Way back when........well October time I think.....I ordered some Maxim strawbs from expensive T&M - they were an offer, honest! Multiveg did the same. At the start of Feb I telephoned them as I hadn't received them and remembered they were a Feb delivery. Nope, didn't know me, have never been a customer and definately no order. Funny that as I have ordered quite a lot from them over the years. Anyhow, couldn't find any paperwork (wouldn't think I was once a secretary!) so gave up on them. Guess what arrived this morning, my strawbs! I shall give T&M a miss from now on me thinks, not only are they expensive, but unreliable!
I had the same experience last year, where I ordered some strawberries, they didn't arrive and I phoned them up. They said they would redeliver, but that never showed up. So I called again, this time to be told they couldn't deliver again, as it was too late in the season. So they gave me useless credit note, that I never got to use, as I felt their prices were too high..
In the end I got a pack of lovely Maxim plants from Homebase and some from my local garden centre, which gave a very fine crop, even though I didn't plant them until May.
Just stay away from T&M, there are plenty of better and cheaper companies around - like Suffolk Herbs, The Organic Gardening Catelogue etc. They were cheaper in all the price comparisons made earlier in the forum..
Still not got mine :'( well, tried to ring them and spent ages in queue and gave up. Will not use T&M again, though I will get their catalogue!
>:( Sorry for going off topic >:( but these queuing bl**dy press this Bl**dy button new fangled fone wait in a queue flippin gizzmo, can't talk to a human bloomin being phones just p**s me off...can you tell ;D
We ought to rebel and write only, that 'P's them off cuz they have to reply and put pen to paper and it's cheaper for us too. ;D
Rant over...Phew! 8)
I buy T&M seeds every year.
They never germinate!?
Am I daft?
If you have a Wilko in your area VISIT IT !!
They are extremely good value for most gardening items and are a firm favourite with many A4A members!!
Debs ( I love Wilko ;D)
I love Wilkos, Poundstretcher, Lidls and Poundland. After them I try Focus then B&Q. And finally, if all else fails I go to a garden centre. I am very new so the capital investment is high. I prefer to use local suppliers but without the discounters I would now be bankrupt.
True Debs, wilko are excellent value for money. I went off them this last season though, because someone (obviously in management) changed the store layout, and as a result, it was a longer trek to get to the same items, because they insisted you walk through the 'complete' store. I am sure someone has noticed the fall off in trade.
The value is still the same though . . .
Never had a problem with T&M though they are a little pricey, Wilco seeds are fine & this year I'm trying Aldi & Lidl seed for the first time. I normally try to use Edwin Tucker if I can, their prices are much better especially onion sets and their customer service is spot on, but I also have a long list of seed suppliers that usually alows me to find just about anything, however unusual I can think of.
PS. you can get some great deals in the USA, last year I bought about 75 packets of slightly past sell by date seed for £10 so this year I'll mostly be growing Squashes, Sweetcorn, watermelon and Kentucky Wonder beans
Wilkinsons in the northwest is really good, don't know if it's anywhere else. I've just bought strawberry plants in packs of 3 for £1.49 - available in two varieties also horseradish (someone was enquiring on another link), artichoke and two different varieties of rhubarb.
Called in at table - top market and picked up 3 different sized tubs for £1.50 ;D to make strawberry tower as shown on another link. ;D. Will I get strawberries this year?
There's no reason why not
Great, I'll look forward to strawbs an cream etc. ;D
YAY My strawberries have arrived
;D
Can someone help me please. I've sown my seeds about 1 cm below the soil approx 3 weeks ago, and nothing is happening, a few days ago i read the seeds should be placed on top of the soil and not underneath (as they need light), is this true? If it is i will have to sow some more, in which case is it too late to sow the seeds? Sorry for so many questions, i haven't sown strwaberries before.
Quote from: Multiveg on April 14, 2005, 10:50:49
YAY My strawberries have arrived
Mine too. Yesterday. ;D ;D
I have bought some wild strawberry plants. Really looking forward to them. Thye are perrenial and are really easy to propogate so I am hoping for a bed of them soon. When cultivated i.e. fed and generally pampered, the strawbs are meant to grow a bit bigger and be more numeroud than they do in the wild, but still have the same intense flavour - gorgeous
t+m not so bad, my freebie busy lizzies arrived today - 84 plug plants for ordering some seeds online last year  ;D wouldn't buy american though. ;D