This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Mail Order - companies to use, companies to avoid
Five companies I would happily recommend
For herbaceous perennials
https://www.tortworthplants.co.uk/
https://www.farmyardnurseries.co.uk/
For foxgloves and hollyhocks
https://www.thebotanicnursery.co.uk/
For blueberries and camellias
For herbaceous perennials
https://www.tortworthplants.co.uk/
https://www.farmyardnurseries.co.uk/
For foxgloves and hollyhocks
https://www.thebotanicnursery.co.uk/
For blueberries and camellias
Rutland, England
2
Posts
https://www.priorswoodclematis.co.uk/
I've bought 12 this year.
3 x 3 litre plants for £20 (3 for the price of 2)
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
It does seem to be that on line growers who specialize 'are the good guys'. The very best plants are from those companies who know their subject. They also know how to pack plants, they know their needs. For something rare or different from one genus, this is the way to go.They often have National Collections so knowledge is extensive.
This can result in costly p & p but I would much prefer two beautifully grown plants as a' treat' rather than trying to keep a dozen alive. Gardening isn't about doing things all in one go anyway.
Problems can arise when you order a plant like an Allium you have a space to fill it's later in the season, you need one in full flower. A dilemma for the grower will it' travel'.
It arrives broken because it is just too' blown'. The seller doesn't wish to disappoint but will do anyway. We should stop to think of these things before we order. Not the same as buying a new pair of jeans.
'Good Guys' also provided really good growing advice. Many plants are shipped in 9cm pots, many need to be potted on to bigger pots. Others can go straight into the ground.
Putting a hardy perennial in a green house can be the worst thing to do. All important information for the purchaser.
I grow alot of grasses and I can recommend Knoll Gardens I cannot fault them.
I can also recommend Sarah Raven,there are many others who have the long term knowledge and skill to ship many different plants. Sarah Raven is seen as expensive but customer service is part of their success.
Brookside send beautiful, healthy plug plants.
I have had really nice salvia plugs via Ebay from Varneys Plants and Bedwen Plants- the latter have their own website, too.
Millais send lovely rhodos and camellias.
For roses, I love Trevor White, Style Roses, C and K Jones, RV Roger and Cottage Memories- the last in particular offer really good value. I had a posting mishap once with Styles and the replacement arrived by APC courier the very next day. And C and K Jones have a delightful social media presence which includes lots of pictures of their piggies.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
They always arrive well packaged and with growing instructions. The one time I had a problem (the alliums that flowered were different to what I ordered) I sent an email to them and they promptly replied and replaced the bulbs.
I'd not buy direct from Crocus as the prices are eye-watering and I always prefer to see what I'm buying first. 3 x 3L plants for £20 I think is a bargain.
Taking them out of the pot they have a very full root system showing they've been grown well.
I just planted the coreopsis and noticed it was 2 plants in one pot, so I split them to get a free plant
There's also a farm shop a couple of miles from here - Barleylands - and they buy unwanted or overstocked plants at very low prices.
Their bargain of the day were substantial Star Jasmines in a big pot about 5ft for £30 - just down the road at a nursery the same size plant was £150!
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
J Parkers - miniscule plants that often arrive damaged or are totally different to the photos on their site. I bought Canna Louis Cottin years ago. When the corm grew it had ordinary green leaves and bright yellow flowers. Totally different from the photo that is still on their site.
Van Meuwen - Packaging and plant quality almost identical to J Parkers
Gardening Express - I've not bought from them, but I can't recall reading a good review of them on this site
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.