Show us your gardening purchases 2025

Just had a stroll round Hilliers GC in the lovely warm sunshine. When I’d finished at the prices, I selected a little campanula. Resisted a Vinca (£14.99 ) and a pretty Coronilla (I can’t give it a sheltered spot and enough sun) and a few other nice looking plants.

Hope this one is not delicious to slugs (some are, some aren’t, in my experience).



Here are two of my Corydalis from FN a couple of weeks ago. The Tory MP has recovered well and is growing encouragingly now (clearly it takes more than a courier delay and a squashing by straw to unnerve it ), but the Blue Summit is a bit disappointing so far. The 3rd one (Blue Panda) has nothing to see in the way of greenery and may not flourish. Time will tell.

 

With the purchase of this house I discovered I'm now a happy owner of six fences. All bare. I need a climber, or two, or twenty

I took a day off and walked 45mins to the nearby shopping centre to see if Morrisons have started to stock up their gardening section already. They have, and with "any 3 for 2" I cleared the shelves. No Loniceras in yet, but I'll keep visiting as evergreen Loniceras are my plan for the base fence planting.



Clematis Comtesse de Bouchard x 2 (The Child's favourite), Chirrosa Wisley Cream (oooo I like the winter flowering ones...), Guernsey Cream, plus Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus Latifolus) and Jasmine Beesianum just to make up the "any three for two" maths . Worked out £2 each.

Home Bargains finally had what I have been hunting for ever since I was again allowed to buy plants after the house move. A very healthy looking pink Camellia, £11.99. My neighbours have a huge Camellia in the ground so my soil should be fine, plus I have some Ericaceous compost to mix in. The 40cm terracotta planter has been waiting for my Camellia since autumn

BF&B for £2, 1kg slow release fertiliser of dubious quality but hopefully better than nothing (£3.99), string for 69p.

I didn't buy any bread or milk as my bags were too heavy. I'm sure The Child understands

 

Sounds like a bargain hall but just be aware that a jasmine beesianum is a bit of a thug so great for covering fences but best not too near any more reticent climbers

 

I bought the Guernsey Cream from Morrisons last year, it was stunning, but sadly I think I later managed to destroy it by digging in the border to plant something else.
Never mind, I've already bought 3 from this year's range. Will have to look out for another Guernsey Cream though.

 

The Jasmine has a spot near the back to hide the ugliest corner- there is a risk it might smother the neighbour's Brambles but I think we can live with that It's not as hardy as I usually like my plants but at that price it's worth a go.

More delicate things will come closer to the house.

All the Morrison's climbers are of course small but look good and sturdy. I'll pot them up tomorrow and let them get going in the cold greenhouse. With any luck, they'll be garden ready this season, assuming that the garden is plant ready. If not, then next season.

 

I've got a question about a potential purchase. Was looking at fruit trees in B&M yesterday and just wondering if anyone has bought them and , if so , what success they had with them. They are a good price at £7.50 or 2 for £12.99. Quite a lot of them, don't seem to be selling and noticed some trees in obvious distress with wilting leaves.

 

At that price, I’d say go for it!

 

I wouldn't expect them to have anything much in the way of leaves at this time of year. Maybe some are still hanging on to last year's dead leaves? So long as the roots haven't been allowed to dry out they should be fine.

 

I got this Hibiscus rosa-sinensis plug plant from Spain in the week, listed as Apricot Pink ...

 

Looked like new green leaves to me. I couldn't see the roots as encased in lots of plastic. Not sure how big these trees get either ( didn't have reading glasses with me, couldn't see the label info! ). Might need bath sized pot

 

Wish there was a Morrisons in NI !

 

Yes, I looked when I went to B&M yesterday, some of them had a few new leaves but they were all looking good in my store. They were very tall already though! Lots of plastic should mean that the roots are well protected.