My bluebell bulbs from T & M smelt mouldy. They looked okay, if a bit damp, but they stunk my car out driving them home (I had them delivered to work). Funnily enough, on the way home I stopped at Aldi and they had bluebell bulbs on sale for £1 a bag. So I bought a bag of theirs (dry and not smelly) and have planted both as an experiment. Who knows? Maybe bluebell bulbs should be damp and smelly rather than dry and smell-free... I'll let you know in the spring
No fear, Welshonion. They are definitely English (both the smelly bulbs and the not). Because I am on the edge of a National Nature Reserve and most of my garden is a very active fox run, not to mention home to gadzillian squirrels, I am very conscious not to introduce invasive species of any variety. At least 50% of what I plant ends up digested and who knows where it eventually ends up, if you know what I mean
I do plant in quantities allowing for the theivery of my four-legged neighbours, btw, so I'm pretty laid back about just wandering around the flowerbeds of a morning, popping soil back into the holes dug the night before.
Life is too short to stress over what can't be changed.
I have not had any problems with GardeningExpress. I do not like paying £8 P&P but that is my choice of using them or not.
T&M plants tend to be small, too small for my liking and they often do not tell you the size of pot/plant that you should expect. Any problems have always been quickly resolved. There is no such thing as 'free'. You are paying £5-6 for the bulbs and a little for postage. In a GC you would get them cheaper! If you fall for their advertising then caveat emptor.
J Parkers - no issues and for bulbs they are very good. Plants are much larger than T&M and all have thrived.
I tend to use specialist seed and plant suppliers, all of whom I would recommend and would be happy to name but am not sure if this is the right place.
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i tend to think these offers should be viewed like any' so called bargain' with suspicion
i am old fashioned and like to go to the G C and see what i am getting for my money.
My bluebell bulbs from T & M smelt mouldy. They looked okay, if a bit damp, but they stunk my car out driving them home (I had them delivered to work). Funnily enough, on the way home I stopped at Aldi and they had bluebell bulbs on sale for £1 a bag. So I bought a bag of theirs (dry and not smelly) and have planted both as an experiment. Who knows? Maybe bluebell bulbs should be damp and smelly rather than dry and smell-free... I'll let you know in the spring
Please, please check that your bluebells are the English native variety and not Spanish bluebells which hybridise with the English ones.
No fear, Welshonion. They are definitely English (both the smelly bulbs and the not). Because I am on the edge of a National Nature Reserve and most of my garden is a very active fox run, not to mention home to gadzillian squirrels, I am very conscious not to introduce invasive species of any variety. At least 50% of what I plant ends up digested and who knows where it eventually ends up, if you know what I mean
I do plant in quantities allowing for the theivery of my four-legged neighbours, btw, so I'm pretty laid back about just wandering around the flowerbeds of a morning, popping soil back into the holes dug the night before.
Life is too short to stress over what can't be changed.
I just cannot believe that T&M won in the 'best mail order and online plant retailer' category, as voted by Sun readers.
Thank you Macavity.
Just a quick update to say my native bluebells arrived two days ago (not at
all smelly thankfully!) Like my daffodils, they already had little green shoots,
so I planted them immediately in my wildflower garden and next Spring I'll
let you know whether they all come up or not. Maybe I should make a silent
apology to T&M right now.......or maybe I should wait and see what happens
first!!??
silent
I am pleased they arrived ok, i bought loads last winter but they didnt flower, just made green so i am hoping for a show this year.
Lyn did you get yours from T & M and were they wild bluebells or cultivated?
I'm just wondering as if mine are cultivated bulbs, maybe they won't work
in my wildflower garden as the soil is so poor.
I have not had any problems with GardeningExpress. I do not like paying £8 P&P but that is my choice of using them or not.
T&M plants tend to be small, too small for my liking and they often do not tell you the size of pot/plant that you should expect. Any problems have always been quickly resolved. There is no such thing as 'free'. You are paying £5-6 for the bulbs and a little for postage. In a GC you would get them cheaper! If you fall for their advertising then caveat emptor.
J Parkers - no issues and for bulbs they are very good. Plants are much larger than T&M and all have thrived.
I tend to use specialist seed and plant suppliers, all of whom I would recommend and would be happy to name but am not sure if this is the right place.