so far? depressing!

[kentishgal]

My first year trying to grow stuff and so far its been truly depressing!
Both the rhubarbs I bought failed to come up, the blueberry bush was dead, half my strawberry plants died and the first 4 raspberry canes were dead too! (Im beginning to wonder were Wilkinsons keep their stock for everything to die off)
The most upsetting thing is that as a total newbie I had no idea half my garden was dead and was happily checking my raspberries waiting for something to happen! It wasnt til I bought some currants and they showed signs of life within the week I realised...
So Ive now been to Homebase to buy more rhubarb, blueberries and raspberries. (TBH only the rhubarb and 1 raspberry look like they have decent roots).
Please tell me I might get something growing later in the year??

[Farmer_Gyles]

wilko's (or other cheapy shops) stuff isn't always the best option .... the olives and things we got from wilkos were little more than twigs .... they'll take a loooooooong time to grow into anything useful, if they actually grow .... sometimes it's better to pay a few quid more and get something more established ....

i've never had any luck with rhubarb crowns bought from any shops .... the rhubarb i have was from crowns that were dug up, split, replanted ....

your raspberries might not be dead .... leave them longer .... my well established raspberries are only just starting to show signs of life this year .... and that's on the stems that grew to 6ft tall last year ....

don't let a few failures put you off .... some of us have been growing our own for years and still have tons of failures .... try sowing seeds for other things you'll eat .... some will grow well, others won't .... sometimes you'll have really good looking seedlings that suddenly die off, sometimes they'll get eaten by birds or slugs, sometimes they'll grow really well .... it's a lot of trial and error .... just try and enjoy it !

[veggiechicken]

As Farmer Gyles says ^^^ the cheap shops are not always the best option, especially when you're starting out and unsure about what to look for.
I find it is better to pay a bit more for a potted fruit bush than to buy bare root from a cheapo shop. I'd rather have one or two decent plants to a collection of non-starters. Having said that, there are some good plants to be found cheaply but it is better to buy one that looks alive to start with. So many of the boxed plants I have seen seem a little tired!
If you're not happy about the plants you have just bought, take them back and ask for a refund or a replacement.
If you know any fruit growers, ask them for any surplus plants they may have. I'm always trying to give away raspberry canes for example and most gardeners are the same.
Don't be disheartened: we learn when things go wrong and can become complacent when everything ticks along smoothly!

[Potstubsdustbins]

One of the problems when you start out is not knowing what to look for, this only comes with experience. You may also find that other gardeners have been there before you and picked over the stock what is left is what they don't want. At this stage in you gardening career as the others have said it would be better to go to a reliable stockist and pay a few shillings more for a good quality plant.

If I may I would also say I think you are going at it a little to quickly. Slow down a little choose some easy to grow stuff to avoid disappointment. Next year will be a whole new ball game you will have learnt from this year and will be able to spread your wings a little further.

If its any consolation my blueberry gave me an excellent crop last year, checked it a couple of weeks ago dead as a dodo, no idea why.

Colin

[Chocolate8me]

I have one raspberry cane which is coming alive nicely and one that is just a stick but I am holding out for both to do well.

I planted 12 lots of seeds and only 7 have germinated. For some reason, my chilli, onions & peppers haven't worked yet but I planted more today. If they all work... Great! If not, then I will just be happy with what has come up.

I am completely new to this too so I am delighted that the likes of my babycorn, mangetout, tomatoes & strawberry are little seedlings now.

Also, maybe your plants are not dead but still dormant. There is still plenty of time for things to start taking shape. Patience is rewarding in the garden

[Newton]

Incredible edible Hoylake have rasps and strawbs to give away choccy if you want some.

[zazen999]

Choccy - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...nts_64020.html

Spend a while helping out the Dobbys and you will probably walk away with as many rasps and straws as you can cope with...

[Two_Sheds]

As has been said, Wilko isn't a nursery/garden centre, it's a shop. A dry shop with only artificial lights. You're probably OK buying bulbs and seeds from them, but with anything living you're taking a risk.

Saying that, their stock still has to legally be "fit for purpose", so if it dies, take it back. A receipt would help your case but isn't strictly necessary (you just have to reasonably prove you got the item from them: packing alone would do that)

[zazen999]

I am taking back the so called banana shallots that I bought from them last year next time I go. They did nothing but I kept the bag with them so I know what's what.

[Two_Sheds]

I'm a little fed up with Wilko's shoddy quality (in some things).

I took all my green modules back, because they split after a few weeks. If more people complained, better quality would prevail, hopefully

[di]

^ ^ Good on you Zaz and TS, I think one of the reasons they get away with selling some rubbish is that people can't be bothered to take them back for the sake of a pound or two.
That said, I have had lots of success also with the cheaper shops.

[Two_Sheds]

Good retailers WANT you to complain (nicely )
When I was a manager of a major hi-street shop (I hate them now) we were taught that for every one person who complains, there are 50 (or was it 150?) who just grumble about it to their friends, and don't go back.

If the shop knows something is wrong, they can take steps to change it

[Peas'n'Kews]

So far I have completely failed to get spring onions to germinate - am on my fourth lot, using new seed.

Sometimes things just don't work - and yes, I feel a right wally, as spring onions are meant to be easy peasy.

Hey ho.

[kentishgal]

Thanks for the encouragement! Sadly I dont drive and for some reason couldnt get my card to work on line so am limited to places within walking distance (so no garden centres..). It has been a bad start but Im still optimistic!
The raised beds are still waiting for occupants and the herbs Ive started growing from seeds have all come up nicely. Hopefully once I start sowing the veggies next month they will grow just as well. I know its going to be a steep learning curve for the next couple of years!!

[Piggle]

don't give up... I have been growing for a fair few years and have still failed to grow a decent carrot/ onion or a sizeable cabbage.

Your rhubarb might be a late starter - seriously my four bog standard , chopped up a couple of years ago clumps are romping away whilst the New Rhubrab Victoria I planted last year and lavished with manure and water is only just thinking about pushing even the start of a leaf up.