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Free:
Pink hardy geraniums (Hatfield AL10)
This hardy geranium or cranesbills is tolerant and easy to grow with pretty pink flowers from late spring. Cut back after flowering in mid summer for a fresh flush of green leaves and more flowers if you're lucky. It will die down in the winter and come back year after year. Fully winter hardy in the uk. Not troubled by slugs or other pests. Doesn't mind my sticky clay or a bit of shade. Two pots of divisions from a bigger plant taken last autumn and established over winter. Plant now and they will grow away and should make decent clumps. Will give one pot per person if there is demand, but you may find you have 2 plants per pot.
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Free:
Spider plant rescue (Hatfield AL10)
Withdrawn
Spider plants are an easy-to-grow houseplant. Very tolerant of neglect and anything from low light to full sun inside. I planted some outside this year (they are very easy to propagate and I had a lot). They love being outside in the summer, but they will die when we have frost. I don't have space or time to keep them all inside, so they are living on borrowed time. Most people keep them inside all year round. Would you like to rescue one? Probably how it will work is you come in the daytime, choose one, I dig it up and give you it as a rootball. If you ask really really nicely I could pot one up for you in advance, but I'd rather not.
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15h
Free:
Pulmonaria young plants (Hatfield AL10)
Two pots of 3/4 small plants each, which have established since autumn and can be planted individually now. Will give one pot per person if there is demand, but you'll get at least 3 plants. Early colour when not much else is in flower. (The first 2 photos were taken today.) Pulmonaria, aka soldiers & sailors, aka lungwort, is an early spring flowering plant with hairy leaves splotched with silver/white, with stalks of blue/pink flowers late January to May. Favourite garden nectar source for the hairy footed flower bee. Happy in most soil types and aspects, but especially useful on sticky clay in the shade. Will self seed but is not invasive.
15h
Free:
Loganberry mature plant (Hatfield AL10)
Loganberry is a hybrid between blackberry and raspberry. This is a vigourous thornless variety that produces long dark red fruit in summer. Probably clone Ly654. Definitely from Ashridge Trees and that is what they are offering now: I'm digging it up because I want to plant other things there. I also didn't have it in an ideal place (too much shade). Very tolerant and easy to grow. Happy in clay if that's what you have. You need to give it a fair amount of space. Plant it in the next few days and water it in well and it won't notice what happened. Water it through its first summer and it won't need it ever again from autumn.
21h
Free:
Tree peony (Hatfield AL10)
Promised
Hard to propagate and fairly slow growing, tree paeony are expensive to buy, so you're in luck here. I've had this for a few years and it always seemed healthy and vigorous, but it didn't flower for me. Did I put it in too much shade? Did I plant it too deeply? Who knows, but it's time is up for me (though I broke off a small young part which I'm keeping to plant elsewhere). You can see in the photos it has lots of fat red buds, so it's very much alive. The fleshy roots are white, juicy and healthy looking. Dug up today, ideally you will plant it in the next few days and it won't know anything happened. If you have a better spot for it than me it should produce yellow flowers in spring/early summer. Hardy deciduous (supposedly) shade-tolerant woody shrub.
23h
Free:
Nigella/love-in-a-mist seed packets (Hatfield AL10)
Promised
Nigella aka love-in-a-mist is a very easy to grow, self-seeding wildlife friendly annual. They make pretty papery round seed heads and copious seeds, which are edible. (Why am I giving these away again??) Unopened packets; in date. "Miss Jekyll" 2025 "Persian Jewels" 2028
6d
Free:
Poppy seeds (+bonus eschscholzia) (Hatfield AL10)
Promised
All unopened packets. Some are out of date, but poppies famously can lie dormant for hundreds of years before germinating when the soil is turned over, so I expect they're all still viable. Varieties: "Black Swan" 2026 "Flanders" 2022 "Ladybird" 2022 "Pandora" 2022 Eschscholzia "orange King" 2026 (eschscholzia is aka "californian poppy")
6d
Free:
Courgette and pumpkin seeds (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
These are both unopened packets. They are expired (both 2023) but in my experience, squash family seeds have very good germination after their sow-by dates. Courgette/Zucchini Pumpkin "Jack of All Trades"
6d
Free:
Spiral tree guard (Hatfield AL10)
This came off a street tree that blew down in December. People planting trees in the landscape use these to protect them from rabbits which like to strip off the bark. So far there aren't any rabbits in my garden, so I have no use of it. Like these:
6d
Free:
Sunflower seeds (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Variety "Giant Single". One unopened pack. Sow by 2027. Good to grow with kids. Big seeds and big plants are easily handled by small hands. Easy to grow as long as you can keep the slugs away when they're young and can keep them upright. (My photo may not be that variety.)
6d
Free:
Sweet pea seeds (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
I sowed these last year and they did well, but I decided to try different varieties this year. So the packets are opened but I expect you will get good germination. They were brand new in 2024. Varieties: Singing the Blues (~18 seeds) Galaxy Mixed (~30 seeds) Purple Pimpernel (~9 seeds) The time to sow sweet peas is Feb/March. (I don't know what variety the cut flowers in the photo are - probably not the same as the packets, but it shows the sort of thing you can hope for if you grow sweet peas.) I may offer to several people if there is demand.
