Recommended suppliers, and links to useful websites
Peat Free Compost Suppliers
Dalefoot Compost – organic certified compost, ingredients include bracken, sheep fleece and comfrey. A range of composts suitable for sowing, potting and mulching.
https://www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk/
Melcourt – their Sylvagrow composts are available in organic certified. Multi-purpose is ideal for most things, I used their Tub and Basket compost for the Gardeners’ World carrot trial in pots.
https://melcourt.co.uk/products/sylvagrow-peat-free-composts/
Fertile Fibre – very good quality coir based organic certified compost, but it is very expensive.
https://www.fertilefibre.com
Mr Fothergills Coco Grow – small packets of coir based compost which you rehydrate. Ideal for people with balconies and other smaller spaces – no heavy bags to lug about.
https://mr-fothergills.co.uk/products/coco-grow-peat-free-seed-and-cutting-compost-15ltr
Seed Suppliers
These are the seed companies I mainly use for my garden. The smaller seed companies are also plastic free. Their packets can be home composted.
Real Seeds – small seed company selling heritage open pollinated seeds grown in Wales. They support local growers and use organic methods. The website includes excellent seed saving advice and a downloadable seed packet template for saving your own seed.
https://realseeds.co.uk/
Welsh Seed Hub – small seed company selling heritage open pollinated seed grown in Wales. They support local growers and use organic methods.
https://www.seedhub.wales/
Seeds of Scotland – small seed company selling heritage seed grown in Scotland. Theysupport local growers and use organic methods.
https://www.seedsofscotland.com/
Vital Seeds – a small seed company selling organically grown seed, they support local growers and use organic methods.
https://vitalseeds.co.uk/
She Grows Veg – a fantastic range of interesting, colourful and unusual heirloom varieties with probably the most beautiful seed packets in the UK.
https://shegrowsveg.com/
Franchi Seeds of Italy – the oldest family run seed company in the world, they specialise in seed from Italy. The packets are huge, good for sharing with friends.
https://seedsofitaly.com/
Mr Fothergills – as well as a wide range of seeds, they sell grafted aubergines, chillies, tomatoes and other veg which grow faster than those from seed. Also seed potatoes and UK bred sweet potato slips
https://mr-fothergills.co.uk/
Chiltern seeds – a really lovely range of herbs, veg, flowers and wildflowers. Their seed catalogue is gorgeous.
https://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/
Nicky’s Nursery – a very large range of unusual varieties as well as more familiar kinds. (Note: the seed packets are plastic).
https://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk
Herb and other plants, fruit and other trees
Pepperpot herbs – an excellent range of herbs grown in peat free compost
https://www.pepperpotherbplants.co.uk/
Ian Sturrock and Sons – suppliers of Welsh heritage fruit and other trees, grapes, figs and veg seeds. Home of the Denbigh Plum. This is where I got the Welsh heritage peach in my polytunnel: the Marquess of Anglesey’s peach
https://iansturrockandsons.co.uk/
R V Roger – where I bought the other peach and nectarine trees in my polytunnel. A superb range of fruit trees and bushes.
https://rvroger.co.uk/fruit/
Beardsworths – where some of my step-over apple trees are from. Run by the brother of my Aunty Frances (!) in West Yorkshire
https://beardsworths.co.uk/
Otter Farm – Mark Diacono’s seed, plant and tree online nursery. An excellent range including unusual edibles, spice plants and herbs.
https://www.otterfarm.co.uk
Pennard Plants – a wide range of seeds, plus fruit bushes and trees, herbs, unusual perennial edibles and a huge range of seed potatoes.
https://www.pennardplants.com/
Polytunnels and other garden structures
Both of my polytunnels, the heavy duty fruit cage and some of the cloche hoops are from First Tunnels.
https://www.firsttunnels.co.uk/
Garden netting, row covers, cloche hoops etc
Gardening Naturally – A wide range of good quality, long lasting fine veg mesh, butterfly netting, bird netting, cloche hoops and horticultural fleece. The walk in brassica cage was from here (sadly destroyed in storm Darragh).
https://gardening-naturally.com/