Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: goodlife on February 18, 2011, 22:17:28
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My new plum arrived today.. :-\..In a big cardboard box that look really sturdy and protective for my new tree..BUT...
When I opened it, for my horrow there was inside this weird looking stump of the tree.
In their cataloque T&M states that all their trees are feathered maidens..meaning just a whip of the tree. Well my tree wasn't..it has a trunk 1 1/2" across :o..and would make it few years old and as it was so 'mature' specimen some idiot decided tho chop the main stem shorter so it would fit into the box!!! :o ::)
And that is not all..all the branches were shortened too..to 2" 'long' stumps :o >:(
Tree looks like somebody has gone mental with secateurs. Somebody did rush to phone to give them right ear bashing :-X First the customer services didn't know what was wrong with the 'pruning'..so I had to explain that for start with it is wrong time of the year to do so and now it is in danger for getting desease..and you just don't prune that way new trees..AND..as there wasn't any branches left to suport the stem in box, it was bashed about against it and broken many of the little branch stumps off >:(
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I would really like to know who their "highly skilled professional fruit tree nursery" is that they have contract with.
After giving the nice customer service lady education of wrights and wrongs of the science of pruning she was happy to swap it to better specimen....more waiting.. ::)
So I ended up with promise and note left in their 'records' that if the tree should not pull through I'll have it swapped to new one later..
I just couldn't go through the hassle to box it up again..send it back and wait for replacement..
Now I've sealed all 'wounds', planted it and I'll hope best ::)
Anybody else been unhappy with their trees?
I don't think I'll bother with them again >:(
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I don't think I'll bother with them again >:(
Can't blame you, I bought some blueberries off ebay. They turned up badly broken. One e-mail with photos later 2 more plants came plus I was allowed to keep the originals . That's customer service it wasn't even their fault (stupid deliver driver)and they fixed it.
Very nice plants too at a reasonable price :)
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Oh dear I have just ordered a T&M apple tree. I was hoping it would be better than cheapo Lidl ones.
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I have found Blackmoor very good for fruit. That's what they do.
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Bought Greengage and Damson from T&M March 2009 and they're growing away fine.
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I never shop for plants at T&M they are such poor value. Sorry youve had a bad expereince with them.
Nothing wrong with aldi fruit trees anyway and you cant beat £3.99.
and for something special im with grawc its blackmoor every time i had a lovely tomcot this year for christmas £23 pounds fabulous sturdy well proportioned little tree. Isnt that roberts nursery?
hope yours romps away and is fruiting next year/year after.
x sunloving
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There is nothing wrong with cheap trees...indeed..at least you can have a look and pick what looks best for you.
I normally buy mine straight from fruit nurseries and they've always been excellent, but this time I was lured into buying and trying their Flavour King tree, apricot-plum hybrid..and it wasn't cheap neither, double the price for the tree I normally pay ::)
I've been thinking..they had to prune the tree hard to compensate the loss of the roots..it is 'mature' young tree...so now it will be experience to see how it will take after all that..
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agree with sunloving - wouldn't give T & M the time of day :-X for anything actually, so expensive and poor quality makes them even more so
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I rather fell for the red fleshed fruit of pixirosso. I did get another £10 voucher. I think they must be struggling there are so many offers.
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I would admit that is why I really do not care for them - I 'fell' for a lot of their products many years ago so been there done that, but not to say what you bought will not flourish :)
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I used to buy from T&M but found them over rated over priced and poor quality
I but my soft fruits form either Blackwoor`s or welsh fruit stocks
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Hope your tree grows strong and healthy for you, and thanks for opening my eyes to T&M, have always thought of them as one of the good ones now I know to stay clear ;)
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I bought some raspberry canefrom T&M and they have really nice looking roots. Not grown yet but I was very pleased with what I received. I do however never get anything which is not on special offer of some kind.
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Not T&M but I've bought fruit bushes and plug plants from Suttons website and have been disappointed, mostly down to damage due to poor packing in spite of good packing boxes. I guess you just can't get the staff.
I suspect all these companies are very reluctant to cancel orders so they end up sending out stuff that really should have gone on the compost heap.
Seeds are OK and T&M have a few gems hidden away in their catalogue. Their Cobra nasturtiums got lots of attention on the plot last year and the Banana Shallots were outstanding.
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I suspect the problem with all the 'big' suppliers is that they don't actually produce the stock themselves..everything comes from subcontracted growers. Now, it is not the contractors name that is spoiled with bad plants but the 'biggies' and they can afford to loose bit of money...but how long?
Digeroo...It doesn't say that if I had bad tree that you would end up with disappointment too...hopefully yours come from nursery where they take more c
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A couple of years ago, I bought a Victoria plum from Homebase, it was ten feet high (I kid you not), and not having been pruned at all, it was on a single stem. It looked healthy enough, so I cut it short before I even left the car park.
That summer it grew like mad; the new branches were over three feet long before they flopped. I cut them off short, and summer pruned last year before it got to that point. I don't know what size it'll reach - it's supposed to be on St Julien A, and another tree I have on the same rootstock is also a strong grower. I've got the space anyway. It's undoubtedly extremely healthy, and I hope yours will be as well. Don't worry too much about the winter pruning; a little bird told me that's what all the nurseries do, and it does no harm. The advice against winter pruning goes back to the 1960's, and books just repeat each other endlessly.
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Hi Goodlife
Bought the same tree. It arrived Thursday 17th although the advice note says dispatched 9th Feb. Mine was in the same condition as yours. The only thing that was covering the roots was a plastic bag. I should have learnt when I bought a Paw Paw from them last year which produced a few leaves & I'm not sure whether it's still living. Shan't bother with them again.
