Cheap B and Q plants

[Recyclingnick]

Hi all. Need a bit of advice/success/horror stories about the end of the line veg plants from B and Q. I have some space going outside and in the greenhouse so took a risk and bought loads for 10p each. Should I expect good results? Oh, they are Habanero and apache chillies, red peppers and some strawberries (breeding runners I reckon.) thanks for any help

[rustylady]

As long as they were alive when you bought them they should be fine with a bit of tlc.

[The Masons]

I always have a look at reduced plants and have bought toms, chilli's, sweetcorn and salad. The salads already gone from being eaten and the rest are doing pretty well. A bit of tlc and you shud be good

[rustylady]

strawberries (breeding runners I reckon.)

Not sure what breeding runners are - could you enlighten me please?

[veggiechicken]

I bought some lettuce seedlings yesterday at Homebase. Must be 30+ that will be salvageable - for 50p. Nearly mugged a lady with some other bargain plants in her trolley

[Mikey]

As long as its alive its a bargain, get it home give it a bit of tlc (fresh compost, liquid feed, and appropriate temperatures to the plant). You should then see most of the stressed plants revive.

Accept that you will still get some losses, DIY stores are a very stressful place for little plants, too cold infrequent or too much watering, and enough passers by to cause a draft!!!

[alldigging]

Not sure what breeding runners are - could you enlighten me please?

Its spelt with an L in my garden. Millions of them again already this year. Tons of fruit too though so can't complain

[Chomerly]

I reguarly check the "can't be bothered line" for plants that look too good to be thrown.
Ialso purchased some lettuces last week for 10p per container.
I must have had 40 of things but gave around 8 to a neighbour. Four of them i chucked because they looked like the stems had gone mushy near the soil level and the rest are growing quite well.

I didn't have enough room for about 15 of them so i chucked 6 in a pot and apart from some of them i put in my newly built planter, i stuck the rest in a soil tray until i get my current planter built.

Sometimes you get some right bargain plants that are considered unsellable at normal prices because they either haven't been looked after properly or they are partly damaged.
All it takes from us is some loving and tender care to bring them back and let them shine through.

[smc999]

I love the "poorly plants section" in B&Q and Homebase. I usually buy plenty as its a shame to see them tossed aside. I have a garden full of Bedding and perrenials.

[Stan79]

It's worth bartering if you buy a load of them too. Try finding someone on the shop floor rather than at the point of sale and try and get them to price them down even further for you!

[Recyclingnick]

That's fantastic advice from all. An a newcomer have put them all in the greenhouse and the pepper plants are producing already. Any other tips for 'hospital' sections?

[Recyclingnick]

Rusty lady, I meant they were pretty straggly with a fair few runners coming off to set new plants. Will get em into its for new plants next year as I am moving the whole bed