these will go. In a container or directly in the soil? Outdoors or indoors?

Ferns are really easy to grow and require very little attention. They thrive in moist, well-drained, shady sites in humus-rich soil. To keep the soil in good shape, give it a boost by applying a good mulch, such as well-rotted manure. If the soil is very poor, feed with fish, blood and bone in spring. If necessary, water them, but apply water to the roots and avoid wetting the leaves.

There are a huge variety of fern species and cultivars. They are all perennials and many are hardy. They can be deciduous, like the large ones growing in my garden, or evergreen, like the varieties I have just bought. These are Hart's tongue fern (Asplenium Scolopendrium), the pretty broad leaves, and Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium Trichomanes), the charming little ones packed with spores. According to RHS, Asplenia are hardy and tolerant of dry shade, but will need regular watering in their first season and would appreciate a mulch of leaf mould, bark or garden compost.