Any rival to Parkers bulbs?

cyclonebri1

I've used Parkers for years for both bulbs and plants. Most of the time I've gone to 1 of their shops as I've found the quality disappointing sometimes when ordering online. Bulbs are usually fine but plants very small and often knocked about in transit.

They used to hold much of the catalogue stuff and other special offers but no longer do this. The nearest shop to me was 40 miles away but it was worth the trip 2 or 3 times a year.

So anyone any recomendations for both a decent garden centre, (more nursery than concrete Buddas), and online suppliers?

I'm derby/notts area

cyclonebri1

No one buys plants then:D:D Boing.

maddiemay

Not in your area anyway:D

Sorry cannot help, I haven't bought bulbs on line, is it worth buying/looking at a couple of the gardening mags to see what adverts there are?:D I usually buy plants and bulbs locally prefer the smaller family businesses and some of them do the local market, although occasionally get some of the special offers from QVC, Thompson & Morgan or Wyevale (2 Wyevales within 30 miles so generally order from their promotional e-mails and collect from store).

aggypanthus

Supermarkets or B and M! Nothing too fancy though

REEN

I like market stalls for plants and Home Bargains for bulbs. Gordon Riggs is my favourite garden centre, but it's not near you.

Callie22

Peter Nyssen is great for bulbs.

tootallulah

I buy a lot of mine at Newark market on a Friday. But for really big orders I do use Parker's.

aggypanthus

Callie22 wrote: »

Peter Nyssen is great for bulbs.

looks very good site:j

madjackslam

Have you checked a copy of the RHS Plantfinder? OK, it's a massive list of plants, but it also has nurseries - a lot of them interesting specialists. It helped me to find some locally that are great. A link for the latest version is here - http://www.rhsshop.co.uk/productdetails.aspx?id=10000084&itemno=9781907057465 - they say you have to get a new one every year, but keep an eye out for a cheap second hand recent-ish copy, because you can always check if the nursery's still going.

aggypanthus

Thanks, yes I know of that. I like to find unusual plants, managed to find 3 different wonderful thalictrums.

azzabazza

My friend orders from Spalding Bulbs every autumn. I think they are quite pricy.