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Flying in from France

• Message 1. 

  Posted by julie new in france (U3837878) on Monday, 20th February 2012

  Hi all I live in France where all gardening stuff, seed etc are really expensive. I am flying in to Liverpool to see my daughter and wondered if any of the cheap shop, wilkinsons etc have got garden supplies in yet.I like to stock up when I can also with M&S ham. Sad I know

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by marinelilium (U8293024) on Monday, 20th February 2012

  Hello Julie,
  
  Yep, seeds are already in local supermarkets, plug plants are just coming in to stores and garden centres.
  
  The most cost effective vegetables to grow yourself (per kilo) in the UK at the moment are lettuces, bell peppers, garlic and then any vegetable- staple your family eats all the time. This may not hold true for the region of France you are in.
  
  Brassicas work out dearer for me to grow per kilo as they are so greedy for nutrients, water and pest control but then they are very rich in nutrients. If you eat heaps of something year round then you will get your money 'back' or break even. The taste is always better
  
  Watch out Julie, some seed companies have really reduced the number of seeds per packet. What restrictions are there for importing seeds and plant material where you live.? If none then a visit to a 'lottie' and some 'horse-trading' of seeds is worth a try. Allotment folk are usually really good swappers.
  
  Enjoy all the hugs you are flying to get, happy seed hunting and Bon voyage!
  
  MLx
  
  
  
  

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  Posted by Swedboy (U14400604) on Monday, 20th February 2012

  I think gqt answered the import question about 3 weeks ago. And within the eu I think they said seeds is ok.

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  Posted by marinelilium (U8293024) on Monday, 20th February 2012

  Well in that case here's a shopping list that may save you ££££ not sure if it will save as many €€€€
  
  It's worth every penny, drop of blood, sweat and tears if you enjoy eating it, need it and just plain wanna grow it. 
  
  The water meter (or carrying of watering cans!), the pest control and weeding fertiliser  costs and the calories you burn  (and the need to replace them) being offset by the deliciousness, exercise and the satisfaction of growing it yourself. The supermarkets factor in the above plus transporting and packaging so for an organically produced equivalent here's a current top twenty list:-
  SUPERMARKET AVERAGE PRICE PER KILO
  
  1st  Raspberries £27.92 per kg
  2nd Lettuce £19.00
  3rd Blueberries £16.00
  4th Rocket £16.00
  5th Garlic £13.00
  6th Sweet peppers & chillies £11.92
  7th Spinach £8.95
  8th French green beans £7.00
  9th Strawberries £7.00
  10th Cucumber £6.30
  11th Leeks £6.23
  12th  Tomatoes £5.96
  13th Shallots £5.38
  14 th Mushrooms also £5.38
  15th Courgette (zucchini if you prefer) £4.38
  16th Baby (little salad ones) potatoes £2.66
  17th Red Onions £2.14
  18th Onions £1.43
  19th Carrots £1.33
  20th Potatoes £1.09
  
  So grow what  you eat lots of, but more importantly, what makes sense to you and makes you happy
  
  MLx

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  Posted by julie new in france (U3837878) on Monday, 20th February 2012

  Thanks very much to you all for your kind work and suggestions. I am looking forward to some English food and a bit of a shop.

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