6d
Free:
Young bay trees (Hatfield AL10)
Promised
These are from rooted shoots coming from the base that I pulled off last summer. Split up and potted on last autumn. They will wait until ~April before they do much, but should grow away well this summer. This is "sweet bay" for cooking. Add a few leaves to add background flavour to meat/tomato dishes. Go easy on picking the leaves when it's small, but next year and forever afterward, you will have more than you can possibly use. It grows slowly at first but can eventually become a large tree if you let it. Reacts well to pruning, so you can usually keep it under control. My one (pictured) is about 10 years old and I'm keeping it at fence height. Bay is an evergreen shrub or small tree with tough glossy leaves. Produces small yellowish/green flowers in spring or summer. Fully winter hardy in most parts of the UK. Not fussy about soil or aspect.
6d
Free:
Flat grater (Hatfield AL10)
Clean and sharp. Giving away because I use a box grater. Non-slip silicone foot comes off for cleaning.
6d
Free:
Iron grate for wood fires (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Solid and heavy. I'd use it but it doesn't fit my fireplace. External dimensions 40cm x 28cm. 18cm tall - good airflow underneath.
14d
Free:
Large cache pots for houseplants (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
These are large glazed ceramic pots without holes - they can be put around large plastic houseplant pots to catch the water and to make the plants look prettier. They are fairly large and heavy - 25cm and 28cm across the tops and about 26cm tall. They match as a pair, so probably I will give them away together. I washed them to make them clean to give away, but they do show signs of wear - see the photo.
28d
Free:
Cache pots for houseplants (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
4 outer pots for houseplants - aka "cache pots". People use these to put around inner plastic pots to catch the water and make them look prettier. I don't. The red bowl shaped one is glazed. They are all some kind of ceramic/earthenware (not plastic). The 3 are 10cm, 13cm and 15cm across the top. The other is similar but I did not measure. Will split if needs be to meet demand or give away all together. I washed them to make them clean to give away, but they do show signs of wear - see the photos.
28d
Free:
Pink geranium and/or verbena plants (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Most likely I will be digging up some of both of these plants this weekend, in which case I would have some to give away from Saturday. Both are winter hardy in the uk and are not troubled by slugs or other pests. You can keep them in pots over the winter and plant in spring, or plant in the ground now. Both should flower next spring/summer. The pink geranium (or cranesbill) is fully winter hardy, tolerant and easy to grow with pretty pink flowers from late spring. Cut back after flowering in mid summer for a fresh flush of green leaves and more flowers if you're lucky. It will die down in the winter and come back year after year. Likes my sticky wet clay and doesn't mind a bit of shade. -- Verbena bonariensis is a beautiful hardy perennial with purple flowers on tall wiry stems over a long flowering season. Comes back from the base stronger every year and will self seed around if it's happy. Flowers beloved of bees and butterflies. Watch goldfinches try to balance on the seed heads next winter. Prefers full sun and good drainage, but copes fine with my sticky clay.
64d
Free:
Pink hardy geraniums (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
This hardy geranium or cranesbills is tolerant and easy to grow with pretty pink flowers from late spring. Cut back after flowering in mid summer for a fresh flush of green leaves and more flowers if you're lucky. It will die down in the winter and come back year after year. Fully winter hardy in the uk. Not troubled by slugs or other pests. Doesn't mind my sticky clay or a bit of shade. I've dug up one of the clumps in the pictures for dividing and potted into individual pots for your convenience. Can be planted this autumn or will stand in their pots over winter.
68d
Free:
Verbena bonariensis (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
I evicted some more verbena from some pots to make way for bulbs. Good in containers and quick to grow, these mature plants have been potted up for your convenience and will establish over winter and flower for you next summer. Leave the flower heads next autumn and they will seed for you too if you're lucky. Verbena bonariensis is a beautiful hardy perennial with purple flowers on tall wiry stems over a long flowering season. Comes back from the base stronger every year and will self seed around if it's happy. Flowers beloved of bees and butterflies. Watch goldfinches try to balance on the seed heads next winter. It wants sharp drainage and full sun to be truly happy, but I have sticky clay and a fair amount of shade and it does fine.
69d
84d
Free:
Pink hardy geranium divisions (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
This hardy geranium or cranesbills is tolerant and easy to grow with pretty pink flowers from late spring. Cut back after flowering in mid summer for a fresh flush of green leaves and more flowers if you're lucky. It will die down in the winter and come back year after year. Fully winter hardy in the uk. Not troubled by slugs or other pests. Doesn't mind my sticky clay or a bit of shade. I've dug up one of the clumps in the pictures for dividing. Some bits are potted into individual pots for your convenience. Can be planted this autumn or will stand in their pots over winter.
