Watering cans - expensive?

[HeyWayne]

I use two watering cans on the allotment - both cheap (I think) that I bought some years ago.

At the weekend I realised that there are a number of jobs where I need one at home too.

So, I thought I'd pick one up at the local garden centre.

Chroist! They ain't cheap - well, not at first.

The 'big' garden centre only seemed to stock Haws watering cans and their cheapest was £10 for the 6-7 litre jobby. "I'm not paying £10 for a watering can" I muttered to LadyWayne as we walked out having already spent a fortune.

I popped to the other local 'small' garden centre and nearly walked back out again when all I seemed to be able to find was more Haws watering cans - this time at £21.95!!!

Then I spotted a couple of red ones up high on a shelf. £4.99, that's more like it I thought.

It's definitely 'cheap' but all it has to do is carry/dispense water.

You'd think that these places would stock more of the cheaper ones wouldn't you - to encourage responsible watering?

[northepaul]

Hmm sometimes it doesnt pay to buy a cheap one - I bought one recently for my 6 year old - pretty one with painted flowers on - thought it was ideal for her as its only small -cost £3ish - leaks like mad!
Now filled with Dutch Iris's!

[Guttata]

They do stock the cheap ones they just sell very quickly. B&Q has the cheap ones in, as do Wilkinsons, Asda, Tesco and few other places.

I got my one from Poundland ages ago, leaked round the bit where the rose joins the spout but gaffa tape sorted that out. Not a bad bargain for a 10lt watering can.

[Florence Fennel]

I have 4 watering cans. 3 plastic and one really old but still leakproof galvanised. The plastic ones are all 6.5l and were £1.98 from Wilkinsons. I think they do a 9l one at £3.48.

[Bren In Pots]

When I watched the first Gardeners world program the other week they used one of those flexible trugs as a watering can, so that might be a cheaper alternative.

[jackie j]

I inherited 3 in my shed that was left on the lottie, no rose though so I bought a rose and it falls off if I use it the wrong way lol

[HeyWayne]

When I watched the first Gardeners world program the other week they used one of those flexible trugs as a watering can, so that might be a cheaper alternative.

Tricky not to wash away what you're watering though...

[chris]

My local (i.e. yokel) garden centre scoffed at me asking for a metal one.

"oooooooooooooooFFFFFFFF, you're looking at £30 butt for a propa metal one".

That's what I had in mind anyway, so I just nodded slowly and left !

[Jelliebabe]

Slightly different I know but I water my seedlings with a 4 pinter milk carton with holes poked into the lid! It does leak a little but It is its third year of use!

[dogsbody]

I have a large plastic one (had it for as long as I can remember) and a Haws metal one (treated myself for a "0" birthday a year or two back. The big one is great for big watering jobs (but smaller than hose size) the Haws is excellent for in the greenhouses, seed trays small pots etc. and well worth the dosh.

[Jeanied]

HW I bought 2 painted metal ones from my local wyevale when they were on sale for about £6 each. The snag? They were slightly chipped and one is a baby blue and the other a sugar pink colour!

[Madasafish]

I stood on my 15 year old one and cracked it in several places. Gaffer tape and Rapid Araldite avoided spending money...

Edit.
The rose used to fall off but insulating tape around the spout and it stays on....

[Two_Sheds]

I have 4 watering cans. ... plastic ones are all 6.5l and were £1.98 from Wilkinsons.

I think I've got 6 or 7 of those now
They're great, not too heavy for me. I leave them around the plot, filled & ready to use

[ginger ninger]

I've got my dad's Haws watering can it's about 40 year old and still works great, it's dark red hard plastic the only thing I've bought for it was a fine rose, but I have a packet of the one's you screw on to a 2 litter plastic bottle, there great for seedlings.

[TonyF]

French watering cans are the pants and way too expensive - and awkward too, not well balanced.

I've got a couple of French plastics, a couple of galvanised cans which I think we inherited from J's Dad yonks ago and a Haws plastic. We're also getting another Haws in a couple of weeks, shipped to cousin in the UK who's visiting us in a couple of months, then we can dump the other plastics.

I'm really fortunate in that at my stage of life I can afford to pay for what I want and what will probably last me until I'm mixed in the compost heap