For context Jo, how much did you pay? In my experience you can buy full size plants for similar cost. Plants that will flower now and make an impact now
however, pleased you are happy with your purchase.
I got seeds from someone on the seeds swap thread, lovely varieties, like rhubarb crumble, rasberry ripple and other delightful foods, they are just coming into flower now so got about 100 for nothing.
Cant remember who sent them to me, I lost my messages.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I ordered from Ebay six salvia Amistad for £4.50. They should arrive this Wednesday so it will be interesting what condition they arrive in. If they are any good Verdun, I will post a pic.
I know what you are saying ther Verdun, but for me, with a large garden, buying one plant, however big, just gets lost, I have to buy in three's or fives. So thats 25.00 on just one type.
i started my garden three and half years ago with a few bare root and sale items from Parkers and have grown them on from there. Now doing cuttings and seeds of everything.
i know you can take the cuttings, which is what I do, but some people, me included would rather grow them on, I don't feel I have grown a plant unless I have actually grown it. Buying it, planting when someone has grown is just cheating, IMO.
i prefer to do seeds, usually my own, I can then get 50 of something for a pound, and can afford to have several different plants.
Seeds and cutting do well, and if you have to wait a year for your biennials or perennials so be it, that's the fun of DIY.
i have a lot of patience I don't mind waiting.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
My garden is 150ft x 60ft, so for me plugs save money, as do seeds. I bought 3 unknown bare root roses for £1.50. When they arrived I thought they were dead, but now they are covered in buds and one has three very large pink flowers on it. I also have 96 plugs that have taken off in a big way, mixed perennials which will be going in my garden, sisters garden and the school my sons go to.
I have brought several things from Thompson and Morgan. Never had a problem all very healthy. (So far) I'm happy to buy there plugs. I buy a lot cheaply and grow them on for a year or two. My garden was completely overgrown with nothing much worth saving. Plugs give me something to grow in the greenhouse whilst I'm preparing the garden. I have a very large greenhouse. Its lovely to have lots growing in there. I have in the past for example brought 72 plugs for a few pounds. I lost very few of them. So it works out great value for me.
I have a large bed I now doubt I will be able to tackle this year. But my plugs/ plants will be large enough to make an impact next year. When the beds ready. At very little cost. I probably don't want all the plugs I get. A local charity or friends get the plants I don't want.
There's a very good plant stall near my work every week. I like to treat myself after a bad day (too often) it would cost me a fortune to fill my garden with these larger plants and someone else said they get a bit lost in a larger garden. I do take cuttings where I can. It's great advice especially if your new to gardening. But cuttings alone won't fill my wasteland.
Have never had problems with T & M either, I know a lot of folk hate them, had a lot of freebees via The Daily Mail (yes, I KNOW, you hate that too!!!) Have just sent for a solar light for my front garden, shingle with large bit of driftwood, I thought would look nice lit up.
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I got seeds from someone on the seeds swap thread, lovely varieties, like rhubarb crumble, rasberry ripple and other delightful foods, they are just coming into flower now so got about 100 for nothing.
Cant remember who sent them to me, I lost my messages.
I ordered from Ebay six salvia Amistad for £4.50. They should arrive this Wednesday so it will be interesting what condition they arrive in. If they are any good Verdun, I will post a pic.
I know what you are saying ther Verdun, but for me, with a large garden, buying one plant, however big, just gets lost, I have to buy in three's or fives. So thats 25.00 on just one type.
i started my garden three and half years ago with a few bare root and sale items from Parkers and have grown them on from there. Now doing cuttings and seeds of everything.
i know you can take the cuttings, which is what I do, but some people, me included would rather grow them on, I don't feel I have grown a plant unless I have actually grown it. Buying it, planting when someone has grown is just cheating, IMO.
i prefer to do seeds, usually my own, I can then get 50 of something for a pound, and can afford to have several different plants.
Seeds and cutting do well, and if you have to wait a year for your biennials or perennials so be it, that's the fun of DIY.
i have a lot of patience I don't mind waiting.
My garden is 150ft x 60ft, so for me plugs save money, as do seeds. I bought 3 unknown bare root roses for £1.50. When they arrived I thought they were dead, but now they are covered in buds and one has three very large pink flowers on it. I also have 96 plugs that have taken off in a big way, mixed perennials which will be going in my garden, sisters garden and the school my sons go to.
I have brought several things from Thompson and Morgan. Never had a problem all very healthy. (So far) I'm happy to buy there plugs. I buy a lot cheaply and grow them on for a year or two. My garden was completely overgrown with nothing much worth saving. Plugs give me something to grow in the greenhouse whilst I'm preparing the garden. I have a very large greenhouse. Its lovely to have lots growing in there. I have in the past for example brought 72 plugs for a few pounds. I lost very few of them. So it works out great value for me.
I have a large bed I now doubt I will be able to tackle this year. But my plugs/ plants will be large enough to make an impact next year. When the beds ready. At very little cost. I probably don't want all the plugs I get. A local charity or friends get the plants I don't want.
There's a very good plant stall near my work every week. I like to treat myself after a bad day (too often) it would cost me a fortune to fill my garden with these larger plants and someone else said they get a bit lost in a larger garden. I do take cuttings where I can. It's great advice especially if your new to gardening. But cuttings alone won't fill my wasteland.
Have never had problems with T & M either, I know a lot of folk hate them, had a lot of freebees via The Daily Mail (yes, I KNOW, you hate that too!!!) Have just sent for a solar light for my front garden, shingle with large bit of driftwood, I thought would look nice lit up.
Arrived yesterday. Think they look good for the money.