Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Shelle on September 19, 2007, 20:23
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I have two catalogues delivered this week which is making pretty exciting reading.
As a newbie though having never ordered through any of them before, I wanted to ask should I order from them, or hang fire and buy from local garden centres nearer the time??
I would like to buy some potatoes from T and M, plus possibly other seeds, but wondered if I am better off waiting til nearer the time? Does anyone know if there are usually potato days in the north east (Tyneside or Northumberland) that would be better?
Also what about their reputation (T and M)?
Any advice before I take a plunge that I may regret?
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http://www.heritage-potatoes.co.uk/ anywhere near you?
T&M reputation is good BTW
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I got 2 also, T&M and Marshalls. They have lovely stuff, but I'm afraid I find them a bit expensive, although T&M did send me a £5 voucher to use, even if I only spent £5, which means you only pay the P&P costs.
I like alanromans.com their P&P is cheap, and seeds are 50p a packet. okay, you don't usually get as many seeds in, but who wants 7,000 carrot seeds?
I like Edwin Tuckers too, but with potatoes and onions sets, because they are heavy, I tend to buy from my local big garden centre, which has a good selection and not bad prices.
But that's just my preference! :D
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Alan romans site seems to be out of stock on everything at the mo! Any idea when it will be back?
Am thinking about just purchasing potatoes from T and M (using £5 voucher) and then seeing what I can get locally seed wise or alan roman etc.
The heritage site is good but a bit too far for me (about 2 hours away so savings would be wasted on petrol!). Thanks for the idea though.
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We have brassicas days over here, but I don't think we have potato days!!!!
Would be nice though to see and sample some different ones to see what we like!!!
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The heritage site is good but a bit too far for me (about 2 hours away so savings would be wasted on petrol!). Thanks for the idea though.
Might be worth a call to see if they are attending any Farmer's Markets in your area.
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Will do, as would like to support local if I can.
Thanks again as usual for all your wisdom everybody! Hopefully this time next year I can offer my experience to newbies once I am in my second year (which is really when you see if you learnt anything!)
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shelle,
if you wait til nearer the time the lottie hut on our site sells seed pot (cheaper than t&m ) also onion ,shallot sets .they sell lots of stuff compost growmore etc members of the public welcome .
if you ever want to go there ,il give you directions and opening times
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get as many catalogues as you can to compare prices .... do not be thinking they all have thier own seed ,they buy it in from seed growers and then repackage in thier own formats .
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if you wait til nearer the time the lottie hut on our site sells seed pot (cheaper than t&m ) also onion ,shallot sets .they sell lots of stuff compost growmore
Even more local ! :D
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many years ago i worked at nth ormsby for joeseph nickerson at his game rearing farm and i had chance to visit the seed merchants side at grimsby where i saw the seed being sieved sorted bagged up etc and i was gobsmacked to see the number of companies that they supplied .i also saw carrot seed being imported from south africa and sold in the uk :wink:
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http://www.heritage-potatoes.co.uk/ anywhere near you?
T&M reputation is good BTW
Can I disagee with you about T&Ms reputation
I and a great many others ordered seed potatoes from them well in time for chitting and planting.Our orders should have taken 5 days,instead they took over 6 weeks making me very late for planting.
In contacting them I was fobbed of, lied to, given 4 different reasons and so many dates for delivery I lossed my faith in them. I tried to cancel so that I could buy else where .Even though it was all their fault they refused to refund and would not let me speak to a manager.Emails where ignored and when I did finally get a reply it was to say "That by now you will have recieved your order Etc."I had not.
Also in many garden centres they are always selling off T&M seeds at 50% off, a sure sign that there is trouble afoot.Or they have been selling them at very inflated prices.
Whatever I for one will never trust them again. :x
I did post this at the time :?
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Can I disagee with you about T&Ms reputation
Yes, I thought someone might
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I have two catalogues delivered this week which is making pretty exciting reading
:shock: :shock: :roll:
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Also in many garden centres they are always selling off T&M seeds at 50% off, a sure sign that there is trouble afoot..
