Apologies to anyone who was planning to buy plants or flowers from me this weekend at Sofacoma, but for unavoidable reasons I have to take a break from the markets for awhile as family commitments mean I haven’t enough of the time needed to garden and grow in the way I would like. Hoping very much to be back in September with dahlias, biennials and plants for Autumn sowing.
Some small, unexpected mishaps meant there were no markets in May, but the stall will definitely be back this month with a range of interesting plants and some lovely seasonal flowers.
June 2nd: Wolvercote Community Market at the White Hart Pub in Wolvercote
June 16th: Sofacoma Market in the Community Centre off Lake St
Both markets run from 10.00am until midday. If you would like to pre-order for pick up at either market, then please email me before 6.00pm on Saturday at: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com
Free delivery might also be possible for orders £10 and over – please contact me.
The last of the peonies, sweetly scented roses, delphiniums and other beauties will be in this week’s bunches, pickle pots and jam jars. There will only be a limited number available so pre-ordering is advisable.
Prices:
Jam Jars: £7.50 with at least 12 stems
Pickle Pots: £10 – £12.00 with at least 20 stems
Bouquets start at £15
Perennial Plants: these are all healthy resilient plants grown by me from seed, cuttings or division in peat free compost. Each one is attractive to pollinators as well as being beautiful. They have all been hardened off and most are ready to be planted out immediately. A few have recently been potted on and would benefit from a week or so longer in their pots. The pictures below are for guidance; the plants will bloom this year, but most are not in flower yet.
Salvias
Salvia nachtvalinder: one of the very best salvias which despite being a tender perennial comes back reliably year after year even in the harshest winters. Velvet-like, deep plum coloured flowers appear from May to the frosts. It grows up to around 50 cms in my garden; likes sun and free draining soil and is very happy in a pot if you don’t have the right conditions. Don’t cut back until April as the top growth protects the plant. Prune to healthy new shoots when they appear. These have been grown from cuttings and are limited in number: £3.00 a 9cm pot and £5.00 a one litre pot.
Salvia deep pink/red: another lovely, healthy salvia grown from seed – no name as the label for its parent plant has been lost. The original plant is reliable and grows to around a metre. Same care as above. £3.00 a 9cm pot and £5.00 a one litre pot
Veronica Longifolia Blaureisin
An attractive upright perennial with narrow mid-green leaves formed in a rosette. Spikes of bright lilac-blue flowers appear in summer and early autumn. It can be grown in sun or part shade and can reach up to 75cm. Loved by pollinating insects, it is a very elegant plant which bushes out. These plants are divisions from the plot and are ready to be planted out. £5.00 for a one litre pot; £7.50 for a 2 or 3 litre pot
Campanula Lactifolia ‘Pritchard’s Variety’
A true cottage garden variety which is also one of the RHS plants for pollinators recommendations. It has clusters of trumpet shaped pale lilac-blue flowers and grows up to 75cm in sun or part shade. A lovely plant which clumps up once established. These are from divisions from the plot. £5.00 a one litre pot; £7.50 a 2 or 3 litre pot
Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’
Very pretty daisy with upright habit and strong growth. It can grow up to over a metre when established and it is a prolific flowerer. Each flower consists of a double row of flat chalk-white petals which surround the large central yellow disc. Flowers later than most daisies in late Summer. £4.50 a litre pot and £7.50 for 2 or 3 litre pot
Eryngium ‘Blue Glitter’
I love this plant! It has been grown from seed collected from the garden: a true perennial, it has strong, erect stems that are an ornamental silver-blue colour and is beautiful fresh or dried. It is a magnet for pollinators and gives height and beauty to the border. Although the plants are small now they should flower in late Summer. They appreciate being planted out before they grow too big as they establish long tap roots and don’t like lots of potting on. £3.00 a 9cm or 11 cm pot; £5.00 a 1 litre pot
Half Hardy Annuals
The weather hasn’t helped quick growth and the only Cosmos ready so far is the lovely Double Click Cranberries below (Purity and Dazzler coming, but need to put on some growth):
Cosmos Double Click Cranberries:
Beautifully elegant double flower in the richest ruby. Cosmos are full of nectar and pollen, making them excellent for pollinators. They are hugely productive and keep flowering to the first frosts if dead headed. Can grow over a metre high and an easy to grow, glamorous addition. The plants are in small 9cm and 11 cm pots and have been pinched out and hardened off so are ready to plant out straightaway. £1.50 a pot
Zinnia
In a mixture of colours from white to bright, Zinnias are one of the easiest annuals to grow and are particularly loved by butterflies. They make an excellent cut flower and as well as brightening up the garden. They like full sun and a well drained soil though also like to be well watered. These plants have been grown from plugs and need a week or two before being planted about 30 cms apart. They need to be pinched out at about 20 cms tall if they haven’t had growing tip removed already. This encourages them to bunch out and produce many more flowers. They flower most vigorously towards the end of Summer. £1.25 a 9cm pot
Courgettes and squash in 9cm pots at £1.50 a pot.
