Better Quality At Home Depot or Lowes? (tomatoes, vegetables, peppers)

[wit-nit]

There's really no difference between HD and Lowes as far as quality of the plants when they arrive at those stores. The plants come from the same vendors. The problem is the quality of care that the employees do to keep the plants looking good. And generally 9 out of 10 garden employees have no nursery or plant experience.
And as far as those plants the stores have in stock that are not indigenous to the area and die is because so many people from out of the area moving here ask for them, that's what they grew back home and are used to. The stores will accompany them if enough people ask for them. Then it's buyer beware as they learn a lesson.

[Nonchalance]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Do buy plants from a local grower if possible. We buy annual closeout / overstock during off season. Local plants are usually far more Hardy and will not be dwarfed for many years, as will a non-native variety.

Transplant early in AM or after dusk. Less shock.

The ONE time we bought from a local grower, everything was diseased and spread the 'joy' to our other plants. Never again.

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

Personally, I'm not buying tomato plants at Lowe's anymore - while they might be a better price, they have problems. For the last couple yrs. the plants from Lowe's have either just plain not done well, they've gotten horn worms (eek), etc. Unfortunately, there is a variety that is my fav. and is always sold out at H.D. so I've gone to Lowe's for it but not anymore, might as well throw my money away.

Hornworms come from moths that come during the night. You can’t really avoid them unless the plants were always tented. If you are buying heirloom varieties that are not resistant to wilt or other plant diseases, then you are doomed to fail. The DIY stores may be guilty of stocking susceptible varieties, or not marking them well enough, but it’s our fault for buying them.

[silibran]

In my experience, they sell the same plants, and I don’t see much difference, except that I think Lowes carrues more varieties of things. Check both places out when you are buying plants, or start at the most convenient place.

For really nice, out of the ordinary plants, check out your local nursery. They’ll likely have the nicest choices, but also can help you with questions. Help with planting questions is not either big box store’s strong point.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I don't see any difference. The trick is to get there soon after the plants arrive and before they are under the tender care of minimum wages clerks for too long.


If you are on the West coast BiMart is a good place to buy. My best bareroot fruit trees have come from BiMart, and petunias from there thrive. But again, get there when the plants arrive. BiMart never has a big selection: veggie starts bedding plants in season, and bare root fruit trees.



Costco sells some good bare root fruit trees, but the bags of bulbs are hit and miss.

[silibran]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

I don't see any difference. The trick is to get there soon after the plants arrive and before they are under the tender care of minimum wages clerks for too long.


If you are on the West coast BiMart is a good place to buy. My best bareroot fruit trees have come from BiMart, and petunias from there thrive. But again, get there when the plants arrive. BiMart never has a big selection: veggie starts bedding plants in season, and bare root fruit trees.



Costco sells some good bare root fruit trees, but the bags of bulbs are hit and miss.

I am on the West Coast, and I enjoy visiting Fred Meyer’s nursery department.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by sasie123

As a devout gardener, I find the service and quality of Lowe's garden, much better than Home Depot......and for excellent prices, Walmart's Garden Center.......

We use Walmart as well. It is much closer for us. I still prefer Home Depot, but Walmart is so close for us. If we are going to be in the area of Home Depot we will always go there.

[phonelady61]

I buy my plants at the flea market and get much better results also .

[Cambium]

I remember one year everyone was preparing for a late freeze. I drove by Home Cheapo and I saw all the plants outside that morning.
I went back couple days later and they had some sad looking damaged plants for sale.


Moral of the story, make sure its a place that actually takes care of their plants and not just waters them.

[Isleofpalms85]

Both are run by corporations and thus aren’t trustworthy with marketing plants known to be hardy to a given area so neither one is any good IMHO as I have seen them sell out of zone plants in central Indiana on multiple occasions, if you want something reliably hardy to your area I would stick to the local plant nurseries.......