Bad Experience?

[Jo.T]

Having grown toms from small plants brought from garden centres successfully before earlier this year i saw a 'greenhouse collection' in a well known garden seed and plant companies magazine. I thought great way to get a few varieties rather than all same type from seed but when they arrived (three weeks later than promised!) they are really, REALLY small and i'm worried that they will never catch up and fruit as well as a few others i did plant from seed (thank god!) which are now nearly two foot tall. The plugs were also crammed in the packaging, bent over and look like they've had a very rough journey. I planted them up straight away and they are still alive this morning but not looking their best!

Have i just had a bad experience or is this the norm if you order plugs by post - i've certainly learnt a hard and disappointing lesson!

[Mrs Dobby]

Sorry to hear of the experience JoT, its not something I would have expected myself, as if mail order companies made a habit of it then folks wouldnt re-use them and they'd soon be out of business, but I cant say we've ever bought plug plants, Mr D has an aversion to (as he puts it) 'cheating', and only wants things we've grown from seed or set in our plot, hence all the windowsills in our house have been full of seedlings since February!

[Flummery]

I am still awaiting the delivery of a collection of chillies from a well known company JoT. They were promised by Mid-May. I have a horrible suspicion they'll be small and manky - I eagerly await the chance to be proved wrong! This company (not named for legal reasons!) had deliverd my order in little bits this year - the salad stuff I wanted for cut and come again came in 3 separate deliveries. Very disappointed!

[vertangie]

Hmmm. I'm waiting for a tray of tomato plug plants from a well known plug plant company (or connection shall we say) and they've been delayed a week. I wonder if you guys used the same company. I've heard good things about them from a local girl who's bought some from them so thought I'd try and get a head start on my own pathetic little seedlings.

[Jo.T]

Well i'm still awaiting pepper plants from the same company and just hope these are ok as i've no back up plans for those! Next year i'll be doing all from seed like you Mrs Dobby - a hard lesson learnt i think!

[vertangie]

Me too, I have deep south facing windowsills and it's going to look like a nursery next January. My tomato seedlings don't seem to have done anything in the last month, they've a few more leaves but that's it. they came up so fast too. Gutted.

[Alice]

How disappointing Jo T. A good few years ago I placed a big order with a well known mail order company based in Holland. They advertise everywhere. The quality and condition of the plants was awful. Most of it was junked without ever being planted.

But I did do mail order with Barthelemy in Dorset (I don't think they do mail order anymore) for shrubs, trees and hedging and they were EXCELLENT.
I have may beautiful acers and cotoneasters which came from them for an excellent price.

I guess it just depends on the company.

[nick the grief]

It's a sad fact Jo T but it think a lot of these companies are as bad. I think they grossly underestimate the demand & then have to try and play catch up - never very good.

Last year I order a geranium called appleblossom when the 5 "plants" arrived I had to put them straight on to my propagator bench as 3 of them didn't have roots on!!! Oout of the 5 I manages to rescue 4 and they have never really made anything but I will try an persevere with them - cos I'm stubborn like that.

But I haven't ordered anything else from them and now only buy if I can see the plant (and yes I do knock someof them out of their pots just to check)

A well at least next year you'll have the satisfaction of knowing how good they really are

[Jo.T]

I wouldn't care but this is one of the VERY well known companies that are Nationwide!

[nick the grief]

That doesn't really matter I'm afraid A lot of these companies use the same source for there plug plants so if they cock up it means they have to wait for a slot in production.

[Alison]

Ordered a load of flowering stuff a few years ago from a nationwide company (well their seed delivery is always perfectly good) and was most disappointed, plants were late, dead, damaged, not the correct variety etc. Avoided them until I forgot about this last year and ordered some more with the same results. Got my money back on some and replacements on others but was generally very disappointed. If I want to buy a few extras I now go to the garden centre - whilst they may cost more individually, you can look over th pots and know what you're getting is healthy and when it's going to arrive at your house!

[Jo.T]

Yes - i also ordered seeds from these and delivery of those was excellent but definately wont be ordering plugs again and would advise others not to

[BarleySugar]

I won't get mail order plants again either. I ordered some special petunias last year, again from a company who has supplied seeds to my mother and myself for more years than I care to remember. When they arrived they were broken, with moldy leaves. I took digital pictures of them and emailed the company immediately. They sent a refund, and with a bit of TLC I did get the plants to grow, but they were very disappointing, not at all like the pictures in the catalogue. I spent the refund at the local nursery!

[JennieAtkinson]

Mail order is really important to me, so I do order quite regularly, but its very hit and miss even with the same firm. I've only ordered flowers so far, but the plugs have been so small, without proper growing conditions (ie a greenhouse) I would have lost the lot.

Sorry you've not had much luck JoT

[Jo.T]

The tomato plants with a lot of love and care are still hanging on in there (one still very sickly looking) but a can'[t believe how behind they are - i'll be amazed if they ever catch up. I've still some pepper plants which i was promised by today (this promise is the most recent in any number of broken ones) and still no sign! I just feel gutted - will be all from seed next year!