Do be careful, it is only the Orientalis type hybrids which should be scalped. Hh. niger, foetidus, ericsmithii etc should only have dead or damaged leaves removed.
I grow the Orientalis hybrids by the hundred and I never remove the leaves of the babies. unless the leaves are ' bad' . I find that if I do the plant dies.
Oh and as far as Nursery prices are concerned. It has reached the stage now where we can no longer afford to buy. I am sure that in these days of cutbacks and reduced spending power there are a lot of people in the same position as us. Have they never heard of the law of diminishing returns?
By the way I still sell my fund raising stuff at £1 for Alpines and £1.50 for border plants.
7cm pot is about 6 p, a label 1p and say about 10p for compost and fertiliser. Maximum cost per plant is 20 p. Work out the rest of the costs for yourself and see how much mark up there may be at a Garden Centre.
all good advice. Although I feel sorry for growers in these difficult times and growing your own plants sure makes you realise how much care and patience it takes! Based on my success rate, I would certainly struggle to make a living that way. I save money where I can but when I simply must have a certain plant, fully grown, I am prepared to pay more for a really good, well-established, healthy plant.
Will certainly take heed of your advice re hellebore babies, Berghill
Division of Helleborus orientalis is best done in later Summer/early Autmn as they grow new roots as the temepratures begin to fall.
A little tale from a few years back.
We went to a local Supermarket (independent one) and waited while they unloaded a lorryload of plants. We looked at them as they were carried in and thought they were good quaality and price. didn't nuy as we already had all the ones we could see. Then drove to a near by gardem cemtre. Surpise, the same lorry was off loading there too. We looked at the plants, same size, same varieties same quality.................£10 more!
I am going to look at my labels tonight and then you can all tell me if they are the sort I should cut back or leave.
One was a free gift and the other variagated I bought for 7.99 from do it all as it was stunning. tge white one I have had in for 2 years the variagated has been in only one year.
they got chicken pellets twice in spring but shall I put some fish and bone round them when I dress with my spent compost??
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Lyn - that is lovely. Oh oh....
Do be careful, it is only the Orientalis type hybrids which should be scalped. Hh. niger, foetidus, ericsmithii etc should only have dead or damaged leaves removed.
I grow the Orientalis hybrids by the hundred and I never remove the leaves of the babies. unless the leaves are ' bad' . I find that if I do the plant dies.
Oh and as far as Nursery prices are concerned. It has reached the stage now where we can no longer afford to buy. I am sure that in these days of cutbacks and reduced spending power there are a lot of people in the same position as us. Have they never heard of the law of diminishing returns?
By the way I still sell my fund raising stuff at £1 for Alpines and £1.50 for border plants.
7cm pot is about 6 p, a label 1p and say about 10p for compost and fertiliser. Maximum cost per plant is 20 p. Work out the rest of the costs for yourself and see how much mark up there may be at a Garden Centre.
all good advice. Although I feel sorry for growers in these difficult times and growing your own plants sure makes you realise how much care and patience it takes! Based on my success rate, I would certainly struggle to make a living that way. I save money where I can but when I simply must have a certain plant, fully grown, I am prepared to pay more for a really good, well-established, healthy plant.
Will certainly take heed of your advice re hellebore babies, Berghill
Division of Helleborus orientalis is best done in later Summer/early Autmn as they grow new roots as the temepratures begin to fall.
A little tale from a few years back.
We went to a local Supermarket (independent one) and waited while they unloaded a lorryload of plants. We looked at them as they were carried in and thought they were good quaality and price. didn't nuy as we already had all the ones we could see. Then drove to a near by gardem cemtre. Surpise, the same lorry was off loading there too. We looked at the plants, same size, same varieties same quality.................£10 more!
I am going to look at my labels tonight and then you can all tell me if they are the sort I should cut back or leave.
One was a free gift and the other variagated I bought for 7.99 from do it all as it was stunning. tge white one I have had in for 2 years the variagated has been in only one year.
they got chicken pellets twice in spring but shall I put some fish and bone round them when I dress with my spent compost??
I have been out with the torch... Mine are heleborous niger and hellebore winter moonbeam. To scalp or not to scalp.
then will blood fish and bone and then mulch with spent compost.