Folks does anyone ever buy online from nurseries based in Europe?? or do we tend to stick to the UK?? just wondering are their any reliable ones in Belgium,France,Netherlands etc where you might get some varieties which can't be found over here...
We actively avoid any non UK nurseries where possible. We grow plenty here and the risk of importing disease is a real concern.
On a previous thread about nurseries, I did say good things about Ballyrobert .. certainly good selection and prices OK but only had 9cm pots at that time .. about 2 months ago
No problems with delivery or packing and postage reasonable. I ordered 5 herbaceous and one ornamental grass. The herbaceous had been cut back but no real problem with that as they will come on although they don't seem particularly vigorous plants to me. However very disappointed with the grass. If I keep it in the pot for another couple of years it might begin to do something !
Looking at Ashcroft at the moment for grasses as reasonable prices and in good sized pots. Anybody had grasses from Ashcroft?
UsFour
The older you get, the more you realise that it is OK to live a life others don't understand.
Thorncroft Clematis - I first purchased from them about 6 years ago, but having mo ved house in December I've made 3 purchases since lockdown and ended up with over 20 new clematis and a couple of other climbers - all growing beautifully, and flowering as we speak! I've also bought online this year from Plantagogo for heucheras, tellima, geraniums; Beth Chatto, nice plants but expensive; Hardys Cottage Garden Plants - a number of perennials, all of which are flowering profusely; I bought plugs from Thompson & Morgan and have had 100% success with penstemons, lavender, hebes and sweetpeas; Calamazag for dianthus - all established well and flowering. As you can tell I've spent a busy few months in my new garden! I can heartily recommend all the above.
PS I've also purchased from Farmer Gracy - again, brilliant plants, all growing well and giving a beautiful display. I bought persicaria, liatris and sildacea. I've ordered bulbs from them to be delivered in September.
My experience with Farmer Gracy is mixed. I got a load of yellow daffodils that came up in a new planting of all white varieties I ordered from them. They shrugged it off as an error which happens sometimes when bags are filled incorrectly. I also ordered a amaryllis last year where it was clear it had broke dormancy and the early bud was cut off before shipment. They refunded the price. The tulips were the right varieties but they were all a little small. They send loads of emails and special "discounts" which are hard not to fall for (I did at least 3 times last year). The packaging is nice and well presented. But when they bloom, I was not impressed with the Gracy bulbs as compared to the ones I got elsewhere (direct comparison of Queen of the Night tulips with the sameosame from Aldi the Aldi ones were better). I'm quite salty about the yellow daffodils.
Do not order from Bakker. They will sell items that are discontinued and then refund you after purchase. Their selection appears larger than it really is. Also their plants come from the Netherlands which wasn't clear when I ordered and they were a bit bashed from the journey. If I had known I wouldn't have done it.
Place where I really liked ordering plants from? Hedges direct. Well packaged, shipped quickly with updates and good size plants. They even threw in a few extra whips. Everything is thriving and prices are excellent.
Posts
No problems with delivery or packing and postage reasonable. I ordered 5 herbaceous and one ornamental grass. The herbaceous had been cut back but no real problem with that as they will come on although they don't seem particularly vigorous plants to me. However very disappointed with the grass. If I keep it in the pot for another couple of years it might begin to do something !
Looking at Ashcroft at the moment for grasses as reasonable prices and in good sized pots. Anybody had grasses from Ashcroft?
The older you get, the more you realise that it is OK to live a life others don't understand.
This is for pond plants.
I have used them twice now to stock my new allotment pond.
I also ordered a amaryllis last year where it was clear it had broke dormancy and the early bud was cut off before shipment. They refunded the price.
The tulips were the right varieties but they were all a little small.
They send loads of emails and special "discounts" which are hard not to fall for (I did at least 3 times last year). The packaging is nice and well presented. But when they bloom, I was not impressed with the Gracy bulbs as compared to the ones I got elsewhere (direct comparison of Queen of the Night tulips with the sameosame from Aldi the Aldi ones were better). I'm quite salty about the yellow daffodils.
Do not order from Bakker. They will sell items that are discontinued and then refund you after purchase. Their selection appears larger than it really is. Also their plants come from the Netherlands which wasn't clear when I ordered and they were a bit bashed from the journey. If I had known I wouldn't have done it.
Well packaged, shipped quickly with updates and good size plants. They even threw in a few extra whips. Everything is thriving and prices are excellent.