Want to share good online plant shops?

[Cathpot]

I’m slightly obsessed with Urban Herbs and now have something like 7 flavours of mint which is a good 4 more than anyone actually needs. Plus they sell an olive plant which actually tastes of olive which I really like, and a Vietnamese coriander which they say is perennial . Both the mint and the coriander take as cuttings really easily so I’m already bulking out what I’ve bought. Plants have all arrived well packaged and very healthy. Photo is done of the last 2 lots one just planted and the others about 3 weeks on . Also used Rocket Gardens for veg which I’ve liked in the past. Just ordered from them again for this year , so will see how that goes. I buy seeds from Real Seeds which I love but this year their giant mangetout were out of stock which I love so that was disappointing but will try again next year.

I largely try and grow things to eat but would like a reliable sweet pea provider if anyone has a recommend?

I know there are mixed experiences but I’ve found Sarah Raven to be back on form this year. But Sweet Peas are really easy to grow from seed and there are a gazillion suppliers online so you can start a new obsession with very little trouble at all.

Ballyrobert Gardens are reasonably priced and family run, I’ve bought from them for a long time.

how long do they take to arrive?

Thank you I will look them up. I have had really poor results with sweet pea seeds- I think I need to pay attention to the instructions maybe?!

Another vote for Ballyrobert here. So well packaged (zero plastic) and they are so helpful over email.

Crocus is just so dependable, even if they are a bit steep. Farmer gracy is fine for bulbs, bare roots can be hit and miss - this year I have had some astilbes and Japanese anemones which grew immediately, Polystichum ferns which did eventually get going but have taken the best part of six months to have actual unfurled fronds on them, geums which 5 out of 6 grew, and two sets of hardy geraniums - with the first pack 0 out of 6 grew, in the second pack 3 out of 3 have grown, and I haven’t done anything different with any of them. I also haven’t had any problems with Sarah Raven, but it is so expensive I don’t use them much.

Hayloft plants have all been fine. Thompson and Morgan are absolutely fine. Marshall’s have been good for seeds and equipment (local garden centre is tiny so it is Marshall’s or Amazon).

Bit random, but Little Shop of Horrors does tonnes of carnivorous plants - I have a Venus fly trap and a sundew from them both doing fabulously.

JParkers just didn’t deliver my order - and it was a big one, £400 when I was renovating my garden last year. Ordered in August, everything allegedly in stock and “delivered in 2-3 days”. Still not delivered by this January, despite several chaser phone calls so I cancelled and wouldn’t waste my time again.

I'll add that I stopped using Thompson and Morgan's after two bad experiences: one time the plants all arrived dead or dying; the other time, we ordered 50 English bluebell bulbs.

They came up nearly all pink and unmistakably Spanish. I did complain and was offered a refund, but that wasn't the point. Their supplier obviously needed a flea in the ear.

@WearyAuldWumman they haven't improved then?

About 20 years ago I handled customer complaints for Thompson and Morgan (Young Plants). I'd occasionally amuse myself when calling a customer by greeting them with a cheery "good morning, I'm calling from Thompson and Morgan Dead Plants..." 😂

The one goof that really aggrieved me was the (still thriving) pink Spanish hycaniths. Digging them up was just too onerous.

Well that’s Thompson and Morgan off the list!
I use green gardener as well for biological controls in greenhouse and nematodes for outside. They’ve changed their packaging this year so the greenhouse predators are easier to distribute so that was pleasing.

There is a family-run nursery very near me and I've used them on and off for years. However, apparently there was a bit of a family disagreement and one sibling has left the business and I have to say that on a recent visit I was blown away by the new selection of plants they have available.

The plants I ordered from Farmer Gracy this year have done quite well, the ones from Crocus unusually disappointing, however I will certainly be going to the local nursery as a first port of call for new plants in future.

Crocus
Thorncroft Clamatis
David Austin roses
Chiltern Seeds

all great

Sarah Raven awful And never ever go anywhere near Chris Bower. Scammer.

Sotto Gardens. Expensive but excellent quality and customer service

Roots plants for trees and hedging plants- fantastically healthy and take off brilliantly.
Agree real seeds and Chiltern seeds

We’ve used Hayloft twice recently, once the plants were fine, the second time the plants arrived badly damaged, with completely dead flowers! We complained with photos and got our money back! Not sure I’d use them again!

Champion plants really recommended- nice foxgloves.