Gardening: Hints and Help!

I don't know what garden centres are doing in your area but one of our centres (Otter Nurseries)) have been offering a mystery delivery box including 2 compost bags, 3 tomato plants and compost and a selection of plants, summer bulbs and bedding plants for £50. I've just heard they've sold out of their first offer but it's worth looking at your nearest garden centre or nursery to see what they are doing just now. 

Got my compost delivery from local garden centre Good Friday 😀. By the looks of things I won't need bedding plants, I scattered all mums saved seeds round the garden and germination looks good - so will hopefully have a cottage garden feel. Sadly the cosmos I took such care to sow in pots and keep in the conservatory are not cooperating 😢. But a friends sunflower seeds are romping away, they've had to be put outside for last 2 weeks, nights as well, as got a bit tall too quick, I'll need to transplant them soon.

Local florist who posted on fb that her wholesaler not complying with current rules would continue to do flowers from her garden and allotment so please bear with her on what's available. I messaged her to say I have variegated pittasporum and twisted hazel due a bit of a trim. She came yesterday, pruned them with me watching, told her not to worry but come back when she wants more. Win win. 😀. Said that she needs to find new wholesaler but I was disgusted at what she told me, if it's true, and i have no reason to disbelieve her, it'll be that sort that means we are confined to barracks for longer 😤

She did say when she came round the back what a lovely garden, well manicured - so I fear I've probably gone a bit OTT can't recall that compliment before. Never been said of my house inside 😂😂

B2. Good to have some "local" things in with the florists offerings, I expect they'll look very nice....hope you have a garden left at the end of the summer. 

I contacted Suttons about receiving damaged plants, no reply yet but I had another email from them saying my next order batch had been cancelled, none left of that particular plant. Now wish I'd grown a few more from seed, they'd have been ready by now. 

We tend to do similar with plants from Aldi and Morrison's. We grew half a dozen geraniums year from the latter and just let them die back in the Autumn. By the looks of it 5 have survived the winter and have new leaves showing.

Ottery St Mary? We used to visit quite regularly when we permanently sited the van just outside Newton Abbot.

Yes, it's still there Freddy, the company have expanded in the SW. But we like the Ottery centre best. 

Spent quite a bit there, over the years. We also used to visit ‘Jacks Patch’ just outside Teignmouth, especially in October when they sold off that seasons seed for 50p a pack 🙂

A friend of mine in Torbay visits Jacks Patch also owned by Otter nurseries now. 

I’ve been waiting for well over a month for some seed from T&M. Got an email yesterday informing me that I won’t now be receiving them 

Looks like B&Q are reopening stores gradually, including selling plants. Ours closed down permanently three years ago, but another option for others.