Why we decided to grow our own
The decision to grow our own products was not taken lightly, but the benefits we gain from doing so are incredibly important to us.
With the impact we have on our environment at the forefront of our minds, growing our own products allows us to ensure our plants are secure. This means that we know what goes into every product at our nursery, from azaleas to zinnias! This also gives us control over the soil in which we grow, a huge benefit that has meant we can proudly say the vast majority of our products are grown peat-free.
So, whether you’re looking to fill your beds & borders with colour or treat yourself to one of our RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year winners, you’ll receive superior quality and environmentally conscious products.
Our plants & growing media
As many gardeners will tell you, continuity is the key for any successful garden – and that goes for nurseries too! Whether you prefer to grow from seed or start with larger plants, our system allows for gardeners to maintain their gardens all year-round.
We grow a wide selection of bedding, perennials, roses, shrubs, fruit & veg, and offer plant sizes from small plugs to large, attention-grabbing showstoppers. All products are grown in our own specially formulated compost, which is much better for the environment than many commercial alternatives. Many of our small plugs will be sold as such, but we also grow many on to be larger plants for our customers who prefer instant impact in their gardens, and enabling gardeners to grow their favourite varieties later into the season.
What do we trial at our nursery?
At Suttons, it’s our mission to find new and exciting additions to our ranges, but these varieties need to be viable to grow in UK climates. Our new varieties come from all over the world and are grown at our Devon trials site, where they can be evaluated by our experts. If they are judged as suitable and up to standard, they will appear in our flower seed and vegetable seed range in subsequent seasons.
With over 200 years of experience in horticulture, we believe that the highest quality is essential to our success and reputation and that makes the trial grounds one of the most important elements of our company.
Sustainable Growing
We are committed to conducting our business in an ethical, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable manner, and our nursery is no different. There are a number of ways we reduce our impact on our environment.
All our plants are grown using organic principles. Pest control in the greenhouse is achieved by the release of indigenous predatory insects, including wasps, lacewing larvae and mites, reducing the need for any chemical sprays. We use a long-term, slow release feed, which keeps your plant healthy and fed even after it’s planted out in your own garden. We also collect rainwater to be used on the nursery, reducing the need for outside resources. In 2019, we made a pledge to move over to recyclable pots for all our packing and growing needs.
For more information, please visit our Sustainability page.
