What a waste of Strawberries!

[gardenqueen]

<a href="http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q135/net23tie/?action=view&current=Strawberriesetc005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q135/net23tie/Strawberriesetc005.jpg" border="0" alt="Strawberry plants"></a>
<a href="http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q135/net23tie/?action=view&current=Strawberriesetc001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q135/net23tie/Strawberriesetc001.jpg" border="0" alt="Dead and dying strawberry plants"></a>

What a waste of money. Strawberry plants failed and failing from J Parker!

[gardenqueen]

[shirlton]

Did you give them a feed of potash in the spring GQ

[flossy]

   Oh dear, so sorry gardenqueen,   next time if you  '' beg and exchange ''

   srawberry ' runners ',    you'll probably get worthwhile plants in the future.

   Have a chat with your lottie/ garden friends.

   shirl, what feed do you use,  afraid I rely on  Phosfrogen  big time, is that good ?

    floss xxx

[gardenqueen]

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q135/net23tie/Strawberriesetc001.jpg

[gardenqueen]

At last managed to post a photo! lol Well These strawberry plants (25) were received two weeks ago from J. Parker. I was none to happy when I received them but on advice from here they were planted on mounds. This week-end I noticed that a lot had died so I just pulled up the rest!  I had  a problem with the dwarf fruit trees this company sent and they sent a replacement , just as bad and now they want to send me more-No way!

I have sent them photos of the strawberries and said I want a refund!

[Deb P]

I have to say they look very similar to most strawberry plants I have ever received through the post, i.e hardly any top growth, just roots. Most will perk up remarkably quickly and put out new growth in a matter of days as long as you keep them well watered. Were the roots moist when you received them? They should have been.

Some suppliers are sending out cold stored runners at this time of year that will fruit this season, such as Marshalls (the variety Marshmello is very good) or Ken Muir, both of whom I have had very satisfactory plants from. If you get a refund, I would suggest you invest your pennies there....or as Flossy suggests wait until this seasons runners have rooted from friends plants for strawberries next year.

[hippydave]

i got some bare root strawberries from marshalls last year while at gardeners world live, they had no greenery on them at all, i planted them and everyone came and i was harvesting straws within 6 to 8 wks and this year they are heaving, but i cant remember the variety tho ???

[gardenqueen]

Although wrapped in wet paper the roots didn't look particularly fresh! However after planting, I did water them well, especially in the hot spell we had recently.
I shall certainly look at Marshalls and Ken Muir, thanks Deb.

[valmarg]

Personally, I'm not a big fan of J Parkers,

Their plants are of very poor quality,  If you complain, instead of sending you a credit to your credit card, they send you a credit note.  As if you were ever going to buy from them again. ??? ??? ???

valmarg

[gardenqueen]

That was the first and last time for me Valmar. I thought companies had to give you a choice of a cash refund these days?

[Yuet_Lee]

I'm totally agree what valmarg said!
they had vry poor quality stuffs!

[gardenqueen]

Update and hopefully end of! Parkers have credited my account with £10 in order to send all the plants back (including the apple trees, grape vines, goji berry, free acer, free begonias and of course the **** strawberries! good job I kept the box!) Once they receive them they will then credit my account. I bet they deduct the original postage though!

[daileg]

i have bought various plants from them do agree somtimes the plants are not the best have complained verbally once and had them replaced the second lot were far bigger than the first
will say just had a delivery from them for some rockery plants and three of the five are not healthy at all in fact i will give them another week and if they dont pick up will be making another call .
I tend to buy what is on offer for what you pay and the size you get is why there cheap the offers tend to be the best option . ;D ???

[gardenqueen]

I shall be visiting a locally recommended nursery. At least then I can see what I am buying! ::)

[Tee Gee]

Did you give them a good soak in a tub/basin of water prior to planting out?

but i cant remember the variety

If they are the same as I purchased they are 'Marshmellow'

[Paulines7]

Remember too, when planting strawberries, especially when they are tiny, that the crown of the plants must be above soil level otherwise they will rot. 

[gardenqueen]

I soaked the strawberries before planting and also planted them out in a row of hills!

[shirlton]

If you planted them out on hills then with the dry weather we previously had perhaps they have dried out. We do plant on a mound but with the top flattened so that the water doesn't run straight off. We use sulphate of potash on all of our fruit in the spring. It will probably work out cheaper than phostrogen specially if you can buy it lose. We also put plenty of straw round the plants.

[PurpleHeather]

A lot of the plants from shops do not thrive well either, I am always telling them their stock needs water.

Good for you for sending the stuff back.

I am convinced that far too many people do not take back the stuff which does not thrive. We have to be far more active with our complaining.

There is always trading standards, there to help.

With so many cameras about, on phones and all sorts, it is simpler to get photoraphic evidence than ever before.

[Digeroo]

Got some quite good raspberry canes from Parkers.  Some were very slow to get going but now all but three have put in an appearance, and two of those the builder from next door trod on.  Several bushes are already dripping in raspberries.  Arrived november and planted out on arrival. Certainly better looking than some new arrivals at the allotments.  I say bushes because several canes had three or four stems.  To balance that two or three are rather thin looking.  Overall reasonable value for money.  Pity about the size twelve boot.  What was it doing in my garden?  Could have been worse.

Primula wanda were also good.  They were tiny when they arrived, but in the end flowered their socks off, and I do believe that no two plants were the same colour.  Though found yellow flowers and red leaves not to my taste.   Wished they had arrived earlier and so grown more before the winter.  Looked very squashed when they arrived but perked up quite quickly.   Considering the price of wanda seeds and difficulty germinating, great value.

Also bought a bamboo.  Still alive, but rather small.  Had hoped to grow my own bean canes.   :D :D  Might be a while yet.  Maybe for dwarf beans. ;D ;D  Supplied in a 2 litre pot, would have fitted easily in one considerably less than half the size.  Poor value for money.  Did I mention how small it was?

Also had ordinary primulas - slugs ate them.  Went into hospital and when I got back there they were gone.

Want some strawberries so pleased with your recommendation on Marshalls.  Got their catogue yesterday.  Bought some seeds from them - bit stingey when they fill the packets.  I say fill, when I mean there are only a very few right at the bottom.