North/South divide
 

So is it true that if a *N*ortherner (North of Watford type) buys summat
from the Southerners--then it might have problems surviving?
I ask this question because a reputable Nursery/garden centre in Cornwall
suggested that it would be better for me (a Northerner) to buy plants
locally.
At this stage you might think that they had better things to do than deal
with small beer but I was talking about substantial business.

small beer
(http://dictionary.reference.com/word...004/04/21.html

North/South divide
 

Rupert wrote:
So is it true that if a *N*ortherner (North of Watford type) buys
summat from the Southerners--then it might have problems surviving?
I ask this question because a reputable Nursery/garden centre in
Cornwall suggested that it would be better for me (a Northerner) to
buy plants locally.
At this stage you might think that they had better things to do
than
deal with small beer but I was talking about substantial business.
[...]

No, that's what I'd expect from a reputable nursery. Compare forestry
catalogues: they'll tell you provenance along with all the age and
undercutting details. Of course it doesn't matter for all plants.

--
Mike.

North/South divide
 

On 7/12/05 23:41, in article , "Mike Lyle"
wrote:

Rupert wrote:
So is it true that if a *N*ortherner (North of Watford type) buys
summat from the Southerners--then it might have problems surviving?
I ask this question because a reputable Nursery/garden centre in
Cornwall suggested that it would be better for me (a Northerner) to
buy plants locally.
At this stage you might think that they had better things to do
than
deal with small beer but I was talking about substantial business.
[...]

No, that's what I'd expect from a reputable nursery. Compare forestry
catalogues: they'll tell you provenance along with all the age and
undercutting details. Of course it doesn't matter for all plants.

Old gardeners always seemed to think that you shouldn't move plants north -
or not far, anyway. I think there's sense in it. Plants grown down here
don't usually meet the more extreme weather of some parts of the north and
won't have toughened up in the same way. One of the reasons we don't use
heat to force plants is because we want to grow them 'hard' but OTOH,
normally speaking, our weather isn't anything like as severe as it can be in
the north.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

North/South divide
 

"Sacha" wrote in message
.uk...
On 7/12/05 23:41, in article , "Mike Lyle"
wrote:

Rupert wrote:
So is it true that if a *N*ortherner (North of Watford type) buys
summat from the Southerners--then it might have problems surviving?
I ask this question because a reputable Nursery/garden centre in
Cornwall suggested that it would be better for me (a Northerner) to
buy plants locally.
At this stage you might think that they had better things to do
than
deal with small beer but I was talking about substantial business.
[...]

No, that's what I'd expect from a reputable nursery. Compare forestry
catalogues: they'll tell you provenance along with all the age and
undercutting details. Of course it doesn't matter for all plants.

Old gardeners always seemed to think that you shouldn't move plants
north -
or not far, anyway. I think there's sense in it. Plants grown down here
don't usually meet the more extreme weather of some parts of the north and
won't have toughened up in the same way. One of the reasons we don't use
heat to force plants is because we want to grow them 'hard' but OTOH,
normally speaking, our weather isn't anything like as severe as it can be
in
the north.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

This almost comes back to zones..in a way....I think nothing of buying
plants from anywhere in the USA providing those plants meet the temperature
etc. requirements of my northern area.....the southern plants very often
cost less because of the warmer winter and lower heating costs....when the
plants arrive I just harden them off...get every bit as good results from
southern nursery grown plants as I do from northern nursery grown
ones....and yes I do understand the climatic conditions over yonder....my
teeth came thru there...I have compared southern nursery plants to my own
from seed and the results are pretty close....the only reasons I grow my own
is a) something to do in my retirement years and b) selection.....(lest I
get chastised, I also enjoy)......H

North/South divide
 

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from "Rupert" contains these words:

So is it true that if a *N*ortherner (North of Watford type) buys summat
from the Southerners--then it might have problems surviving?
I ask this question because a reputable Nursery/garden centre in Cornwall
suggested that it would be better for me (a Northerner) to buy plants
locally.

Usually, it is; especially if it's a big investment of money time and
effort, such as planting an orchard woodland or hedgerow.

Buying in Winter-Spring; plants grown in the south often start into
new growth weeks earlier than the same plants would further north. So a
south-west import of a perfectly hardy species may be very vulnerable
to later northern frosts, cold east winds etc which could freeze off
it's new grwoth points and buds. Then, if it didn't die, its first
season would be badly delayed, resulting in a weaker plant, more
vulnerable to disease, moulds, etc. A " northern" buy would be more
adapted to the season, and properly hardened for the locality, and
should establish much better with a lower fatality rate. Good-quality
nursery growers offer replacements of failed plants. so you can
understand why they don't want to send large consignment where failure
is more likely.

Common native plants (like hawthorn and hazel) have adapted to local
climate variations over centuries, as have local birds, insects etc
which feed on them. Competent ecologists and forestry interests nowadays
buy and plant local-provenance stock which is best suited to the
conditions and local biosystem.

But having said all that, if you're in warmer climes and happen to
find some irresistible plant, bulb or seed that's seldom available at
home, join the happy throng who push the boundary to see what they can
get away with. Climate change is a great temptation to gardeners. Just
make sure you harden it off properly and position it somewhere kindly.
And don't cry if it dies. OTOH, it's always a special pleasure when
something from further south settles down happily with a slight shiver
and turns out far hardier than expected.

What plants were you looking for ?

Janet

Thanks for that very good summary .
The plants were pretty ordinary --Abutilon, Bamboo etc . All were pretty
large specimen plants. The advice was that if I could obtain the plants
locally then they would stand a better chance of success. These plants are
destined for a friends garden who wants everything instant and fully grown

North/South divide
 

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from "Rupert" contains these words:

What plants were you looking for ?

Janet

Thanks for that very good summary .
The plants were pretty ordinary --Abutilon, Bamboo etc . All were pretty
large specimen plants. The advice was that if I could obtain the plants
locally then they would stand a better chance of success. These plants
are
destined for a friends garden who wants everything instant and fully
grown


You might try Binny Plants. It's a nursery, not a garden centre. No
pots, cards, coffee, gifts, nuffink but wonderful plants which he grows
and propagates. They are situated outside Edinburgh, are exceptionally
helpful people, and specialise in finding and growing varieties which
are tough enough for the north. They do mail order.; theres's a website
with pics and and also a printed catalogue without (but good
descriptions).

www.binnyplants.co.uk/

Another excellent large northern nursery, is Larch Cottage at
Melkinthorpe just outside Penrith. ( a must-stop just off the M6,
wonderful gardens, nice home-cooked restaurant, upmarket pots and
gallery) They do mail order plants, and will also provide plants in a
wide range of sizes from tiny to big specimens. Their printed catalogue
is the size of a paperback novel and well worth getting.

www.larchcottagenurseries.com/

Janet

Once again thanks.
I had forgotten about Larch.
I got a Leycesteria (purple rain) from them a few years ago and it was a
bobby dazzler or for our Cornish friends a Morgan rattler.
I will have a good look at both sites.