When I asked Tim Milward of
Plant Me Now how many lines of seeds they had in their catalogue he looked at me politely and I realised I was a bit of an idiot. Plant me now, geddit? Plants arrive as plugs or in 7cm pots and the punter plants them and tends them.
![P1040221](http://www.catharinehoward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/P1040221.jpg)
It’s neat for those who do not care for the worry, flutter and bother of germinating and nurturing diddly-squat young plants.
And so I got on board to review some
winter bedding plants. I am new to reviewing and new to winter bedding too. But equally horti experimenting is part of my business. Here follows a report of my parcel.
This time last week an email came in to tell me that my delivery was on its way. This was followed up by messages that I could cancel or alter the date but otherwise Jamie the driver was on his way and would arrive in a one hour time slot on Thursday.
![P1040189](http://www.catharinehoward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/P1040189.jpg)
He did - and just look how pleased the dogs were with the parcel. Next up, unpacking and I am truly impressed with the quality of the plants and the efficacy of the packaging. See how happy these pansies are.
![P1040197](http://www.catharinehoward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/P1040197.jpg)
Three days followed while the plants were neglected. I wrestled with my conscience about the pansies and the primulas. Did I like them at all? Did I want such dwarvish plants occupying my oh so posh pots that I gave myself as a present? By Sunday the solution entered the slowness of my mind. The Random Bed, of course. In the Random Bed there is parsley, lambs lettuce, fruit trees, beans, peppers and radicchio - a bit of dill and coriander too. Perfect for the pansies and their friends to join and jostle with curly parsley and the like.
![P1040217](http://www.catharinehoward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/P1040217.jpg)
On the aesthetic front, the bed is raised and the small plants can be seen close up.
Despite the 3 day neglect (surely a viable, even essential part of a trial) the plants were still in very good nick. I would note that the 5 cm plugs (some really cute violas called Lemon Jump Up) were in a fantastic growing medium that was like a set chocolate mousse and had brilliant moisture retention. The 7cm pots were a little on the dry side (my fault) and so I held them gently in a
![P1040215](http://www.catharinehoward.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/P1040215.jpg)
bucket of water to rehydrate. One criticism about this excellent plant by post mallarchy: a little bit more plastic than I really want in my life so I particularly favoured the 5 cm plugs that dispense with the inner plot.
There was a catalogue in the parcel and hurrying past the early flowering primroses there was a mouth watering flower feast. Oh and PS, BTW they do have some flower meadow seed mixes available.