How We Grow at Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants
Sustainability isn't an afterthought here — it shapes every decision we make on the nursery. Find out more about how we grow here at Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants.
Peat free. Our propagators produce around 50,000 plug plants per year. Cuttings are taken from our own stock plants. All of our cuttings are rooted in 100% peat-free growing media. Our seeds are also sown into a 100% peat-free seed compost — you'll see our peat-free logo on these products when you browse our website. It simply isn't possible to grow the range of plants we wish to supply without including some plants which have plant breeder rights — these plants are grown under licence and are only available from specific nurseries. Therefore we buy in plugs from suppliers in the UK and Europe and we can't guarantee these plugs don't include a small amount of peat. When they arrive with us, we pot these plugs into peat-free growing media and grow them on. This is why you don't see our peat-free logo on every plant. In autumn and spring we also pot field-grown bare-root stock, again bought in from UK and European-based suppliers. When potting we use Melcourt Sylvagrow.
Pesticide and fungicide free. We use no pesticides or fungicides on the nursery. Many years ago we used these chemicals on an occasional, needs-assessed basis, but as research started to reveal the harm organophosphates were causing to our bee populations, the decision was taken to stop using any pesticides and fungicides within our production process. Instead, we rely on biological controls such as nematodes, which means our plants are always bee and pollinator friendly. We don't claim to grow organically, but we can guarantee that during the production of our plants here in Hampshire, no chemicals have been used.
Cork. We've replaced vermiculite with cork as a seed and cutting tray topper. Cork suppresses algae and deters sciarid fly just as effectively, and we also use it in our growing mixes in place of perlite — making the media more friable and free-draining.
Energy. Heating is limited to our propagation (Keder) house, used only for seedlings and cuttings. Once rooted, plants move to unheated polytunnels, and most are grown on outside — exposed to the elements. This is what makes them robust and ready to plant straight into your garden. Our nursery transport buggies and forklift are electric.
Recyclable pots. Our pots are made from recycled materials and, depending on your local authority, may be kerbside recyclable. We also welcome clean, soil-free pots which have contained our plants back to the nursery — and recycle cardboard boxes for customers to carry plants home in.
Sustainable packaging. Mail-order plants are wrapped in compostable bags, corrugated cardboard, and sent in cardboard boxes. We still use small amounts of tape, labels, and ink — practical and cost-effective alternatives elude us for now — but we're always looking.
Your questions answered
Why aren't all your plants labelled peat-free?
We propagate all our own cuttings and seeds in 100% peat-free media, but some plants — particularly those with plant breeder rights — must be bought in as plugs from licensed nurseries in the UK and Europe. We can't guarantee those plugs are entirely peat-free. When they arrive, we pot them into peat-free growing media and grow them on, but we only apply our peat-free logo where we can be certain of the full growing history.
Are your plants safe for bees and pollinators?
Yes. We use no pesticides or fungicides at any stage of production. Instead, we rely on biological controls such as nematodes to manage pests. This means every plant that leaves our nursery is bee and pollinator friendly.
Can I return my pots to the nursery?
If the pots originally contained our plants, then yes — please do bring them back. We welcome clean, soil-free pots and will reuse or recycle them. We also reuse cardboard boxes for customers collecting plants in person.
Why can't I return all plant pots to you?
We can only accept pots that originally came from us. Pots from other nurseries or garden centres may have been in contact with soil, composts, or plants carrying pests or diseases that we have no way of screening for. Accepting unknown pots would risk introducing problems to our nursery — and ultimately to your garden. It's a precaution we take seriously to protect the health of our stock and our pesticide-free growing environment.
Do you grow organically?
We don't hold organic certification, but we don't use any pesticides or fungicides during the production of our plants here in Hampshire. Our approach is guided by the same principles — working with nature rather than against it.