Courgette Defender: a highly productive and delicious dark green courgette, which crops over a long period. It has resistance to mildew and mosaic virus and is a good variety for courgette flowers too. Plants have been hardened off and are ready for planting out.
Winter Squash Red Kuri: a favourite squash because of it has great taste and texture – waxy and sweet, tasting of chestnuts – and it doesn’t get too huge. Can be trained up a support or used to fill a gap in a vegetable garden or allotment. Needs to be kept well watered in dry weather.
Butternut Squash: reliable,tasty and versatile.
Apologies for lack of tomato plants, but they are not good enough to sell as this year’s Spring weather has given them a beating.
This Sunday we will be back at Wolvercote Community Market with lovely Spring flowers – the last of the tulips and the ranunculus in full bloom. There will also be a range of plants. This will be the last market until mid May as, despite it being an awkward time for a gardener to be away, I am on holiday; because of this, there will be some tender plants on the stall that you might like before then. See below for the details and if you would like to pre-order for pick up at the market, please email me before 6.00pm on Saturday, 20th April.
Apologies no deliveries this week.
Email: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com
All the flowers this week are home grown including beautiful tulips, ranunculus, camassia and geums together with fresh foliage and emerging apple and quince blossom.
Jam Jars: £7.50 with at least 15 stems and usually more
Pickle Pots: £10.00 minimum of 20 stems, but again usually more
Market Bunches: £12 with at least 25 stems
Bouquets from £15 (at least 30 stems) to £25 (at least 50) can be pre-ordered for pick up from the market.
Cerinthe Major: an unusual and attractive plant with its silvery leaves and purple hanging bells, this is a magnet for pollinating insects. It is a generous plant which gently self seeds so it will organise its own return year after year. The seeds are very easy to collect too. It likes sun, but tolerates some shade in my garden and also copes with my clay soil. These little plants have been grown from seed and have been completely hardened off so are ready to be planted out from their small 7 cm pots. They will put on good growth when put in the soil and in the right conditions can grow up to 60 cms. Each pot: £1.00
Nasturtium Black Velvet: a sumptuous, glamorous dark flowered nasturtium which is a great addition to both the garden and containers, producing flowers throughout the Summer. As well as being very attractive to look at, it is also edible and its flowers and leaves make a great peppery addition to salads. In small 7cm pots, these will need to be protected from frost. £1 a 7cm pot
There will be a small range of individual perennials in small 9cm containers and larger 2 & 3 litre pots propagated from divisions and seed including Knautia Macedonia; Bleeding Heart, Cupid; white campion and geum.
It is a few weeks earlier than I usually sell these and they will definitely need protecting from frost and hardening off. For most plants, the roots are just reaching the bottom of their pots, but they all have plenty of room to grow in their existing containers. They will need to be kept under cover in a greenhouse, conservatory or bright windowsill and then gradually hardened off outside. It is best to plant them when their first flowers appear. Then they will need regular watering and weekly feeds with either seaweed solution or tomato feed. All tomatoes enjoy sun and can be grown in the ground or in containers in a greenhouse or outdoors in a warm spot. All the varieties below are of the indeterminate kind which means they need support (tying into a bamboo cane) and to have their side shoots removed as they appear. This may seem a lot of bother, but it is worth it for the delicious taste of a home grown tomato.
If you prefer to wait until later in May, I expect to have these plants available then and others too.
Courgette Blanco di Trieste: this pale ivory-green skinned courgette is a very healthy, quick growing variety. It is tasty and productive and it is also known for producing lots of flowers which are good for stuffing. £1.50
Tomato Black Russian: an old heritage variety, ‘Black Russian’ has large, deep red fruits with dark green shoulders. The flavour is excellent and is very rich and sweet with a hint of acidity. They start ripening nice and early indoors but also do well outside in a sunny summer. I grow this every year and it is a real favourite. £1.50
Tomato Chocolate Cherry: a small tomato which ripens to the colour of cocoa, it tastes delicious and has a sweet and fruity flavour. £1.50
Last week’s warm weather was a signal for the garden grown tulips to rocket up and they have been going from tight bud to almost open flowers in just a few days. They are strong and tall with large flamboyant flowers in a range of colours from cool, gentle whites and pinks to bright and bold reds and orange.
