To help you with plant availability we must answer the two following questions.
- When will it be ready?
- When will it come back in stock?
1. We are a seasonal business growing plants following natural seasonal patterns of growth. We don’t subject them to excessive heat or light because we believe that planting a strong plant at the correct time of year is so important. January is the month that our first year’s over wintering plants are put online to sell. These include those that retain some foliage over the winter such as Marjorams, Thymes, Chamomiles, Rosemary etc. It doesnt mean you should plant them but why not buy them when you can and grow them on yourself if you have shelter. Also, you may need some Rosemary for cooking!
As the light levels increase towards the latter part of the month, other herbaceous herbs (such as Lovage or Horseradish) start to show new growth and these will become available online. This pattern continues throughout February and into March. Availability changes quickly but by April we find that many new seasons plants are available. Mints, more Thymes, Curry Plants, Coriander, Oregano and Sage are ready. Some may be available earlier as over wintered of course. We say that mid April is the start of our season. May will see the availability of the annuals and the more tender plants. Basils, for example, usually appear by mid-May.
Salvias are also available from May although we usually have a few over wintered plants ready sooner – even as early as January.
Scented Pelargoniums are also available from early May (some often sooner)
Lavender season has shifted with Peat Free compost though because they don’t like being in pots over the winter. We do now push availability to much later in the spring.
Some herbs such as Ginseng or Hops are a little different. Although both strong herbs that will easily withstand the winter, they do take a while to flush with cutting material. Therefore, if not available in April from over wintered stock, they may not be ready until June.
It does all depends on the weather. A cloudy February and March will push plants back but a bright and sunny late winter/early spring can really help but we still must plant when the time is right and the soil has warmed up.
On each product page, we have an availability guide to help. If it says it should be in stock then read on to the next point…..
2. We may have simply sold out! We are a small nursery selling to the whole country so plants do go in and out of stock very quickly BUT we grow in continuous batches so it isn’t long before plants are ready again. We do our very best to maintin stock levels but a mention on TV, a magazine advert or a social media post can affect stock within minutes. We are also open to the public so we do save stock for our sales area.
We tend to refresh the website stock every week (sometimes twice). Once it goes live, customers will see the plant they need and buy it quickly. This is because of…..
Our stock notifier
This is a very powerful tool that lets customers know when the plant they want is in stock. Simply find the plant on the website, click the size you need (I would repeat for both options!) and type your email address into the box. It is brilliant!
Please remember that you are welcome to send lists and we can give you an idea to when plants are available.
Thank you!