84d
Free:
Hardy blue geraniums (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Pretty purplish blue flowers beloved of bees (and people). One of the most easy going flowers to grow. Variety unknown (to me) but this is one of the good ones which will flower in several flushes all through the growing season, starting in early summer. Each time it runs out of steam, cut it right down and it will make fresh new leaves and flowers. Fine in containers. Wants sun but will tolerate a bit of shade. Fine on my sticky wet clay. Not troubled by pests. Fully hardy herbaceous perennial (comes back from its roots every year). Makes a small mound/clump of leaves in the summer with stems. A good strong grower - the clump will slowly get larger and stronger but does not noticeably seed around. You can dig up the whole clump (as I did this spring) or take chunks out to divide up into new plants. I have a few to give away to different people. These are "hardy geraniums" aka cranesbills aka "blue geraniums" (even when they're not blue). NOT pelargoniums which are frost tender and are confusingly also called geraniums.
95d
Free:
Verbena bonariensis plants (Hatfield AL10)
Expired
Good in containers and quick to grow, these mature plants have been potted up for your convenience and will establish over winter and flower for you next summer. Leave the flower heads next autumn and they will seed for you too if you're lucky. Verbena bonariensis is a beautiful hardy perennial with purple flowers on tall wiry stems over a long flowering season. Comes back from the base stronger every year and will self seed around if it's happy. Flowers beloved of bees and butterflies. Watch goldfinches try to balance on the seed heads next winter. It wants sharp drainage and full sun to be truly happy, but I have sticky clay and a fair amount of shade and it does fine.
95d
Free:
Verbena bonariensis young plant (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
I found one last verbena bonariensis plant potted up. Good in containers and quick to grow, these young plants will possibly flower for you this autumn and then bulk up for next year. Leave the flower heads into autumn and they will seed for you too if you're lucky. Verbena bonariensis is a beautiful hardy perennial with purple flowers on tall wiry stems over a long flowering season. Comes back from the base stronger every year and will self seed around if it's happy. Flowers beloved of bees and butterflies. Watch goldfinches try to balance on the seed heads in winter. It wants sharp drainage and full sun to be truly happy, but I have sticky clay and a fair amount of shade and it does fine.
130d
Free:
Moroccan mint plants (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Two last Moroccan mint plants this year. Very easy to grow, this mint has strongly flavoured pepperminty leaves, good for drinks. It has flowers bees love and then cut it right back for a new flush of fresh bright green leaves. These are two established plants in pots taken from divisions of one given to me by another kind freecycler - mint is very easy to propagate. Unfussy, but prefers damp soil - it will delight in nasty sticky clay. Mint can be invasive in the ground, so take care if you plant it out with other plants. Very happy kept contained in pots as long as you can keep it damp and maybe feed or repot from time to time.
130d
Free:
2 kitchen waste boxes("caddies") (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
The lids go on, but they don't really stay because the little lugs are broken so I stopped using them. May be fixable, or usable as-is. Shame for all that plastic to go into landfill.
133d
Free:
Hardy succulents (houseleeks) (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
These hardy succulents are sempervivums aka houseleeks. These are fully hardy uk natives. They want to grow in very gritty soil or sand or cracks in walls etc in full sun. People use them for green roofs etc. Totally tolerant of drought and being frozen solid in winter (though they prefer to be dry). They make strong flower spikes in spring with pink flowers, which are good for bees etc. They will make offsets and bulk up each year. Not touched by slugs or any other pests or diseases in my experience. This trough of mine has seen better days and is getting a bit weedy so I was wondering about taking them all out and starting again. So I will have excess to give away if there is interest.
160d
Free:
Fresh logs for burning (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Some fresh cut logs for firewood (or wildlife stacks etc). Should be stacked to season first. Mostly eucalyptus, but also some chunky sycamore and a few bits of conifer. Most of the eucalyptus and the sycamore is fat enough to be worth splitting to stack.
160d
Free:
Plastic Quality Street tub (Hatfield AL10)
Expired
I'm afraid no chocolates left inside :) Any use to anyone for storage?
160d
Free:
Verbena bonariensis plants (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Some excess verbena bonariensis plants potted up. Good in containers and quick to grow, these young plants should flower for you this summer/autumn and then bulk up for next year. Leave the flower heads into autumn and they will seed for you too if you're lucky. Verbena bonariensis is a beautiful hardy perennial with purple flowers on tall wiry stems over a long flowering season. Comes back from the base stronger every year and will self seed around if it's happy. Flowers beloved of bees and butterflies. Watch goldfinches try to balance on the seed heads in autumn. It wants sharp drainage and full sun to be truly happy, but I have sticky clay and a fair amount of shade and it does fine.
169d
Free:
Moroccan mint plant (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
One plant left. Very easy to grow, this mint has strongly flavoured pepperminty leaves, good for drinks. It has flowers bees love and then cut it right back for a new flush of fresh bright green leaves. This is an established plant taken from divisions of one given to me by another kind freecycler - mint is very easy to propagate. Unfussy but prefers damp soil - it will delight in nasty sticky clay. Mint can be invasive in the ground, so take care if you plant it out with other plants. Very happy in pots as long as you can keep it damp and maybe feed or repot from time to time.
169d