By Martivvy
Hampshire, United Kingdom
Any idea why garden centres charge so much for rhizomes (not much bigger than my thumbnail) of bearded iris? I've just seen some pathetic little scraps priced at £4.99 each!
- 30 Sep, 2010
Answers
and people will pay for them too. but even a small rhizome that will flower will have had to be nurtured for a few years. and that all adds to the cost.
30 Sep, 2010
I grow colocasias - these are known as taro in asia and are eaten (similarly used like our potato here). So you can buy Colocasia tubers or a growing plant from a nursery, for say £6. Then if you can find Taro (or eddoes as the tubers are called) in food shops - they don't cost half as much. I found Colocasia esculenta tubers as eddoes in my local ASDA. I purchased two of them for just 75p each - and of those two one rotted, but one grew into a lovely plant - so if that's what these nurseries do then where's the nurturing there?
2 Oct, 2010
The rhizomes I saw were just fairly common varieties, loose in a display box alongside the tulips and other items, Wouldn't have minded the price so much if the size had been acceptable! Have since bought at a slightly better price on ebay. Wonder what spring will bring forth? Meanwhile have divided what I already have to spread them out a bit more. Bearded iris are my latest craze, though I have always liked them.
Yes Alocoloman, I've grown loads of things off the fruit and veg shelves at the supermarket. Satisfying, isn't it!
2 Oct, 2010
Might be that they're unusual or new varieties.
30 Sep, 2010