One further 'grouse' is that some suppliers advertise certain plants, bushes or trees but negate to state you need two to get them to pollinate & fruit.
Marcitos
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Marcitos..I would recommend you to call and complain too...
They should have sent us much younger trees that wouldn't needed any pruning ::)
I've got 6 other plums that I've bought from various nurseries..none of the ever looked anything like it.
This new tree of mine must be 4 yrs old..at least...
Yes mine were in dry plastic bag too...they could have have damp shredded paper or something in there to keep the roots moist >:(
If mine doesn't pull through I'll be making 'not so calm' telephone call next time..
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hi,just thought i,d mention that aldi have some lovely looking fruit tress in at the moment,5-6ft tall,morello cherry,victoria plum,several types of apple,peach and all at £3.99,great price if you want the basics
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Goodlife
I shall be complaining. Similar to yourself, I have other plums from other suppliers & they arrived in good states & are doing fine.
I've bought a number of things from Agroforestry over the last 4 to 5 years & have found them to be very good. Korewild also.
Marcitos
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I have had a look at Agroforestry. They have good selection of Mirabelles, unforutnately out of stock so will have to try and remember for next year. Have wanted one for sometime and an interesting selection of apples. I really need a good storer.
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Had very good quality fruit trees with fast delivery service from these last November, and they have a good offer on at mo - http://www.mailordertrees.co.uk/Fruit_Trees-_Buy_One_Get_One_Free.htm
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I ordered an orchid from T & M at my mother-in-law's request for her Christmas present. It arrived with a broken flower spike and generally unhealthy looking (of course, the delays due to snow etc didn't help). I complained, and T & M sent a replacement with absolutely no quibble, and didn't ask for the old one to be sent back. So I would encourage anyone (not Goodlife who did phone) who hasn't to make sure you do complain if unsatisfied.
Thanks mickstani for recommendation for mail order trees - I was considering ordering a standard cotoneaster from them and probably will now!
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Digeroo
Agrororestry have sold out early for the last couple of years. I'd suggest ordering now if you're interested in their stuff. Usually delivered December/January.
I've recently had a Mirabelle from them.
Marcitos
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I'd like to support goodlife's comment about contractors. I have always tried to deal with nurseries that raise their own stock (usually Roger's) and been happy with my purchases. However a year ago I had to replace a greengage destroyed by wood pigeons at the very end of the planting season when Roger's had sold out but Dobies could supply. Their contractor had quite butchered the roots, they looked awful but I said nowt, stuck the tree in the ground and shovelled on the wood chip mulch. One year later it is doing fine, now to see about the wood pigeons.
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T & M are 'offering' 5 potato tubers for 'only' 9.99 in this month's grow your own magazine, can't stand them, their customer service hasn't worked for us
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5 for only £9.99 :o...what a 'bargain' ::)
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^^ now, now, are you sure it's not "5 tubers of each Gourmet variety recommended by the RHS"? or something similar?
They have a similar thing for sale on going on their website.
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"popular potato varieties-Buy any pack of 5 tubers for only 9.99
charlotte, vales emerald, nicola " ???
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Even if it would be all of those varieties..five of each..still it would be lot.
Wilko sell their populars £1.00 per 5 tubers..and they have at least Nicola and Charlotte that I remember..and many others too. ::)
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I bought mine; Rocket and Pentland Javalin. 8 per pack in the Poundshop. £1 a pack. They will do me.
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Not the cheapest of firms, but have had a lot of flowers from them. Got to speack up for them phone customer services they are very good they send out a replacement, and dont ask you no dull or stupid questions
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T&M brochure just came through letter box..and there is 6 varieties of 'new potatoes' 5 tubers each for £9.99..so yes not the cheapest..
And Allotment favourites potatoes collection 6 varieties 10 tubers each £14.99..little bit better ::)
I've 'burned' my fingers with them now for a while...I'll stick to buying just seeds from them as I haven't had dissapointments.
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These dasy I only use them if I've got at least a 10 quid voucher to play with .... the last one that came along (online IIRC) I've used to order some microtubers, though I wish I hadn't ordered Yetholm Gypsy cos I found them as normal seed potatoes at my local potato day...
chrisc
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Hi I bought a Paw Paw tree from this year when it arrived it was about 6 inches tall with onr green leaf i contacted then and they told ne they would replace it
Still waiting
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I have to say I'm not keen on T&M. get my good trees from Rogers near Pickering/Malton and cheapo stuff from LIDL.Both better and cheaper than T&M. Rogers know their stuff and pack properly so no probs there.Lydl a bit mixed but you can choose your own and have it in the ground or at least in a bucket of water within an hour :)
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I bought a pixierosso apple and it is doing very well, it was covered in flowers even though it was only recently planted.
But I have had a problem with some raspberries and they have not even acknowledged my email.
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I've always found T&M okay. I've had lots of stuff from them and always been happy.
On the whole my experience is you sort of get what you pay for - when I've bought very cheap fruit trees or bushes from supermarkets and cut-price shops, they're very small, and not always well looked-after, and are more likely to die before establishing. But maybe that's just my bad luck.
And you do get it the other way round. Ken Muir has a good reputation, and not cheap, but they got my order wrong, and sent two sticks instead of tree-shaped trees (they call them 'minarettes' but I call them sticks ;D) and one of their cherry trees died. But I suppose that's bound to happen occasionally.
If I was in a Lidl or Aldi more often, I would no doubt be tempted by more of their cut-price trees!
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I ordered 2 apple trees from Dobies last year, and they chose to send them out in the middle of the coldest weather we have had for years when the whole countries ground was frozen solid and we had 6 inches of snow on top of it???? wheres the sense in that?, luckily they survived as I had covered the ground with a tarpaulin and had already dug in compost, but if I hadnt then they surely wouldnt have survived....