Zoning moaning -

I saw your last blog on this and was intrigued enough by your second blog to go to their site, I got the clear impression it was a family firm with over 120 years of growing/selling experience? And I agree with you even reading through their history nothing indicates that they use the Channel islands as suppliers?
If you have already written to them about this and got nowhere? They are registered with 'Safe Buy Protecting the consumer' (web code of practice) perhaps you could ask them as they have a Mediation services for consumer complaints provided by SafeBuy and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators?

Thanks Drc726. Having been so disappointed I wouldnt waste a stamp on them. Jersey grown products should be advertised as Jersey grown. People trading as responsible Chrysanthemum growers should have their customers at the top of the list for considerate selling.
Not using an address in the Fens to sell plants that are grown 350 miles as the seagull flies to the south.

Best to warn other gardeners, thats what I have done.

Diane I have treated myself to a beauty this afternoon from my local Morrisons only £2.00 per plant, ours had quite a good selection...

I don't blame you. i would do the same ...

A lot of mail order plant sites use the Channel islands to save on VAT. They import the plants on say Jersey, then grow them on for a few days, then export them to the UK via post to your house. They are a major industry on the islands. All to make profit and avoid VAT.

Zoning does not work in the UK as it is a measure of hos cold it normally gets. Plants will take dry, cold weather better than wet, cold, windy, with some freezing in between that we get in the UK winter. The wet is what kills most plants and not frost. So hardiness is not a guide to go for.

On saying this there is a good hardiness map online of the UK and Ireland:

http://www.scottishbamboo.com/Hardiness_Zones.htm

If I take the past 3 winters then my zone is 7a to 9b! As it got down to -15 in 2010 and barely any frost last year with a min of -2/3 on rare occasions. It was not that wet last year and I lost nothing. It was very wet in 2010-11 winter and I lost a few plants.