This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Alpines online

in Plants
Exactly that
Looking to pot up my first ever Belfast sink with alpines and am rather by the prices in some garden centres, here in London.
Has anyone tried Ashwood Nurseries in the midlands, or anywhere they'd recommend please?
I'll be looking for dwarf cranesbills, hepatica, erigeron, and generally plants that do well in a partial shade to full sun site.
That said, most of the ones I've looked at seem to be out of stock on nearly everything...
Many thanks - off to prepare my sink!
0
Posts
As far as I am concerned Ashwoods charge twice as much as most for fairly common alpines.
Try http://www.pottertons.co.uk/pott/index.php
Pottertons for me as well. I don't do alpines but they've got some great plants and a nice nursery to visit
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thank you both! 2 answers within minutes - I love this site
My goodness - what a huge variety!
Now my question in, so I don't have to click on every alpine's name and work out if it's suitable...apart from any I've mentioned, what types are best in a trough, for partial shade and some hotter summer sun only June/July/August please?
Does your Belfast sink have good drainage? Most alpines prefer sharp drainage but there are things like alpine iris and auriculas and other primulas that don't mind damp feet
Hi Buttercup
yes, I think it has good drainage. It's going to be slightly raised off the ground, the plug opening is still there and unblocked - I wanted to place some zinc mesh over it, then a layer of bark chips, then 50/50 horticultural grit and John Innes No.2...then top dress with grit/gravel.
But I'm open to other suggestions!
Off to google auriculas...
Thanks Verdun.
No, I have no limestone planned.
Yes, I was hoping for true alpines - little gems/cushions, as you put it
but not sure if they only thrive in full sun or not...and I don't have full sun all year around, sadly.
Good point, Verdun - I tend to get ahead of myself, because I love plants so much that I want to try it all
Off to Google compact, true alines or the like that will like my set up.