They will not be sold anywhere this year, because of a mildew problem. They say if none are planted this year they will get rid of the problem. All gardeners are being asked not to grow them this year which should help with the problem. The diseased ones came from the continent.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/jan/17/busy-lizzies-mildew?newsfeed=true (http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/jan/17/busy-lizzies-mildew?newsfeed=true)
Oh dear! - does that apply to saved seeds as well? I've been saving my own seeds for years and have never suffered mildew on busy lizzies.
Tricia
Thompson & morgan are still selling plug plants and seed this year. I do the same dry the seed but will wait a bit see what happens and will throw all old seed away (burn it) put sweet peas in pots a week ago they are all up hope nothing happens with them cost £3/90p for 18 seeds :)
Quote from: rugbypost on January 19, 2012, 19:36:36
Thompson & morgan are still selling plug plants and seed this year.
Strange that their spokeswoman told the Guardian otherwise!
I received the new T & M catalogue Friday busy lizzy plants for sale , also 2 other catalogues also got B L in them newspaper adverts are offering allsorts of plants for £9-99 including BL, so what do we do ???.
Our local gaden centre is not going to sell them this year and B&Q are not going to stock them either.
Homebase here aren't going to supply them
Perhaps T & M don't know about it ;). Should we tell them ;D ;D ;D.
Thompson amd morgan along with all the other big plant companies are selling some types of bizzie lizzie but not the common one which is the only type affected by the virus.
The ones they have are the more expensive new guineas, sunpatients etc
Had an email from jersey plants yesterday offering different sorts of plants for those who got mildew on the variety they grew last year.