Buying Plants Online

mattytun

Hi im looking to buy some plants online4 any good sites you can recommend

delmar39

I've used the following on-line providers and was very happy with my plants. They're in the ground and doing very well. You don't have to be in to receive, just leave details of where to put them. I've bought plants and 6' trees on line and happy with everything.

http://www.best4plants.co.uk/
http://www.buckingham-nurseries.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

illusio

Have bought from Thompson and Morgan with excellent results, Van Meuwen were OK but lots not in stock, and have generally done well via Ebay as long as the seller was a dedicated plant seller and not someone just offloading a load of cuttings

wayne1983

Ive bought raspberries and blackberries off someone from ebay and its early days to say how theyve done, but they came packed well and even change, she was good to deal with:beer:

kimmee

The only site I have bought from that give consistently good plants is https://www.crocus.co.uk - bit expensive but worth it imo.

Good for bulbs in my experience is J.Parkers - bought a lot of daffs from them several years ago and they were/are absolutely gorgeous and a huge selection.

Thompson & Morgan - mixed, some good stuff but a lot of mediocre plants, again in my experience.

David Austin roses - very good.

angelavdavis

Once you have something to swap, its worth trying gardenswapshop.co.uk. I have recently swapped seeds and plants and have had really good results - even better knowing it is free (other than postage of course).

I have also personally bought from:

Suttons - good for seeds, potatoes, garlic and onion setts. I haven't used them for plants
J Parker - good for small plug plants if you order early in the season, I find they are hit and miss with larger plants (careless with packaging IMHO) and later in the season they can be a bit ropey. I know others on here have had issues with their customer service.
Thompson & morgan - seeds ok
Fothergills - OK for seeds. I have experienced lost orders when using links from Gardenersworld or BBC. When I phoned with the emailed order number, they claimed it wasn't valid! I ordered through a link some strawberries last year on offer which were very poor and mildewed - less than half were successful so it was a false economy. On another occasion, I received plants which looked like they had been shaken to bits. I sent in a complaint including photo and never received a response. Of course, it may well have been their delivery method, but it would have been nice to have my complaint at least acknowledged.
Fothergills - very good but can be pricey
Alan Romans - very good for seeds and good prices.
Reads Nursery Fruits - good for trained trees. I bought a fan trained nectarine as a treat to myself. Not cheap but excellent quality four year old trained fan which easily survived the harsh winter this year and is now fruiting.

Fred.Ed

I have bought from QVC and had great results - if anything goes wrong they refund too. Their site is qvcuk.com

SailorSam

Another vote for Buckingham Nurseries, i'm wanting a wildlife garden so wanted a natural mixed hedge, Just before Christmas got about 50 plants that we just like little bare sticks, every one of them is starting to grow nicely.

weiser

ive always been happy with qvc plants

A._Badger

IME Fothergills are disorganised but if you do get a problem (and don't mind calling a damned 0845 number!) they will always sort it out to your advantage.

I ordered a blueberry, which suffered badly in transit - they replaced it without a quibble and later, when they lost a seed order, only to send it several weeks later having denied its existence before, they immediately refunded the price and let me keep both the seeds I'd ordered and the two free packets they'd included.

I get the feelng they have good intentions but have trouble keeping up!

I'd agree with the votes for Buckingham and would also add Hopes Grove near Tenterden, in Kent. They have always seemed very good.

For fruit, Welsh Fruit Stocks are excellent - though a bit obsessively 'organic' in my view.

Some may consider that a virtue, of course!

tangojulie

Recently got some plants from Wootens http://www.woottensplants.co.uk/index.html . They were outstanding. Prices are average rather than cheap but you get sturdy, well grown specimens in prime condition delivered within days in 100% recyclable packaging. Will definitely use again.

Have used Gardening Direct for plug plants and they always do well.

This year also tried Unwins for plugs, they were very disappointing, poorly rooted and badly packed. One lot didn't arrive at all due to crop failure. Money was eventually refunded and future discounts offered as compensation - but how does that compensate for the gap in the garden? And as the plants that did arrive were so poor, I won't be ordering from them again. Unwins say that they were working with new growers who couldn't cope with the poor spring conditions so things may be better in future if you're prepared to take the chance.