The garden plant buying season is back - help!

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.

Parents
  • I don't do retail therapy, apart from plants.

    I struggle not to buy anything unusual.

    I currently have 74 plug plants (marigolds, gazania, begonia, petunia, calibrachoa) on the window ledges. They'll not be permanently put outside till the second week of May. I always get a frost around the 5th to catch me out. But may go in April on good days.

    Then I have all the orchids indoors and various other tubs and pots.

    I think I have what I need now. The only way to really control it is not to go to a garden centre.

    Although I will still find seeds from somewhere to grow (as I save some). I have some canna seeds from a couple of years ago I may do. And a couple of sunflowers.

    It's an addiction.

Reply
  • I don't do retail therapy, apart from plants.

    I struggle not to buy anything unusual.

    I currently have 74 plug plants (marigolds, gazania, begonia, petunia, calibrachoa) on the window ledges. They'll not be permanently put outside till the second week of May. I always get a frost around the 5th to catch me out. But may go in April on good days.

    Then I have all the orchids indoors and various other tubs and pots.

    I think I have what I need now. The only way to really control it is not to go to a garden centre.

    Although I will still find seeds from somewhere to grow (as I save some). I have some canna seeds from a couple of years ago I may do. And a couple of sunflowers.

    It's an addiction.

Children