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A Strong Drink and a Peer Group

Ferdinand

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Douglas Adams, in "Life, the Universe and Everything", that Arthur Dent expressed a need for "a strong drink and a peer group".

 

That is what this Gardening Blog is for - my need for the same thing because my knowledge about gardening is patchy, just like my garden. Buildhub cannot supply a strong drink, but I am hoping that the peer group can help me get to grips with the garden I inherited last year. The idea has been around for a couple of months, and is now in a position start.

 

We talk a lot about building here, but not so much about all the aspects of the settings of our houses - planning, clearance, climate, fencing, groundworks, trees, plants, soil, hedges and all the rest.

 

That is what I hope can get a bit more coverage and conversation here, in all its aspects.

 

This is a group blog, with potentially as many authors as wish to contribute, so if you have a question, or a project, or a garden you have liked or a plant you have spotted or grown, we can sign you up as an author or do a one-off contribution. If you would like to involved as a one-off or regular, do send me a Private Message.

 

For my first question - what is the purple plant in the middle of the piccie below, and is it a weed or a specimen? Do I take it out or leave it in? Comments are most welcome. Plant identification is one of my weak points.

 

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* The header picture is of the Dill and Watercress in my microveg "Green Wall" - which has been one my new projects during the lockdown period, which I will post about more as things go on.

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daiking

Adam Frosts's book has arrived. I think its a good start and it was only £5 on Amazon a couple of weeks ago.

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daiking

Anyone care to name some decent suppliers if I was daft enough to buy a couple of small fruit trees and shrubs? 

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SteamyTea
4 minutes ago, daiking said:

Anyone care to name some decent suppliers if I was daft enough to buy a couple of small fruit trees and shrubs? 

I got two cherry trees from PoundStretchers.

You are welcome to them, one has been overgrown by the Pampas Grass and the other is a dry twig.

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daiking
Just now, SteamyTea said:

I got two cherry trees from PoundStretchers.

You are welcome to them, one has been overgrown by the Pampas Grass and the other is a dry twig.

 

crosses Poundstretcher off the list of preferred suppliers...

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Ferdinand
1 hour ago, daiking said:

Anyone care to name some decent suppliers if I was daft enough to buy a couple of small fruit trees and shrubs? 

 

Specialist fruit tree nurseries. These would be long term features of your garden so it will cost a lot of time if they pop their clogs.

 

I have bought about 8 fruit trees and  bushes this year. I went to:

 

- The two or three local (within 20 miles) nurseries that mum went to for decades and was keen on throughout.

- Primrose.co.uk (and them with James McIntyre as actual supplier). I have heard good and bad things about Primrose, especially reliabilty issues with prompt delivery, and I went with them for special offers. I have been happy, but part of one order took about 6 weeks to be delivered (presumably a switch to next year's stock). The plants were well packaged and fine, but at the smaller end (£7-12 each), so not a total disaster if lost.

 

This is a thread from Gardeners World Forum with recommendations for online nurseries. Try Fruit in the thread search.

 

https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1043094/favourite-online-nurseries/

 

 

 

Edited by Ferdinand
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daiking
17 hours ago, Ferdinand said:

 

Specialist fruit tree nurseries. These would be long term features of your garden so it will cost a lot of time if they pop their clogs.

 

I have bought about 8 fruit trees and  bushes this year. I went to:

 

- The two or three local (within 20 miles) nurseries that mum went to for decades and was keen on throughout.

- Primrose.co.uk (and them with James McIntyre as actual supplier). I have heard good and bad things about Primrose, especially reliabilty issues with prompt delivery, and I went with them for special offers. I have been happy, but part of one order took about 6 weeks to be delivered (presumably a switch to next year's stock). The plants were well packaged and fine, but at the smaller end (£7-12 each), so not a total disaster if lost.

 

This is a thread from Gardeners World Forum with recommendations for online nurseries. Try Fruit in the thread search.

 

https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1043094/favourite-online-nurseries/

 

 

 

 

Online reviews are a minefield. I've used Primrose in the past, not plants but spent about £600 on pots - All cosmetically damaged due to poor packing, even had a second delivery that had the same problem! All returned for a refund. 

 

I'm looking at a local supplier for some plants. Prices seem reasonable but I don't think stuff supplied in 9cm pots is going to cut the mustard. 

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Ferdinand
24 minutes ago, daiking said:

 

Online reviews are a minefield. I've used Primrose in the past, not plants but spent about £600 on pots - All cosmetically damaged due to poor packing, even had a second delivery that had the same problem! All returned for a refund. 

 

I'm looking at a local supplier for some plants. Prices seem reasonable but I don't think stuff supplied in 9cm pots is going to cut the mustard. 

 

Hmm.

 

Do you have any local allotment areas? Can you walk in and ask a few people for recommendations?

 

If you are out this way I can point to a couple of places I have used - some distance away but not too far if you were out for a day doing something else as well in the Peaks if the rules permit. 

Edited by Ferdinand
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