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The garden plant buying season is back - help!

Marianne72

I've already been tempted by 2 patio fruit trees (I haven't a patio, live in rented social housing with a medium size garden and love fruit). I bought 18 Michaelmas daisy bare roots which arrived as 30 large spider-shaped roots (all thriving), 36 violas (ditto) and 60 mixed perennnial plugs. I love taking cuttings and  before long my 6' x 6' poly growhouse and miniature grow frame will be full to bursting, and that's before sowings from numerous bargain seeds packs. Come early Summer, I will again be overwhelmed by plantlets, which I hate destroying when I've grown them.

I used to 'give away' but my current neighbours are not types who would use or accept them - especially as they avoid me. Every year is the same. I try not to get tempted, but like an addict I fall under the twin pressures of bargain plants and lovely pictures of flowers at Highgrove, Wisley and Great Houses in full bloom. Help! Is there an answer? Should I move to a flat? Is there a self help group for garden plant addicts? It gets very stressful in the end, almost a full time occupation.

  • I like plants although I don't think I'm addicted, we have a shop round the corner which I find very difficult to walk past without buying something.  One of my sisters gave me a sign saying "Yes, I need all these plants".  I think if you moved to a flat it would probably be full of houseplants and you might miss the outdoor space!
    One thing people sometimes do near me is that I've seen plants left out saying free to take or put them on local social media groups to see if anyone wants them.  Also, depending what they are, there might be local groups.  I volunteer in a park once a month and we sometimes get donations although we might not always want them if we are following a planting schedule.

  • It was a hard sinter here, though when I first moved to wjere I am now, jstd winters wdre the norm. It killed ofc a few of my tenderer hsrb plsnts, and the ones I brought in xid not all of them yurvive xue go tje lack of light smd bring krpt on the borth side of the flat (my south facong windows are full of citrus plants).

    It is sad you don't know anyone fo gice yohr cuttings aeay to. But I k ow how tempting it is to wynt zo buynew plants, especislly as there is a garden centre nesr me

  • in reply to TheCatWoman
    TheCatWoman said:
    Are there any community gardens near you? You could volunteer and donate plants.

    I'd love to do that. That's why I want to move nearer to people who enjoy these things. Also, near a Men's Shed, as they have a lot of power equipment. The guerilla gardening is a good idea. I'll take a look when I go shopping tomorrow.

  • You could always try some guerilla gardening and plant them in public spaces that could do with livening up?

    The fruit trees will grow in pots quite happily as long as they're well watered and fed.

    I sufer the same problem with plants, most of the ones I've got are perrenials but I can't seem to resist buying more, but, 'I've given up on those plug plants as so many don't survive.

    Are there any community gardens near you? You could volunteer and donate plants.