Think before you buy

Evening all,
Nows a good time to talk to the new to allotments /gardening about buying plants.

Looking out of the window at todays freezing weather you may think "What the hell is he talking about buying plants now for?"

The chances are you wont be! But if i can get your attention on this subject now! Then in the very near future this topic may come into your mind.

One problem ive found both here in france and when i lived in north-wales was people buying plants and not knowing what they we're doing.

One of my very best garden centre's in the uk was a place called "Bridgemere"

Oh ive spent many a happy day there buying plants ect and many a cup of coffee in the cafe/restaurant.

Now this garden centre is big very big so big it was the norm for coach filled people from all over the northwest to visit for day outings,

Many a time i'd hear someone saying Oh look at that plant "im having it"
It'll look great in our back garden, (it was seen by the viewer in the indoor
tropical section,:nono:

It's much the same here in france, when the street markets are filled with people and the plant stall-holders are out in force, people buy,

Now if you know what your doing this can be fine but the lesson here is to know what the plants that are for sale need and more important!

Dont need, let me point out one or two of what to think about before spending your cash.

If the plants are sitting in a wind tunnel on the ground you can bet your life they're not in the ideal possition and some plants just suffer so much its not worth taking the chance,

If the plants leaves are yellow! THis could be lack of water or lack of one of the main needs ie N.P.K?

N =Nitrogen lack of nitrogen can effect most plants, especially brassicas & other leafy veg,

The signs to look for are reduced in size, pale or reddish purple coloured,
the older leaves show the first signs, all the growth in the plant is weak,

P= phosphorus, lack of this will effect most plants,

signs to look for, Leaves very small, may also drop off prematurely,
the colour dull blue-green or bronze, first on older leaves,
all growth very weak,
flowering or fruiting delayed and reduce so you dont get as much as you could get.

K= Potassium lack of "k" effects beans, flowering perennials, fruits, and leafy veg, potatoes, & tomatoes.

Signs to look for, leaf tips and margins scorched, the older leaves first and general weak growth.

All these problems can be sorted by using a well balanced fertilizer containing NPK.

We did talk about buying compost and i did say all the information as to its make up are on the bag, ie it will tell you the NPK amounts in the make up of the compost.

Fertilizer/feeds also have the NPK on the pkt for you to see its make up,

If you come across plants in the street markets or even garden centre's showing the signs "above" you'll now know why these faults are there & it will give you an idea of the sort or should i say lack of care the seller is offering along with the plants he/she is selling.

The transportation of the plants /shrubs is very important and if a plant is supposed to have a regular heat reading of say 55deg and its sitting on the pavement in a wind tunnel or cold conditions "no matter how cheap it's being sold for? Ask yourself now you know what to look for "is it a bargain & will it live? And if it's an early start street market the vehicle was proberly loaded the night befors the market your at, hence these plants that need a set temp, have not been in it for at least 12hours.

Plants in pots and containers.

Again know your plants, read up before you buy.
I have over 200 geranium plants in window box's and hanging baskets, & around the well every year, Ive spent years learning as much as i can ref the geranium, and one thing thats very common to the geranium is that they like tobe close together,
The more you can get into a window box the better they'll grow, and another thing ref buying geraniums potted 'Is to buy a pot bound geranium as the roots can be pulled away from the root ball and they will thrive in no time, they dont like to have the roots wet and do like a more dry pot than a wet one, they love rose feed, and the cuttings from a larger bought pot will increase your geranium amount no end.

If your thinking of buying a geranium potted, dont fall for the single one sitting in the on offer as the bargain of the week! you'll get one plant that way But if you buy a larger pot at double the price you'll get 3 or 4 plants in the pot that can be seperated or used for cutting, much better value And if you can get the plants in a clay pot? Even better value again as geranium cutting take better in the edges if warm clay pots than damp plastic pots (remember geraniums like dry conditions)

And the most important part of buying any plants shrubs is to look to see if your about to take home a family of green/white fly or any other unwanted pests,

Dont just put your newly bought plants in the greenhouse until you know they are clean plants ie no bugs ect, because once you infect your greenhouse everything in there is at risk and its going to cost you money & time to sort it all out and why?
Because who ever you bought your stock off was'nt a very good or keen seller.

Last point to remember,
do your homework, know what your chosen plant lives on /hates/ & preper ready for the new arrival its rehoming plot.