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First time growing bedding plants from seed. Advice needed please.

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During the last few years I must have spent a fortune on bedding plants to put in tubs. I have just moved house and inherited a greenhouse never having had one before.
Ive decided to have a gow at doing my own this year and have been doing a lot of Googling! 
I need advice on 2 things please- Firstly can anyone recommend a good place to buy seeds from? Iv'e seen them in the supermarkets/Wilko etc but are those ok ar are they the equivilent of buying cheap in a 'you get what you pay for' kind of way. I also want to get some bulbs. Im happy to buy online but want to get a 'reputable' brand if it makes a difference.
Secondly- the previous owners have left 2 tubs in the greenhouse which have roses in them but they are very neglected. One s just like a tall single stalk with a rose hip left on top and the other is a small bush type that just looks 'dead'. Can I cut them down and hope they will recover or is it the wrong time of year to be doing this?
As you can tell I have a lot to learn. Thanks for reading.

Comments

  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Buying on line is usually cheapest, except for common varieties you may pick up in Wilko, Lidl etc. Those sources are all fine as there isn't necessarily a 'brand.' Some firms like Suttons might grow some of their own seeds, but there are probably hundreds of wholesale sources too.
    On-line I like Nicky's Nursery and Special Plants, but there are plenty of others and I've rarely been disappointed with annuals. The more esoteric stuff needs careful choosing and timing.
  • swingaloo2
    swingaloo2 Posts: 395 Forumite
    100 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 30 January 2021 at 5:17PM
    Thank you Davesnave, having a look at Nicky's Nursery now.
  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 35,554 Forumite
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    The roses would really benefit from being outside in the rain and cold. Cut them back to within 20cm of the base, but wait until they've had a few weeks to acclimatise to life outside.

    Wilko and Lidl are fine for the limited range they offer, but remember that thing like lobelia are harder than you expect. Also half hardy plants in a greenhouse can be destroyed by a late frost, so stick to hardier ones in the earlier sowings.
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    That's a good point about starting too early. Seeds sown in February often don't make it if the weather turns, or they get leggy due to low light levels. Seeds sown later catch up, with the possible exception of long season plants, like peppers. There are always exceptions.
  • Thank you both very much. So much to learn. I may end up looking for a gardener to come and get me started and get advice after Covid as I dont want to watse pounds and pounds and do it wrong!
  • comeandgo
    comeandgo Posts: 5,930 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Thank you both very much. So much to learn. I may end up looking for a gardener to come and get me started and get advice after Covid as I dont want to watse pounds and pounds and do it wrong!
    We have a gardening club in the near village, maybe you have one in your area?  Try Facebook and see what comes up.
  • Farway
    Farway Posts: 14,658 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Homepage Hero Name Dropper
    comeandgo said:
    Thank you both very much. So much to learn. I may end up looking for a gardener to come and get me started and get advice after Covid as I dont want to watse pounds and pounds and do it wrong!
    We have a gardening club in the near village, maybe you have one in your area?  Try Facebook and see what comes up.
    Plus there's always here to ask anything you are unsure of

    Eight out of ten owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred other peoples gardens
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