Chili Plants .com

cecilsgarden1958 · May 24, 2017

Well, I have never ever found a place that sells plants that I have a lower regard for. http://www.chileplants.com/ They bragged up how they send such nice plants at just the right height etc etc. I received leggy sickly plants at about 12-14" which were just about as spindly as you could grow. They were intertwined together in one massive tomato knot and totally useless. I would not recommend this place to a wild critter starved for seedling salad. Now, I have to scramble to find plants for this week coming, as I am on vacation.

TC_Manhattan · May 24, 2017

Sadly, I have to report the same experience with them this year. I purchased 2 tomato plants (varieties for which I did not get seed), 3 pepper plants and an eggplant.
All three were far to large and root-bound for early April. The tomatoes were the worst.

I tried them last year (2016) for a few pepper and eggplant varieties I did not find elsewhere, and was satisfied with the plants although they had pinched back the peppers to keep them less lanky. Those plants were received last year at the end of April. Not sure what they do for folks who order even later deliveries.

Disappointing lesson, but I will limit myself from here on with what I start here at home. The price of mail delivery, and lack of recourse when product is less than satisfactory has convinced me.

Besides, my own seedlings are spectacular this year, so why bother?

Feeling your pain..

ako1974 · May 25, 2017

That stinks. I have bought from Cross-Country Nurseries (chileplants.com is the web address for delivery) and have always been satisfied. That said, I have always gone to the site myself, since it's not far away. Can you email them about your purchases? All interactions I've had with them have been very good.

TC_Manhattan · May 25, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by ako1974

That stinks. I have bought from Cross-Country Nurseries (chileplants.com is the web address for delivery) and have always been satisfied. That said, I have always gone to the site myself, since it's not far away. Can you email them about your purchases? All interactions I've had with them have been very good.

That's just it. Sure, I can go in person and come away with nice plants (or none if they're in poor shape), but the proof in the pudding is how they handle mail order. After all, we are purchasing on good faith, sight unseen. If any place uses mail order as an outlet for lesser merchandise, how can they expect repeat customers?

Hirt's Gardens has many mediocre reviews on Amazon and Dave's Garden site, but I can go in person and pick out lovely plants at a far lower price than that which they sell for on-line. 4-pak Sun Sugar tomatoes are $1.99. But...I don't have to rely on what their packers choose to box up and dump.

It takes a truly dedicated merchant to honor their mail-order customers. Shipping costs are expensive and one would hope they would honor that investment in their products.

Some don't..

dmforcier · May 25, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by ako1974

I have bought from Cross-Country Nurseries (chileplants.com is the web address for delivery) and have always been satisfied. That said, I have always gone to the site myself, since it's not far away. Can you email them about your purchases? All interactions I've had with them have been very good.

I have seen a number of mail customers show pictures of their shipping containers and narrate their experiences. Not a bad word said. A couple guys I know live nearby and have to be restrained by their wives from repeated visits.

cecilsgarden1958 · May 26, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by TC_Manhattan

Hirt's Gardens has many mediocre reviews on Amazon and Dave's Garden site, but I can go in person and pick out lovely plants at a far lower price than that which they sell for on-line. 4-pak Sun Sugar tomatoes are $1.99. But...I don't have to rely on what their packers choose to box up and dump.....

Actually & strange enough, I was satisfied with my Hirt's mail order. Go figure

clkeiper · May 26, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by TC_Manhattan

Hirt's Gardens has many mediocre reviews on Amazon and Dave's Garden site, but I can go in person and pick out lovely plants at a far lower price than that which they sell for on-line. 4-pak Sun Sugar tomatoes are $1.99. But...I don't have to rely on what their packers choose to box up and dump.

