Support your local Nurseryman - you know it makes sense!

Visited our local Nursery today.
The deals included:-
Winter Cyclamen (4" pots) £1.50 each - Tray of 12 £9.00
Winter Pansies (Tray of 6) £1.00
Winter Pansies Basket (14" basketweave basket) £8 - or 2 for £10.00
Winter Pansies (12" basket) £3.00
Chrysanthemum (10" pot - in flower) £2.00
Sweet Williams (Pack of 6) £1.00
Ajuga (4" pot) £0.50
Limelight (4" pot) £0.50

They seemed good to me. Now I've got to get them planted.

They should be cheaper still in a couple of weeks - he's away to the Sun for 2 months and things will have to go

 

I would always choose the local independents over the big chains any day. Partly for the price, but mostly because if you're not sure what you're after, or if you're not sure that the plant you've got your eye on is right for the job, then you can just ask. Usually nursery staff at the little independents not only know what they're on about, but they're passionate about it. As opposed to the big chains where the staff are only there because its a job.

 

Our local nursery is extortionate, though very good quality
There are no "sales", If they are not sold at full price then it is composted
(keeps the price up)

The small cafe is even worse a small cup of white coffee, and a very very small slice of carrot cake/ginger cake £6.95 ("small" twelve slices from a small loaf tin)

The one in the other direction has gone all commercial, landscaping stuff trees and small bushes, no plug plants,

Leaving one in the next town, which although local nursery, the stuff actuall comes from a big nursery in the Pentland hills who also supply HomeBase

Jack McH

 

That's unfortunate Jack. Are there no local farm nurseries near you? Ie farms where either the ageing farmer or his missus decides to get a sideline business on the go for a bit of pocket money while the younger staff do the actual running of the farm? We have loads of that sort of setup round my way. They advertise with hand painted badly spelled signs sticking out of a hawthorn hedge saying things like, "beding plants £5 for 48, also fresh eggs and spuds".

 

Even the small local one has gone commercial. Years back when I bought my first house, I used it and it was a small outfit, growing (mostly) their own stock, no coffee shop, nothing. Now, the plants are an afterthought. Quality has gone, and are concentrating on the coffee shop, pets, cards, furniture and the home furnishings etc....???!!! Prices are extortionate too.

 

Hi Jack
we found a reasonable Nursery in Bannockburn, which we usually visit when we go to Stirling visiting friends.
So there are some up there in the outer reaches.
Keep looking - they're out there somewhere.

 

I found a localish nursey(back of his house) this yr and between him and his daughter they run both,she has the farm,i think they are both run ragged bless them but i got fuchsias and chrysanthymths for 50p each this summer from there,perrienials £2 each he aslo has a huge grape vine growing across one of his huge polytunnels but wasnt selling cuttings off that
Im hoping for some more bargains soon

 

Oh yes there are some around, but £12 of fuel is not worth the savings
and we do no longer do the Sunday drive anymore and expensive day out

Jack McH

 

I'm a firm believer in avoiding the chains and those that are nowt more than glorified department stores.

Fortunate enough to have five around here. Although none grow their own from scratch, two sell super healthy (very often second year) specimens that they raise from plugs, and the other two source their plants from smaller scale producers which results more often than not in their products being far from the usual fare. The final one specialises in annuals and Fuchsia at a tremendous price.

 

I have some good small nurseries nearby. Got some gems too. There are also some plant specialists on line. The garden centres stock the usual run of the mill varieties. Living in Cornwall I get to visit many nurseries stocking rare and tender plants that can survive outside or with just a little protection. A big bonus is you can talk to the expert growers for advice

 

Yes, definitely here on the island. We have no other large diy places here and only one garden centre, it's expensive and the plants are not looked after, so people will buy from the nurseries.

 

Good news!

 

Should we forward this to Wilko's as well?

 

The nearest nursery to me is independent and very pricey although I do buy from them
B&Q have upped their prices in the last year, I don't go there for plants.

Wilko's plants are of a high quality UNTILL they recieve them!