Grown using peat free and homemade compost, these tulips are beautiful and will last a long time in the vase growing larger and often wilder over time while retaining their loveliness until their petals drop.
If you live within 5 miles of Oxford and would like a £10 wrap of at least 12 tulips this weekend with free delivery, please contact me by Friday midday to pre-order:
thedevelopingplot@gmail.com
The Homesown stall will be at Wolvercote Community Market either this weekend or next and there will be a post later in the week to confirm and give more details.
Blue skies and warmth in the sun means more and narcissi, anemones and even ranunculus are opening in the garden; these (supplemented with other Spring loveliness from British growers) will be for sale this Sunday at Wolvercote Community Market.
Free delivery is available within 5 miles of Oxford with a minimum order of £10.
The flowers and foliage are locally grown by me and supplemented with flowers from other local and British growers. As well as the jars and bunches, bespoke bouquets can be made too – just ask if you would like an alternative to the offer below.
Please email flower orders to: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com by midday Saturday
Flowers
Mixed Gift Bouquets
This week’s jam jars, pickle pots and bouquets will include: ranunculus, hellebores, delicately scented narcissi; anenomes in a range of colours; tulips as well as daffodils, fresh blossom and foliage.These bright and beautiful bouquets range from £15 to £25 and can be ordered gift wrapped or arranged in a vase. As a guide, each £15 bouquet will include at least 30 stems and often more.
Mixed Jars
Jam jars for £7.50 – with at least 15 stems of the loveliest flowers and foliage
Pickle jars for £10 – with at least 20 stems
There will be a small number of homegrown plants available including sweetpeas and small perennials. More details to follow.
If you would like to get regular updates of what is available, please sign up below:
Blue skies and warmth in the sun means more and narcissi, anemones and even ranunculus are opening in the garden; these (supplemented with other Spring loveliness from British growers) will be for sale this Sunday at Wolvercote Community Market.
Pre-orders for Mother’s Day on March 10th can be made from now until midday on March 9th, though early ordering is advised as flowers are likely to run out earlier. Free delivery is available within 5 miles of Oxford with a minimum order of £10. Deliveries will be on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
The flowers and foliage are locally grown by me and supplemented with flowers from other local and British growers.. As well as the jars and bunches, bespoke bouquets can be made too – just ask if you would like an alternative to the offer below.
Please email flower orders to: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com by midday Saturday
Flowers
Mixed Gift Bouquets
This week’s jam jars, pickle pots and bouquets will include: ranunculus,hellebores, delicately scented narcissi; anenomes in a range of colours; tulips as well as daffodils, fresh blossom and foliage.These bright and beautiful bouquets range from £15 to £25 and can be ordered gift wrapped or arranged in a vase. As a guide, each £15 bouquet will include at least 30 stems and often more.
Mixed Jars
Jam jars for £7.50 – with at least 15 stems of the loveliest flowers and foliage
Pickle jars for £10 – with at least 20 stems
If you would like to get regular updates of what is available, please sign up below:
More and more flowers for cutting are opening in the garden and these (supplemented with other Spring loveliness from British growers) will be for sale over the next two Sundays at local markets. Orders for Mothers Day can be made from now until midday on March 9th, though early ordering is advised as flowers are likely to run out earlier. Free delivery is available within 5 miles of Oxford.
Please email me at: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com
Sunday, 3rd March: Sofacoma Market in South Oxford Community Centre, Lake St
Sunday, 10th March: Wolvercote Community Market at the White Hart Pub
This week’s jam jars, pickle pots and bouquets will include: hellebores, delicately scented narcissi; anenomes in a range of colours; tulips as well as daffodils, fresh blossom and foliage.
Jam Jars: £7.50
Pickle Pots: £10 – £12
Wrapped Bouquets: £15 – £25
Please add your email below if you would like to know what’s available
With new blossom and buds emerging there are moments when it has felt like Spring especially in the last couple of days when there was a rest from the incessant rain and warmth in the sun. The first of the flowers for cutting are popping open in the garden and these (supplemented with other Spring loveliness from British growers) will be for sale over the next few Sundays at local markets.
Pre-orders can be made for pick up at the markets by contacting me up to midday on the Saturday before. Orders for Mothers Day can be made from now until midday on March 9th, though early ordering is advised as flowers may run out earlier. Free delivery is available within 5 miles of Oxford.
Please email me at: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com
Sunday, 25th February: Wolvercote Community Market at the White Hart Pub
Sunday, 3rd March: Sofacoma Market in South Oxford Community Centre, Lake St
Sunday, 10th March: Wolvercote Community Market at the White Hart Pub
This week’s jam jars, pickle pots and bouquets will include: hellebores, delicately scented narcissi; anenomes in a range of colours; tulips as well as daffodils, fresh blossom and foliage.
