However, even the likes of Tesco and Asda are selling plants and bulbs these days, and that to me is even worse. They have no one who has the least bit of know-how on caring for these things, and the bulbs are kept inside in the light and heat, while the plants bake outside in glass enclosure with a cursory watering occasionally. They're cheap, and people buy them. Maybe they are trying to do to nurseries and garden centres what they have already done to the high street butchers, bakers, greengrocers and fishmongers.

It's strange how they all claim low prices and then Tesco puts the prices up across the board about 10 days before the holiday makers arrive, after that one I decided to shop elsewhere, as we locals are obviously being dumped on from a great height!

It's the lack of diversity I deplore. Very little that's either old-fashioned or different from the cast iron offerings.

However, the remainder bins can be most useful for increasing collections of things such as bromelliads, Cyclamen, NG Impatiens and on at very reasonable prices... :-)))

All you can do is buy the horrible polystyrene thingies when they're almost dead and reduced to 10p, and then hopefully nurse some of them back to life :-)

On the whole I've always thought of bedding plants as a complete waste of time. All that effort for a few weeks colour, then you chuck them away. Perennials much better value! I think it's to do with the "instant garden" beloved of makeover programmes. 30 quid and voilà, instant colour with little effort.

Alcina

Lori: I once purchased a single Alchilla mollis plant. Now it appears in my front garden, back garden, in pots, you name it, it arrives. Not prolifically, but just enough to make its presence obvious. I'm on a heavy clay by the way.

What I find annoying is that even garden centres stock up with plug plants in Feb and March which is far too early. It's ok growing them on but then they are ready to go out of the greenhouse way before frosts have finished and you end up tripping over trays of overdone plants and dare not put them out.

Buying later is not an option because there is no choice left and in any case the garden centres (like the fashion shops they have become) are on to the next thing.

I often wonder how often the people who buy these plants so early end up dissapointed.

I don't care for the multi coloured packs that are always on offer either - I have a carefully planned scheme in my garden and am just not into lots of multi coloured explosions.

I've given up on bedding and have planted up lots of perennials. I have a small garden so have been able to fill the space satisfactorily.

Or you head for B&Q and help yourself to cuttings, then leave without buying anything :-)