Where is everyone getting their bedding plants from this year?

RAS

Most of the nurseries offer bedding plants at Easter, which then get frosted, so everyone goes back at Whitsun, by which time most frosts are over.

You say you like marigolds? Which sort? African, French or Calendula? Check out Lidl, seeds in this week, £1 for 5 small packs, and Wilkos 50p upwards but might have 3 for 2 offer. One thought is also Limnathes, bright, low and self seeds. Foliage is frost resistant and very bright over winter.

Nemesia, candytuft, Linaria (toadflax), California poppies, the low growing convolvulus, godetia, zinnia?

For now, look for a few primroses in supermarkets, but also watch out for vine weevil. You may be able to split the plants later.

sheramber

Bedding plants usually come on sale itoo early n supermarkets .

Wait until the weather is suitable for planting before buying.

I have found Lidl plants were good , but buy when they  are still fresh looking. 

If they have been kept inside I  place then somewhere sheltered for a couple of days before planting out . This lets then acclimatise  to being outside.

Local supermarlets  seem to stick them outside and forget them. 

Cottage_Economy

Thanks everyone, some great ideas for me to explore over the next couple of weeks. I can see I’m being a bit premature with my buying plans and will probably end up losing a lot in the coming frosts if I’m too enthusiastic. 

@Farway I think you’re right about being able to see things in the flesh. I think I’ve pretty much decided against mail order now. 

So I went out yesterday and has a scout around my local town. Sainsbury, Wilko, Aldi, Morry’s - none of them had anything outside at all. B&Q had the usual primroses in the garden centre section but most of the display was expensive made-up pots and baskets. My local factory shop had very little, mostly just crocuses and daffodils, and the rest of the bedding they did have wasn’t in great shape but I did succumb while inside to a pack of 12 bright red geraniums for £3.25, as they were part of my plan for the patio. I’ll bring those on over the next few months. I did see similar packs of verbena and petunias but I didn’t want to get carried away buying loads of tiny plants to nurture through the coming cold weather and I wasn’t sure if the variety would be the ones I would like so I left them. Lots of brassica veg seedlings but I have no green thumb when it comes to growing brassicas so I don’t bother any more. 

In the end it was Lidl that came up trumps for a bit of early colour - just had a fresh delivery of primroses 12 for £3.49. Most packs had one or two in bloom and the rest were buds so I bought some of those to dot around and brighten the place up. @sheramber good tip about putting them somewhere sheltered for a few days. I hadn’t even thought about that..

@RAS I did spot the seeds in the Lidl entrance and had a look. So cheap! I didn’t buy any yet as we have a huge pile of seed packets to go through from a relative who gave me all of hers last year. Most will be out of date but I might try some germination tests, or maybe just throw the whole lot in some soil and see what comes up.