I've never ordered plants online but I don't understand why you would order aliums in flower. I suspect that the flowers may have been left on so that you could see what to expect next year after you've planted them out.
Unfortunately Allium bulbs can rot and there may not be a year two. I am sure they would expect their plants to arrive in good condition. This is what should be expected from such a company as Beth Chatto. It should be exciting when new plants arrive not upsetting.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I don’t think it is that at all, all companies will get it wrong sometimes, especially as they are dealing with delicate living material. Some companies regularly get it wrong, and are called out for it. Many are usually good and as many on here over the years have found, Beth Chatto is usually good, and seeing as she is a source for some rare and interesting plants, I have often been grateful. They also have readily available experts you can talk to about growing some of their plants, which is a lot more than some companies. I will continue to use them, without concern.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
I started a thread 'Buying Ornamental Grasses on line'. I didn't want to mention Beth Chatto but now I have. Having contacted them with no reply I gave up. Then out of the blue a e mail on 9th May asking for photos of plant.I e mailed them the following day explaining it all again no reply as said I have given up on them.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Just because a company has had a stellar reputation in the past, doesn’t mean to say it has now. Things change. Management and management practices change. First Direct used to be an excellent bank but customer service has fallen through the floor and it’s virtually imposible to speak to someone now. A Michelin-starred top restaurant can lose it’s stars - you are only as good as your last meal as any chef will tell you.
There seems to be a bit of victim blaming going on here which I find unpleasant. It was BC’s choice to sell and send out alliums in flower, presumably charging accordingly, so it’s their responsibility to get them to the customer in good condition by careful packing. Yet people are implying that the OP should be grateful they didn’t cut the flowers off or should have known better than to order them in the first place. The hostas were in a sorry state too, no excuse there.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
@Nollie The alliums still appear to be in stock on line. It would be interesting to know if any replacements arrive damaged. They know that alliums with flowers won't travel well.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I have personally had nothing but brilliant orders from J Parkers (in fact, 1/4 of this garden is probably planted with their stuff), but I'm not going to argue with people who have been less fortunate.
OP, next time you want alliums, I'd recommend getting the bulbs from somewhere like Wilko. Very cheap and brilliant IME.
@GardenerSuze, I just looked, ouch, they are charging up to £9.50 for one bulb in a pot. I would certainly expect superior packaging and intact plants for that! Your experience with them doesn’t auger well does it?
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Posts
Some companies regularly get it wrong, and are called out for it. Many are usually good and as many on here over the years have found, Beth Chatto is usually good, and seeing as she is a source for some rare and interesting plants, I have often been grateful.
They also have readily available experts you can talk to about growing some of their plants, which is a lot more than some companies.
I will continue to use them, without concern.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
There seems to be a bit of victim blaming going on here which I find unpleasant. It was BC’s choice to sell and send out alliums in flower, presumably charging accordingly, so it’s their responsibility to get them to the customer in good condition by careful packing. Yet people are implying that the OP should be grateful they didn’t cut the flowers off or should have known better than to order them in the first place. The hostas were in a sorry state too, no excuse there.
I have personally had nothing but brilliant orders from J Parkers (in fact, 1/4 of this garden is probably planted with their stuff), but I'm not going to argue with people who have been less fortunate.
OP, next time you want alliums, I'd recommend getting the bulbs from somewhere like Wilko. Very cheap and brilliant IME.