How Much?!?

[Corris]

As you know, I have the 'wilderness' we have recently moved into. But, slowly we are hacking stuff down - so today I bought my latest 'grow your own', along with the fruit/autumn veggies catalogue, from memory from a company called Doobies.

WHAT! I thought, a couple of fig trees, some gooseberries, rhubarb and a couple of plum trees....... I could clear enough ground for those, get something started - oh, and some asparagus, maybe a couple of tayberries and some raspberries. That'll get me going.

Then I worked out how much imaginery money I'd spent whilst consuming my BurgerKing.

So, how on earth do I meet my aspirations over stocking this plot which is looking like the horticultural version of 'The Money Pit' - without bankrupting myself to achieve it?

[binley100]

D'ya have an Aldi near you ?.......

ALDI - Thursday Special Buys 4th August 2011

[Corris]

mmm. no. one about an hour away...

[dave_norm_smith]

Hi

Don't buy everything at once. Wait for offers. Read, read and read some more as jumping in boots first invariably involves some bad decisions= wasted money. Beg, swap and barter and seed catalogues!

p.s. Ask around, you'll be suprised how many people will give you raspberries as they sucker like mad!

[rustylady]

There's no need to go down the mail order route Corris. I don't know whereabouts in Norfolk you are, but all the cheap shops (Q.D., Roys of Wroxham, Poundland, Aldi, Lidlm Wilkinsons etc)will be getting their fruit plants in soon. Best time for planting them is Autumn. My raspberries and redcurrants came from the local pound shop. Once you have one plant established you can increase your stock by taking cuttings. Asparagus you can grow from seed (takes a couple of years to get to cropping size, but so do crowns).

[Corris]

I'm near Stalham RL. If ever you make it up this far come look at my garden! You'll be horrified

I have seen some cheaper plants earlier in the year at Potter Heigham at Lathams - perhaps I'll look again there.

So, we don't recommend mail order catalogues then?

[dave_norm_smith]

You just have to careful with them. I write out a wish list first and then hit the local nurseries/internet etc and compare what you are getting for your money. I bought my currant plants from local garden centres and got larger more established plants for the same money as the catalogues. P & P can be a killer as well. What initially seems like a good deal often proves not to be.

Check out JB's recommended sites for fruit trees in the Fruit section and maybe pick his brain about what will grow in your area, potentially another waste of money if your conditions don't suit.

[Corris]

actually I AM near Aldi on Thursday! Totally forgot I have to take eldest to Stansted, so can stop at Thetford on way home.

How excellent.

[OverWyreGrower]

I agree with the above... I often use the catalogues to make a wish list, then hit local garden centres/nurseries for price comparisons (or sometimes other online places). I also sign up for the email newsletters/offers, as sometimes they have good deals/bargains on them...

Also you can't plant everything at once - fruit bushes/trees are best planted Nov-Mar I think, so you've got a bit of time to save up/decide rather than needing to put stuff in the ground now.

I've had quite a few fruit bushes/trees from Lidl and Aldi and have had no issue with quality at all

[Aberdeenplotter]

first thing you need to do is give up eating at BK. . I have happy memories of holidays in Stalham, lunches were great (the beer was really good). Seriously though, with raspberries and gooseberries, chum your pals for some plants to start off or get them to start off some cuttings for you - goosies are really easy to root as are blackcurrants.

Also as the guys have said, Lidl and Aldi are good for cheap trees/fruit bushes http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ust_60054.html

[rustylady]

Ooh Corris, I'd love to see your garden. Unfortunately I don't drive these days so I'd have to try and scrounge a lift. Have you ever visited East Ruston Old Vicarage - it's not far from you. Link here East Ruston Gardens if you're interested. I went with my daughter earlier this year and loved it.

[Corris]

Having just moved I don't have any growy pals nearby - and after 7 years in a flat no gardeny interest at all with people....

well next time RL - you would be very welcome. I haven't made it to the Old Vicarage yet - it's the other end of the village, and it's a big village - but it's on my 'to do' list. It's just a very long list at the moment.

[Two_Sheds]

some gooseberries, rhubarb

They're free if you can beg some cuttings off someone