On 29/11/05 9:58, in article , "Janet
Baraclough" wrote:

The message
from "Rupert" contains these words:


"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...

Ok :-) However, for anyone thinking of buying one; I found that a
much smaller plant (a self-seedling with two tiny leaves the size of my
palms)) rapidly over-took one bought from a GC in 5 L pot. As with so
many other plants, plant one as small as possible, it will establish
and grow away far faster than larger more expensive ones.


I believe that's because the larger more expensive plants are usually
supplied in pots that are far too small and they are potbound.

Partly, but the same is equally true of field-grown and bare-root
plants. . Anything at all which limits early root establishment. A 1ft
bare-root tree will easily overtake a 4ft bare root tree in a very short
time

Come to think of it I have yet to buy a potted plant that does not need
repotting immediately---I suppose that's the result of everyone demanding
what appear to be excellent plants at ridiculously cheap prices.

I've often seen "pot grown" plants for sale in bad GC's and bad
nurseries in the opposite state. They appear to have been introduced to
their pot and compost about 10 minutes ago, and if you tilted the pot
the compost would fall out. (Show me a GC or Shed that doesn't pot up
the left-over bare root-roses and hedging at the last possible moment in
spring; good places wait until they settle and establish, bad ones put
them out for sale right away, at the "potgrown" price.).

Good nurseries will generally decline to sell any propagated plants
they have only just potted up or potted on, but I have to confess that
on occasion when I've spotted something small and irresistible on the
propagation bench or in a.growing-on house, I've begged until they gave
in :-)

You sound like the sort of customer who my husband goes and digs up bits of
the garden for!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)