Seeds and compost

[MissBPotter]

I know this is strictly a non essential and I am sure some people will want to berate me about that, but I would like to grow some fruit and veg this year. I already have strawberries doing well and a few herbs but would love to grow some other things. It would be great to be a little more self sufficient and it would keep me and the kids busy. Does anyone have any tips of where to buy seeds and compost online? I couldn’t find any when I went to do my supermarket shop this week. I have a raised planet ready, i think I could fit about three plants in it, maybe a bit more but I am not sure. I think it is about 90cm by 50 cm. Thank you in advance.

Do you have a Range near you? Ours is open and has a good range of seeds, compost etc. No seed trays though, I had to get those on ebay.

Thank you there is one not too far away. I will have a look. I saw someone using egg pots for seed trays I think so I might try them.

I got some compost off amazon. I'm sure more expensive than garden stores but I didn't care as my seedlings will be ready to out soon and couldn't hold on any longer

Our local garden centres are doing deliveries. Try phoning a local garden centre. Ours deliver plants, seeds compost etc

I've asked a similar question yesterday about vegetable seedlings. Apparently Sainsburys and lidl are selling some (seedlings and compost). I've also posted a question on my local 'nextdoor' page. If you are rural, I'm sure places are selling manure.

I looked into coir compost on sale at amazon/ebay etc. You add a sh1t load of water and it fluffs up many times larger. You'd need to add in compost/manure, you cant use it straight, but might be an option if you already have reasonable soil/manure and just need to add more volume.

My Morrison's has a big selection of seeds. I bought compost online from a local garden centre

Thank you all. I am not very rural so I don’t think there’s manure about but I will keep my eye open it’s a good idea. I tried my local garden centre but they didn’t have anything online so I might try calling them. Morrisons only had flower seeds and lidl nothing when I looked but thanks for your suggestions! Now thinking I might be too late and missing all this wonderful weather! Hopefully not though.

Do you have a British Garden Centre nearby (used to be Wyevale). They are doing deliveries of compost and plants

You can’t order online at my local garden centre either but they do take orders on the phone. Try calling them

Thanks again @Dodie66 I will give them a ring. I was wondering what they would do with all their plants so maybe they are still delivering. I don’t think I have a British Garden Centre nearby unfortunately.

It's well worth phoning local garden centres and nurseries - even those who don't do on-line shopping are now taking orders by phone because it's the only way they can sell anything, and because they don't have an obvious on-line presence, they're more likely to still have stock.

Also keep a eye on local facebook pages - the only source of compost near us is the local Jet garage, which also has had bread, flour, yeast and other hard-to-get items.

Failing that, do it the old-fashioned way, by planting direct into the soil which you have raked into a fine tilth (not tomatoes, peppers aubergines etc, but OK for carrots, beans and so on). You need to keep on top of weeding, and hope that mice don't take the beans.