How we grow and send your plants and seeds

Innovative new packaging for our plugs and mini-plugs

Exclusive to Thompson & Morgan, the new cartridge plug system®PAP allows us to grow the large bulk of our mail-order plug plants by a method identical to commercial nurseries.

As the young plants grow from seed, they are captured by a camera, which detects any gaps caused by non-germinating or weaker plants. The machine then inserts a fresh plant, a job which was previously done by hand. The benefits that this brings include healthier plants of the highest quality and with in-built strength from a young age.

The open-sided modules also allow the root tips of each plant to be air-pruned, which helps to build up a dense and fibrous root system in a very short time. This gives the young plant the very best start in life.

The slender plastic packaging and layout of the plants also mean that most packages will sail through modern letterboxes, ensuring they arrive as fresh and healthy as possible and won’t be deteriorating in a sorting office for days on end.

Mini-plug

Usually 4-6cm in height from base to tip, mini-plugs require a longer growing-on period, but represent superb value. Some may be supplied as seedlings (such as lobelia), which should not be separated, as they’ll create a better display if planted in clumps.

Plug

Generally 6-8cm in height from base to tip, this size of plug will require potting on and growing on further before planting out with some protection.

Other plant pack sizes

If you’re looking for a larger plant, then these sizes could be for you. These plants will need a shorter period of growing, and offer superb value for money. Many of these larger-sized plants are grown from cuttings, which are taken from premium nursery stock.

Jumbo / Garden ready plugs

Jumbo plugs can be planted straight into baskets or other containers. Plants are usually 8-12cm in height from base to tip, and the plug module could be 3-5cm in diameter, depending on the variety.

Postiplugs™

We've also redesigned our larger plug size so that these parcels will also fit through most letter boxes, so they're fresher and will arrive sooner just like our smaller plugs. Postiplugs™ are versatile, superb value and can be planted straight into baskets and other containers.

Pencil plugs

Slender young plants, such as carnations and pinks, have a different growing habit and don’t need such a large plug, so we’ve devised the ‘pencil plug’. Its packaging is much smaller to despatch, so it can easily fit through your letter box.

Potted plants

Sizes can range from 5cm to 9cm. This refers to the diameter of the top of the pot. These well-established plants are ready to be planted straight out into final positions, as soon as the weather allows.

Bulbs

When buying bulbs, quality is everything. We always supply flowering-size bulbs, which means you’ll grow bigger, better flowers AND there’ll be more of them.

Bareroots

Plants may show little or no sign of top growth. They have been sent in a dormant state which keeps them in the best possible condition, and they will produce new growth in the spring. Can be planted straight out into the garden, as long as the soil is not frozen or waterlogged.

Our seeds

We have our own on-site laboratory where we test the germination of every variety of seed we offer. Seeds are tested twice in a 12 month period to make sure that germination rates have not diminished. If they have, we drop the variety from our range; simple as that!

Seeds

Our seed packets are carefully packed in padded envelopes to ensure that they arrive undamaged. Our seeds are posted by 2nd class mail and you can usually expect delivery of your seeds 3-5 days from posting.

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• Our gardening blog
• Gardening guides
• Video library
• Buy plug plants