Our local garden centre do that every year.
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shelle,
if you wait til nearer the time the lottie hut on our site sells seed pot (cheaper than t&m ) also onion ,shallot sets .they sell lots of stuff compost growmore etc members of the public welcome .
if you ever want to go there ,il give you directions and opening times
T & M - £3.69 for 20 Arran Pilot spuds plus £4.99 post = £8.68.
You cannot be serious!
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Also in many garden centres they are always selling off T&M seeds at 50% off, a sure sign that there is trouble afoot..
Our local garden centre do that every year.
There is a total diference between selling off unsold,out of season stock,or seeds on loss leaders,to selling off 1000s of packets across the country.
This is like a fire sale by a company with cash flow problems.
Its called chasing the dragon.They owe, they got to pay,They got all the money tied up in stock, they have got to sell it quickly.
They would have no need to reduce the seed by 50%, a reduction of even 20% would help them shift the stock.50% shows that it is a fire type sale.
These reductions probably coincide with there end of financial year and the need to massage the books just a little.
However time will tell.Normally a couple of years :wink:
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I've just received Marshall's and T&M catalogues too (though without the £5 voucher, I might add) and was amazed at the price of the potatoes and onion sets. I have just signed up for two lots of potatoes (Arran Pilot, Charlotte) and an onion set (Red Baron) at the allotment shop and the total altogether isn't as much as one pack of their potatoes.
What a bargain!
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I've just received Marshall's and T&M catalogues too (though without the £5 voucher, I might add)!
I spent ages thumbing through the T&M catalogue for my £5 voucher, without success.
Last year I used it to help pay for a multi-saver offer on tomato seeds, got another free packet packet of tomato seeds for ordering the others, and I think I may a got another free packet of seeds just for placing an order. I seem to recall I got about £12 'worth' of seeds of seeds for £2 after using the voucher.
However, it's the only time I've ordered from them in about 15 years as they charge so much.
And there's normally some deal on at garden centres/Wilkos/Woolworths, etc., so I only buy just a few varieties of T&M seeds, even at half price (and make sure I also get that that free 'trial' pack for buying the others).
Best customer service I ever received was from Marshalls.
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T & M are still doing their on line offer of spend £10, get the most expensive packet free.
So if you fancy some expensive seed, (Such as Carmen cucumbers at £7.99 a packet!), you've only got to order just over another 2 quids worth, (But bear in mind P & P).
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I use T&M and other seed catalogues all the time, as I have no chance of ever getting to the shops you all mention, as I am always at work! I have no problem with paying a bit more as I would lose a lot more money by taking time off to cruise around the shops and garden centres.
We don't have an allotment shop, and I like to order my seed potatoes well in advance to get the variety I want.
So its horses for courses.
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i have had no trouble with t&m they are dear though for tatties/onions my allotment shop is a steal! always look for special deals with catalogues i think that is the name of the game, as for having 7000 carrot seeds none of mine came through actaully thats a lie they did come through then were eaten by slugs just like nearly all my other seeds!!! :x :x
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Got my Marshalls today, and my T&M a couple of days back.
Sadly, I can't wait for bedtime when I can snuggle up with me seed catalogues, compare prices, and plan for next year.
Just wish Mr F would get a wiggle on, and maybe Suttons (but they're always late).
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Sadly, I can't wait for bedtime when I can snuggle up with ... Just wish Mr F would get a wiggle on
Does Mr A know about Mr F?
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Sadly, I can't wait for bedtime when I can snuggle up with ... Just wish Mr F would get a wiggle on
Does Mr A know about Mr F?
Some people just open the door, don't they?
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Menage a troi with Thompson & Morgan next.
Think I'd better find another thread to post on before I get into real trouble here.
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Settle
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More a menage a neuf by the time I get Doc Hessayon, Carol Klein and my two dogs onto the bed!
