This is one of our favourite times of the year, when we add exciting new varieties to our collection and bring forward varieties for sale in the coming year.
This year we will be introducing new varieties for sale, as well as re-introducing older varieties from our collection that we have not had for sale for a long time and this month we focus on a small selection of varieties we are particularly pleased to have available...
| The
new 'gold standard' for hostas Let's inject the winter gloom with a little sunshine as we highlight our personal favourites among the gold varieties we plan to have for sale in 2009:
Aside from the golds, we are planning to also have
an exciting new variety, We recommend you also look out for h. 'Hacksaw'. This cultivar is like an improved version of h. 'Dragon Tails'. It is described as a medium-size hosta that produces it's serrated looking leaves prolifically - quite unusual. A new tetraploid sport of h.
'Stained Glass' has arrived called h. 'Cathedral
Windows'. We are really looking forward to seeing how this variety
grows as it promises fragrant flowers and leaf colour that intensifies
as the season progresses. Finally for now, just to whet you appetite further:
No wonder we get excited waiting
for the season to get underway.
|
|||||||||||||
| PSST...sorry
for the delay We had hoped to get our website and full 2009 availability and collection listings sorted out for this issue of the newsletter but events have overtaken us. We will be updating the website over the next few weeks with all the information, so next month's newsletter will contain the full details. |
|||||||||||||
Plants & prices
Our prices are currently being updated for the coming
year and will range from £5 - £20 per plant. Many will be
reduced in price but some will increase due to their limited availability.
When pricing plants we need to consider:
The purchase price:
of varieties we need to buy in and bring on at the nursery
The cost of pots and growing medium: we re-pot everything we buy
in and those we retain at the end of each season
Our time: to bring on sales plants to the point where we are confident
they are garden worthy
The last point is especially important with regard to varieties we can only obtain through tissue culture - mainly the new cultivars.
|
As collectors, we prefer to wait before we offer
the newer varieties for sale but at the same time we need to satisfy
the desire for the 'new' among our customers.
|
Generally, new cultivars need to be produced more quickly
than can be achieved through root division.
If a breeder introduces a new variety he will only have a short window
within which the plant will be considered 'new', and able to command a
premium price, so time is of the essence.
However, not all hosta varieties are suitable for tissue culture production
and sometimes this method can produce plants that revert (lose their unique
characteristics) or do not have the longevity of stronger, root-divided,
plants.
Specials
If a customer is looking for a specific variety in our collection we are
happy to split a parent plant, if it will not compromise the growth of
that plant.
|
Specials are generally priced
at a higher level as they are taken directly from the collection
and originator stock.
This way you can be assured of the plant's eventual characteristics. |
Discounting
We do not stipulate a discount rate as we prefer to do this on an individual
basis, depending upon the number and type of plants purchased.
We operate discounts from our nursery and at shows. With mail orders we
offer free P&P on orders of 10 plants or more rather than discount.
| Next month: | We will have our availability list for 2009 finalised, and more... |