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Original poster

Where's all the daffodils? Brexit?

81 replies

lurchersforlife · 26/02/2023 09:48

At this time of year supermarkets usually have bunches of daffs on sale for £1, which is a cheap way to cheer up the house at this cold and generally shitty time of year. This year I've managed to get one bunch. Most places just don't seem to have them - not even empty boxes, just no sign of them at all. Yesterday in Lidl there were 2 bunches left in the box but already in bloom and wilting so I didn't bother.

Anyone know why? Is it the same factors that have affected the salad stuff? Or are they grown here and can't get picked? Either way it's fucking Brexit isn't it?

OP posts:
PamelaDawes · 26/02/2023 09:50

I have 3 batches in my house now all £1. I am in Wales. Maybe they sent them all to Wales?

Fizzadora · 26/02/2023 09:50

Of course it isn't. You were just too late and everyone else beat you to it.
Daffodils do get grown in the UK you know.

bigbadbarry · 26/02/2023 09:51

I was in Asda on Friday and they had plenty

Original poster
lurchersforlife · 26/02/2023 09:51

Well fair enough I suppose, if anywhere should have them it should be Wales. I'm glad they're available somewhere. I miss them, as a Welsh person who doesn't live there anymore.

OP posts:
Thesearmsofmine · 26/02/2023 09:52

I’ve had loads of bunches over the last few weeks, no shortage here!

Unbridezilla · 26/02/2023 09:53

Loads in m&s and Sainsburys the last fortnight. I've not been this weekend, so not seen. But mine were all £1 a bunch and grown on the Scilly Isles.

BrigitteBond · 26/02/2023 09:53

Covid, Ukraine, global warming and supply-chain problems, over-50s leaving the workforce, trade union barons, and the snow in California. Not brexit-related at all.

MaryKateDanaher · 26/02/2023 09:53

I grabbed two from my local florist and afterwards I saw loads in Lidl & M&S. I was on a mission to find a cucumber, so visited a few supermarkets!

Babyleafy · 26/02/2023 09:54

Aren't the little bunches of daffs usually packaged with a union flag design, indicating grown in UK?

I'm perfectly happy to agree Brexit has been a disaster on soooo many fronts, but I haven't noticed an issue with daffs..

TheFlis12345 · 26/02/2023 09:54

The majority of the daffodils sold here ate from the UK so nothing to do with Brexit (for a change). Supermarkets near me all have plenty, I’ve bought them from M&S, Waitrose, Sainsburys and the local green grocer over the last few weeks.

Okki · 26/02/2023 09:54

We've loads here too in Derbyshire

Bagatella · 26/02/2023 09:55

I'm the opposite - loads of cheap, Uk grown daffodils for sale in London last week - not a single bunch to be found for sale when I got back home to France

LemonSwan · 26/02/2023 09:55

Yesterday went to the shops. Absolute barren land in Aldi. No cucumbers, tomatoes, chives, only shitty peppers, no raspberries except the posh dual packs, only huge packs of strawberries and eggs. Not even any bags of standard potatoes so have bought minis. And yes now you say it no daffodils.

If this is brexit then I am glad this is coming to our attention how reliant we are before the inevitable climate issues get really serious. We need to have our own greenhouses. Why on earth do we not have rows and rows on the coast like Netherlands and why on earth are we not supporting our farmers properly with subsidies.

We need to sort it out.

JanBlue · 26/02/2023 09:56

They’re grown locally to us in West Cornwall. Lots of fields going unpicked as the farmers can’t find skilled pickers. Many fields that previously had daffs now used for other crops after a shortage of pickers last year.

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2022-02-24/flowers-being-left-to-rot-on-daffodil-farms-amid-worker-shortage

Original poster
lurchersforlife · 26/02/2023 09:56

Bloody hell, just me being unlucky then. I'm in the East Mids. It's upset me so much I've got a sloppy grammatical error in my title look.

OP posts:
Babyleafy · 26/02/2023 09:57

LemonSwan · 26/02/2023 09:55

Yesterday went to the shops. Absolute barren land in Aldi. No cucumbers, tomatoes, chives, only shitty peppers, no raspberries except the posh dual packs, only huge packs of strawberries and eggs. Not even any bags of standard potatoes so have bought minis. And yes now you say it no daffodils.

If this is brexit then I am glad this is coming to our attention how reliant we are before the inevitable climate issues get really serious. We need to have our own greenhouses. Why on earth do we not have rows and rows on the coast like Netherlands and why on earth are we not supporting our farmers properly with subsidies.

We need to sort it out.

Growers aren't using the ones we have this year because of the cost of heating them....

Whattheladybird · 26/02/2023 09:57

Since brexit we have fewer temporary workers from the EU willing to pick fruit, veg, and flowers. So it might be a brexit thing, even for uk grown stuff.

BrigitteBond · 26/02/2023 09:57

The majority of the daffodils sold here ate from the UK so nothing to do with Brexit (for a change).

Yes, they're all picked by unemployed British elves and pixies, and sent to the shops using fairy dust.

Kranke · 26/02/2023 09:57

No shortage in London. Every shop I’ve been in has them. Our house is now full of cheap daffodils, tulips and hyacinths.

bumblefeline · 26/02/2023 09:58

Loads of bunches in m&s last night, oh loads of fruit and veg as well.

Caspianberg · 26/02/2023 09:58

It’s a bit early isn’t it? It’s only mid February. Usually more of an Easter thing, so end of March- end April

ChevreChase · 26/02/2023 09:58

There were concerns about daffodils this year because the requirements of ornamental growers don't count under the Home Office's seasonal workers scheme thing (so the UK can get pickers to come in to pick fruit and veg, but not flowers). However lots of people's experiences in the shops don't seem to reflect that, which is good!

LemonSwan · 26/02/2023 10:00

Babyleafy · 26/02/2023 09:57

Growers aren't using the ones we have this year because of the cost of heating them....

Show quote history

We need to be subsidising that then. We can’t expect farmers to compete with a global market and then complain equally we have no food when it’s not profitable for them to produce anything. And as pp says we need to sort the picking visas or find another way to get everything picked - whether that’s subsidising pickers wages so it’s much higher and more attractive.

Babyleafy · 26/02/2023 10:00

Babyleafy · 26/02/2023 09:57

Growers aren't using the ones we have this year because of the cost of heating them....

Show quote history

Plus tomatoes (other than canned) should be an alien thing in February. It's bonkers to heat a greenhouse to grow a tomato that won't taste of anything, especially if you're concerned about the climate crisis, as your post suggests you are!

WeCome1 · 26/02/2023 10:00

We had some a month ago and then haven’t had any until Friday.