Mr A only dreams of competing with sowing/planting/harvesting/plot layout etc.
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:shock: carol klein in bed uuuurrrrggghh i would rather get in bed with munty :wink: :lol:
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Glad I left this thread.
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i would rather get in bed with munty :wink: :lol:
Nightmares for me then tonight.
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Flatcap, you know what! I think I will take you up on your kind offer and visit your lottie shop nearer the time! I was just panicking a little as I desperately wanted to make sure I got some (and for a colleague!). I would much rather support locally, so thanks for that suggestion! Can I ask whether they sell them in small quantities as well? Anyhow a colleage and I are going to buy together in order to get smaller quantities but more varieties (if that makes sense :D )
Good job I looked today at this thread as I was thinking about sending off tonight my order!!
You are all go good, and community spirited :)
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I`m mixed about T&M,every year there are problems,mouldy garlic,potatoes with 6"sprouts or mould or dessicated,however they are very prompt with replacements and money off vouchers in some cases.I am a bit stuck as our local garden center does stock potatoes but at Christmas onwards and in large packs.Have bought the porcelain garlic this year,good value and good looking,and will use a few of my own,but potatoes remain a dilemma.
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if you have one of those potato days in your area they are well worth a visit,a bit on the expensive side but the choice takes some beating.
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shelle ,
il pm you as soon as pot seeds in ,they are sold by the kilo and usually have a few varietys to pick from .
if your buying compost for your containers i would check out theprices at lottie shop quite reasonable . if you know where eagle pub is the hut is over the roundabout and 1st right turn into memorial cottages and your there .
if you need any more info just pm me
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Seeds of Italy have a great catalogue with lovely recipes - and they gave us lots of good stuff for our allotment open day. Marshalls were good too.
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If they had potato days near us I`d be in seventh heaven and try lots of types...Maybe one day.
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I know it's only of use to people local to Leicestershire.
Brookside nurseries, Cropston Rd, Anstey, sell loads of varieties. Last year the price was £1 per kilo, (including Pink Fir Apple!). I was a bit late in going and some varieties were sold out, but they still had over 80 left!
No - I'm not on commision.
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:shock: carol klein in bed uuuurrrrggghh i would rather get in bed with munty :wink: :lol:
Thats funny.I had a word with Carol Klein and she said she would rather go to bed with Munty as well. :lol: :wink:
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this is this years list cant find next years but it will be pretty much the same,
spud days (http://thewhitchurchweb.org/potatoday/potatodays.htm)
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this is this years list cant find next years but it will be pretty much the same,
spud days (http://thewhitchurchweb.org/potatoday/potatodays.htm)
Thank you for that Shaun. The Bucks one is not far from me I will check the 2008 show and take a look :lol:
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you can buy in the 5kg bags might be 2kg i'm not sure,but also you can buy loose i think it was a couple of quid for a 6" plant pot full
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Well am I glad I read this thread. :D
Todmorden where I live is a very small town on the Lancs/West Yorkshire border and most people have never even heard of it.
Thanks to that link I've discovered that not only does the town have a potato day but it also has an organic gardeners club which holds meetings from Oct - May and organises events/seeds swaps etc........
And here was me feeling all alone........................... :)
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oh yeh so what .im stuck with shaun or carol klien in me bed :shock: ........ no wonders im going daffs around here :wink:
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oh yeh so what .im stuck with shaun or carol klien in me bed
whos in the middle ? :lol:
and can we leave the big light on please :wink:
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can we just forget about the munty in bed idea...?
i've found dobies seeds are fine, bit cheaper than some of the others. if you don't need a huge range the cheap wilko ones are fine, can recommend their broccoli, lettuce and butternuts.
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Just counted th beans in my T&M Aquadulce - only 46 useable ones on a contains average of 50.
Would love to go into their shop with a bag of pennies and say "Contains aprox £1.50"
Would I get away with it?