Shopping Ethically for Bulbs

Redwing

Today I read Alys Fowler's Guardian column article about tulips.

She states, " First, please shop ethically: cheap bulbs often represent cheap labour and excessive chemical use, particularly of phosphate fertilisers, insecticide and fungicide, all of which wreck the ecosystem, groundwater and the soil food web, and are heavy on fossil fuel use."

Just wondering how true some of this is, is it really true that cheap bulbs use contain more insecticides and fungicides than expensive bulbs? 

CharlotteF

Not strictly I wouldn't think. It's probably true that it is harder to produce cheaper bulbs such as from Parkers, without pesticides. Peter Nyssen's (neonicotinoid free) aren't too pricey, but I suppose they sell so many they've been able to apply sustainable practice at scale. Though absence of neonics doesn't necessarily mean no other nasties... 

Some expensive suppliers (Farmer Gracy, Sarah Raven) supply bulbs which I assume to be treated, because surely they would make a selling point of it if not? So it doesn't seem to follow that spending more means they're greener.

It's a minefield; it would be very helpful if growers had to declare chemicals used on their crops.

Pianoplayer

I think it is an really interesting issue. I have often wondered what the difference is between `full price` bulbs from specialist online suppliers and the `cheap` ones from supermarkets etc. Are they different in quality? Doesn't seem so, as people on here are always saying how successful the cheap ones have been. Are the specialists making excess profits? Possibly. Or are the cheap ones grown by cutting corners, slave labour, chemicals etc? Who knows?

Until there is more transparency, I guess it is impossible to judge. I have a small garden, and I like specific varieties, so I buy a small amount from the specialists. I am probably a mug for paying over the odds!

Fairygirl

Better tell everyone on here who buys bulbs in Lidl, Aldi, B&M etc etc, to stop then.

Yet another stick to beat people with ....

Fire

I buy a fair amount of bulbs from Sarah Raven. I would be interesting to quiz the company on their practices. Gee Tee also.

I agree entirely that if you are paying bargain basement prices (for anything), some poor sod in a basement is paying for it. Pay the full, real price of production of what we want to buy, instead of shoving the cost onto the weakest far away in time or space.

Fairygirl

Easy to say, but if someone new to gardening, and on a budget, sees some bulbs in their local supermarket, how are they supposed to know where and how they were produced?
I rarely buy bulbs from anything but good suppliers, but turn the clock back thirty years when I had no money, I'd probably have bought from these outlets. 

Gardeners are getting targeted all the time nowadays. It's getting beyond a joke, especially when you consider the amount of good most of them do. 

Loopz

Sarah Raven have some bulbs that you can buy as either standard or organic, however the link to the organic bulbs page didn't work. I appreciate largely what the difference would be, but without the correct information there is nothing telling me the points of difference from their regular bulbs.

Nanny Beach

I am on very tight budget,in the week we had tea and cake at a garden,tea and cake on town while shopping, hubby says this has to be once a month, because we only have my pension. Don't forget Wilko!

Redwing

Pianoplayer said:

I think it is an really interesting issue. I have often wondered what the difference is between `full price` bulbs from specialist online suppliers and the `cheap` ones from supermarkets etc. Are they different in quality? Doesn't seem so, as people on here are always saying how successful the cheap ones have been. Are the specialists making excess profits? Possibly. Or are the cheap ones grown by cutting corners, slave labour, chemicals etc? Who knows?

Until there is more transparency, I guess it is impossible to judge. I have a small garden, and I like specific varieties, so I buy a small amount from the specialists. I am probably a mug for paying over the odds!

I too think it's an interesting and important issue. I too am guilty of buying cheap bulbs in the past (with some good results).  I am though very concerned about neonics and their persistence levels. 

In posting the question I hoped someone on here with some inside knowledge would contribute to the discussion; maybe they still will. There really should be more transparency in the horticultural industry generally.

Fire

Sarah Raven say 85% of their plants are UK sourced and they do not routinely spray their plants.

Perch Hill is run organically.

Loxley

Almost all UK sellers, including Sarah Raven I'm sure, source the vast majority of their bulbs from the Netherlands. I would assume if a supplier doesn't specifically state neonic free or organic, all you can be sure of is that the productions methods meet with with EU regulations.