Callaway's Nursery (buy, price, stores)

[GNW4life]

Very true. Nurseries are more adept to the conditions that we face here. Thanks for your response.

[Midorigreen]

I'm hoping to pick up some seedling plants for my veggie garden at Calloway's this weekend.....How is their overall variety? I plan on going to the one on San Pedro, just inside Loop 410.

[SnappyBob]

If the store on Pat Booker was indicative of the other stores it should be quite good. My experience was two weeks ago. They had a great variety. The heirloom tomatoes looked very nice. As they should for $2 per plant. They may be very large by now but they may be on sale. It's getting a little late to be starting tomatoes. I'd get them in the ground this weekend.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by SnappyBob

Bib box stores tend to sell rather mudane varieties with usually not much thought to what varieties are the best for the area. The workers may or may not be knowlegable in plant care. I would just rather deal with nurseries.

I second that. I've had much better success with veggie plants I've purchased from Shades of Green (my preferred local nursery) than those from the big box stores.

[ShaneSA]

No wonder Callaway's is leaving town.
I went to the store on Broadway this afternoon. The plants were very expensive and I noticed they sell alot of things that will not grow here. Trees that do not survive the heat and need a dormant period in the winter. We do not always get a dormant period that trees need, and bedding plants that can't handle direct 100 degree sun. The stuff looks great in the store, but I wouldn't pay the price for the stuff.
There's a great nursery on the southside near 410 and Zarzamora that is cheaper and sells only stuff that will grow here.
It's a trip to go, but worth it.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by GNW4life

Why do you choose not to buy plants from Lowes/HD? I have had very good luck with both places when it comes to plants. I typically shop at the HD on Culebra/1604, because it is closer and I have never had any problem with the plants there.

I can speak only for myself, but we try to avoid buying anything from Lowes/HD that we can get from a locally owned or specialized store (so I tend to avoid the chain nurseries as well) for the very simple fact that I want to keep those locally owned places in business. More importantly, however, the local places tend to have more knowledge as well as a better supply of items (in this case plants/trees/shrubs anything green) than the big box stores.

There's a fabulous gardening center on the east side - Fannicks, and another great but slowly dwindling nursery on S. Zarzamora and 410. Last time we were there the owner said he may not stick around much longer (he's been there for 20+ years; Fannick's has been around much longer).

As it is I'm forced to use HD/Lowes a lot simply because there are no other stores that carry the supplies I need in San Antonio, but I try to avoid it if I can.

Same goes for many items, including coffee

[jules07]

Originally Posted by SnappyBob

If the store on Pat Booker was indicative of the other stores it should be quite good. My experience was two weeks ago. They had a great variety. The heirloom tomatoes looked very nice. As they should for $2 per plant. They may be very large by now but they may be on sale. It's getting a little late to be starting tomatoes. I'd get them in the ground this weekend.

SnappyBob, aren't you the one that does raised beds? Could we do a meet up and have you as our guest speaker to share all your knowledge with us? Then maybe I could actually keep some of the plants that I'd like to buy at Calloway alive!!

[Midorigreen]

Originally Posted by jules07

SnappyBob, aren't you the one that does raised beds? Could we do a meet up and have you as our guest speaker to share all your knowledge with us? Then maybe I could actually keep some of the plants that I'd like to buy at Calloway alive!!

Jules.... I use something called "The Garden Patch" that is a type of self-watering, self-fertilizing raised container. I've had success with tomatoes so far and plan to branch out into other veggies and fresh herbs (I just purchased a 2nd one.) I hope to pick up some plants at Calloway's this weekend for that very purpose.

Maybe something like that would work for you, too..... You can find it online...

[jules07]

Originally Posted by Midorigreen

Jules.... I use something called "The Garden Patch" that is a type of self-watering, self-fertilizing raised container. I've had success with tomatoes so far and plan to branch out into other veggies and fresh herbs (I just purchased a 2nd one.) I hope to pick up some plants at Calloway's this weekend for that very purpose.

Maybe something like that would work for you, too..... You can find it online...

Cool, thanx! I just checked it out, looks great. Noticed that you get a little better price when you order several. Maybe we should talk about that at the M&G!!

[Willsatx]

Originally Posted by GNW4life

SnappyBob,

Why do you choose not to buy plants from Lowes/HD? I have had very good luck with both places when it comes to plants. I typically shop at the HD on Culebra/1604, because it is closer and I have never had any problem with the plants there.

I heard from someone that both Lowe's and Home Depot are the reason that Calloways is leaving, could not compete with the big guys.