Blowing the budget!

Yes, we all know Trago Mills is the nearest thing to hell on earth, but you've got to hand it to them;
2 x large, plastic garden sieves
2 x small tomato plants - Alicante and Ailsa Craig (classics)
11 packs of seeds,mostly Unwins and all F1 or at least recognisable varieties
   Celery
   Pak Choi
   Red Cabbage
   Giant Pumpkin
   Brussels Sprouts
   Cauliflower
   Spring Onion
   Fennel
   Leeks (yes, we need more!)
   Sweet Corn
   and Watermelon (will have to go in the greenhouse at home but I couldn't resist)


Total cost £11.35


Even on ebay the sieves seem to start at about £4 or £5 each.


In stark contrast, Homebase are selling a Jamie Oliver range of garden supplies.  It is an impressive range of plants, mostly herbs selection packs, strawberries and chillies even grow bags and soil.  The items I saw were of high quality and not too excessively priced - although perhaps more for the Surrey set than the Cornish!  There was one product which screamed disaster for the unsuspecting purchaser.  A sizeable section by the tills was dedicated to chilli plants, fine except there were only about 6 leaves left on the plants and I would suggest, no chance of further flowering.  Three shiny red fruits were left on the plants and although one or two plants had feeble flowers showing I could not imagine the flowers ever setting fruit.  £5.99 for 3 chillies - they had better make your dishes as good as Jamies for that price.  Mrs 2K will be waiting for the end of the bank holiday season and popping in to see if they have reduced the herb packs as they frequently do!
At risk of being a cheapskate I think I will stick with Tragos!