Saturday, August 16, 2008

Stupid Garden Center

Remember this morning when I was all excited about planning my fall garden. I even got out my handy dandy KCMG horticultural calendar and looked up what should be planted this month. The list included broccoli and cabbage among other things. I already have seeds for most of my fall plants. I also thought that this would be a good time to start some snap dragons and violas. With my nice list in hand, I go to the local nursery. I found no seeds and no vegetable bedding plants. All he had were mums and crotons. So here I go across the road to, horror of all horrors, a big box store. Not only had they gotten rid of all the seeds and had no veggies, but the rest of the plants were being allowed to die a slow horrible death without water. Why do some plant retailers think there is only one season of gardening? Our master gardener group spends hours sharing knowledge about gardening in our county only to have the poor gardeners go out and find not a single fall plant available when it is time to plant, or worse things that are not suitable for our zone. Fall is really the easiest time to garden here in north Texas. The weather is warm but not blistering or cool but not freezing. There is generally enough rain and if supplemental water has to be added it does not evaporate within minutes. The pest problems are minimal and the weather is much more comfortable for the gardener. I can even overwinter somethings like carrots, garlic, and onions. What gives with the retailers? Stupid garden centers.

15 comments:

  1. I feel your aggravation Deb as I too was disappointed recently while visiting a garden center. I'm certainly not done gardening for the year yet and it gets frustrating seeing everyone shutting it down.

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  2. I haven't even looked for anything green since this blistering heat. Figured it would just die anyway and waste my money. I usually wait until September and get into the fall swing of things. Sorry about your experience! I do agree it's the best time, and no one picks up on that. Don't know...email the big guys or talk to the nursery?
    Brenda

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  3. Deb, I know exactly what you mean. Here, June is the last of the plants and seeds. I have learned that after June it's all over in the retail businesses. Had to learn to plan ahead for fall crops. Difficult to think fall when also thinking spring and summer.

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  4. Oh wow - too bad you arent close to me in Pennsylvania. The garden center where I work has an abundance of fall planting supplies and seeds and etc.

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  5. I agree with you Debbi - they are dumb. I know my Dad was looking for fall plants last week and struck out at our local organic place -- but to their credit, they had actually run out. Still, it all goes to better planning. How frustrated you must have been. Don't give up -- there's still lots of summer left to get things in!

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  6. Well that's not good, I was planning on doing the same thing Deb. That is stupid!

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  7. The first two years of our garden we only did a summer garden. But this year we started in Feb. and want to see how long we can keep going--see if we can have a true potager, growing something every season of the year. WN's Garden Center started getting fall veggie starts in on Friday. But their seed selection is just about non-existant.
    --Curmudgeon

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  8. I so totally understand that frustration...we have the same problem and I bitch insisently about it. I'm used to Florida, year round gardening, year round gardening centers. It's not just the plants though..until we got a Home Depot last year you had to drive 40 miles (one way) to find mulch or fertilizer. Walmart makes the garden center a holiday center about the middle of June..now I ask you how on earth you are suppose the fertilize your lawn in the fall if you can't find it?? The plants...are the same..can't find a thing...nothing, nada. Perhaps some evergreens..that's about it. Man you've gotten me started on a pet peave...we ought to protest...LOL

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  10. Debbie .. there is nothing as frustrating as what you just went through, for gardeners : (
    I usually look for new grasses to plant, bargains on perennials to splurge on .. Autumn is a great time to indulge for the last time of the year. Now my garden is truly groaning and I have to relocate a lot of plants .. so I will be busy.
    BUT .. I had to drop a note and say I understand your frustration girl .. shouldn't they know better where you are ?? Jeez !
    Joy

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  11. Cindy, I know, now is the best time to plant trees, shrubs, roses, and perennials, but you can't buy them.

    Brenda, I had someone argue with me at a calloways in mesquite about when to plant fall plants. You are not supposed to wait until six weeks before the first freeze. Sheez.

    Hi pg, very stupid.

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  12. Cindy, I know, now is the best time to plant trees, shrubs, roses, and perennials, but you can't buy them.

    Brenda, I had someone argue with me at a calloways in mesquite about when to plant fall plants. You are not supposed to wait until six weeks before the first freeze. Sheez.

    Hi pg, very stupid.

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  13. Hi Curmudgeon, you are lucky to have wn in the garden business. When I worked at a nursery I had some control over what we bought. Not so anymore.

    Rhonda, it looks like a lot of us are peeved about this.

    Joy, It seems to me that the garden centers should be the teachers and leaders. Educating gardeners on what to buy and plant, but no that would mean they would have to hire knowledgable staff. That might cut into the almighty dollar.

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  14. You might try the Coop. PG found some at her garden center so maybe even try another garden center? Good luck!

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  15. Hi tina, we live a few miles from a big town and traveling all over is just not going to work. I am still hoping the feed stores will bring stuff in early. Funny, they seem to know what to do when the garden centers don't. I will be in Kaufman tomorrow and I can check them out then. Thanks for the good luck wish.

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