Some don't..

so true. I can drive there and pick out what I want but I also see stuff I would toss in my compost pile. I wouldn't touch some of their plants with a 10' pole. I even had one employee tell me they don't put anything on their plants not even fertilizer... well, it sure did look like it, too. I think I asked if they used a growth retardant on something... he was highly offended. well, it was like march and they had a house full of vegetable starts and some were almost micro sized... not normal at all. I son't think they grow one thing there... more or less a broker/warehouse for plants and plant merchandise. next time i am there I will try to take a few pics. I usually go ther just to buy ladybugs.

oakley · May 26, 2017

That's to bad. I think a good approach is to take a pic right out of the box delivered asap
and send it to them.
On their 'about' page the pics of their sending operation does not work. Pics of their
plants, etc.

I almost ordered a couple years ago since it is just a bit far for me to travel.

Bummer. Don't like sent plants that are so far off what is advertised. Rarely buy live
plants on-line except for a few fruit trees now and then. Always had good luck. My
Meyer lemon was packed amazingly well and much better than the pic on their site.
As it should be, similar, but did not expect better.

clkeiper · May 26, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by oakley

That's to bad. I think a good approach is to take a pic right out of the box delivered asap
and send it to them.
On their 'about' page the pics of their sending operation does not work. Pics of their
plants, etc.

I almost ordered a couple years ago since it is just a bit far for me to travel.

Bummer. Don't like sent plants that are so far off what is advertised. Rarely buy live
plants on-line except for a few fruit trees now and then. Always had good luck. My
Meyer lemon was packed amazingly well and much better than the pic on their site.
As it should be, similar, but did not expect better.

I have been there when they had a new shipment of citrus plants on benches. they were very nice plants. there vegetable starts? whole other story.

TC_Manhattan · May 26, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by clkeiper

I have been there when they had a new shipment of citrus plants on benches. they were very nice plants. there vegetable starts? whole other story.

Are you referring to Hirt's or to Chili Plants?

clkeiper · May 26, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by TC_Manhattan

Are you referring to Hirt's or to Chili Plants?

Hirts. Sorry. I made a comment and kept thinking about them as I made another. I wasn't thinking.

May 24, 2017	#1
cecilsgarden1958 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: swPA Posts: 629	Chili Plants .com Well, I have never ever found a place that sells plants that I have a lower regard for. http://www.chileplants.com/ They bragged up how they send such nice plants at just the right height etc etc. I received leggy sickly plants at about 12-14" which were just about as spindly as you could grow. They were intertwined together in one massive tomato knot and totally useless. I would not recommend this place to a wild critter starved for seedling salad. Now, I have to scramble to find plants for this week coming, as I am on vacation. __________________ Hybrids Rule, Heirlooms Drool!

May 25, 2017	#3
ako1974 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: New Jersey Posts: 109	That stinks. I have bought from Cross-Country Nurseries (chileplants.com is the web address for delivery) and have always been satisfied. That said, I have always gone to the site myself, since it's not far away. Can you email them about your purchases? All interactions I've had with them have been very good. __________________ Arne Zone 6A, Northern NJ

May 24, 2017	#2
TC_Manhattan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Ohio Posts: 457	Sadly, I have to report the same experience with them this year. I purchased 2 tomato plants (varieties for which I did not get seed), 3 pepper plants and an eggplant. All three were far to large and root-bound for early April. The tomatoes were the worst. I tried them last year (2016) for a few pepper and eggplant varieties I did not find elsewhere, and was satisfied with the plants although they had pinched back the peppers to keep them less lanky. Those plants were received last year at the end of April. Not sure what they do for folks who order even later deliveries. Disappointing lesson, but I will limit myself from here on with what I start here at home. The price of mail delivery, and lack of recourse when product is less than satisfactory has convinced me. Besides, my own seedlings are spectacular this year, so why bother? Feeling your pain..

May 26, 2017	#8
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	That's to bad. I think a good approach is to take a pic right out of the box delivered asap and send it to them. On their 'about' page the pics of their sending operation does not work. Pics of their plants, etc. I almost ordered a couple years ago since it is just a bit far for me to travel. Bummer. Don't like sent plants that are so far off what is advertised. Rarely buy live plants on-line except for a few fruit trees now and then. Always had good luck. My Meyer lemon was packed amazingly well and much better than the pic on their site. As it should be, similar, but did not expect better.