Jam Jars: £7.50
Pickle Pots: £10 – £12
Wrapped Bouquets: £15 – £25
Please add your email below if you would like to know what’s available
Hard to believe that it is still the middle of Winter in today’s gentle sun especially as there are early anemones starting to flower and daffodil and tulip shoots pushing through the soil. This Sunday, January 28th, the Homesown stall will be back at Wolvercote Community Market at The White Hart from 10.00am to midday with a small number of bulbs in pots and also bunches of early Spring flowers. See below for more detail and if you would like to pre-order flowers for pick up at the market, please email me at: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com
Flowers at this time of year might be my favourite with their hopeful splashes of colour and scent. In January and February my own flowers and foliage are supplemented with flowers from other British growers. This week’s bunches and bouquets will include: indoor narcissi such as Paperwhite; anenomes in range of colours; tulips as well as daffodils and fresh foliage.
Prices: A jam jar of flowers: £7.00; a pickle jar: £10 – £12 and wrapped bouquets from £15
Please contact me if you would like anything bespoke.
There will be a selection of Spring bulbs for sale: some, like the fragrant paperwhite narcissi are best kept inside to enjoy their colour and heady scent close up, while others such as the iris reticulata, snowdrops, dwarf narcissi and crocus can be enjoyed inside or out. All these bulbs (apart from the paperwhites) will come back and can be left in their pots /planted outside to brighten up late Winter/early Spring again next year.
The plant stall is unlikely to be back at Wolvercote until the end of February and some of the bulbs have a little growing to do before flowering. For me that’s part of the pleasure of having them and you can speed them up by bringing them in to the warmth or leave them outside to develop in their own time. The delicate looking iris reticulata, crocus and dwarf narcissi are extremely tough and will survive the very worst of the weather outside while offering much needed food for early pollinators.
Iris Reticulata: these miniature beauties are some of the very earliest bulbs to appear and are definitely amongst the most lovely. A small number of the following varieties will be available: George, Pauline and Pixie. Prices from £2.25 to £5.50 depending on number of bulbs and type of pot.
Narcissi Paperwhite Ziva: An absolute favourite for their pretty flowers (with many on each stem) and their heady scent. This is an indoor variety available in metal and glass containers. Price: £12.50 a pot
Miniature Narcissus Tete a Tete & Narcissus Canaliculatus: Cheerful, resilient dwarf narcissi which will come back year after year and increase in number. Prices from £2.50 to £5.50 depending on the type of pot and number of bulbs.
If you would like to keep up to date on what’s available, please fill in:
A week later than planned, we are glad to be back at Wolvercote Community Market from 10.00 am to midday this Sunday, December 10th with a selection of fresh and everlasting wreaths. There will also be pots of paperwhite narcissus and hyacinths – perfect for presents or for filling your own home with heady scent.
Wreaths, both fresh and dried, can be pre-ordered for pick up at the market or delivered for free within 5 miles of Oxford. (A small charge applies for deliveries further afield). Please email me for further details or to make an order.
If you are certain you would like a fresh wreath, please think about ordering in advance.
Email: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com
Payment can be made online by BACS or by cash or card at the market.
Fresh Festive Wreaths
Fresh wreaths are made by hand on a moss and wire base and are covered in generous handfuls of fresh foliage, berries and beautiful seedheads. All the ingredients are from my plot and garden or are lightly foraged locally.made from ingredients grown or lightly foraged by me. If the moss is kept damp, the wreath will last weeks and weeks. They dry beautifully too.
Wreath on a 10 inch base: £17
Wreath on a 12 inch wire base: £20.00
Wreath on a 14 inch wire base: £25.00
Bespoke wreaths on larger and smaller bases can also be ordered.
(The diameter of each wreath will be at least 2 inches wider than the base)
The Getting You Started Wreath Kit for £10 includes: a moss covered wire wreath ring; wire or string to attach bundles of materials; mossing pins and some foliage and other ingredients to get you started. If you would like one of these, please contact me as kits will be made up on request..
Here is a link to my very rudimentary guide to wreath making: https://thedevelopingplot.com/how-to-make-a-mossed-wreath-base/
Grown by me using an organic approach and dried naturally, the flowers have as light an environmental footprint as possible. Each wreath is individual and made on a vine base (30 cms) to which layers and layers of beautiful dried material are added. If kept out of bright sunlight in a dry place, these wreaths will last for years and keep their bright loveliness
Prices:
Everlasting Wreath on a 30 cm base: £30
If you would like to keep up to date on what is available, please sign up:
thedevelopingplot 