Re: Roberta's - why bother?? - Page 3

brandy77 · ‎07-27-2015

Except for my Desert Rose trees, I have had no luck with either Roberta's or Cottage Farms. Last year we wanted to brighten up our yard with some pretty flowers. I bought coneflowers, popsicle lillies, and hummingbird mint, and sedum/ground cover, all appropriate for our zone and advertised as perennials. Not one of them yielded the results promised in the on-air presentation, none of them thrived, and they soon died. My father is an experienced gardener and he couldn't do anything with any of them. When the first plant died shortly after planting I contacted Roberta's, they said it was QVC's problem not theirs, so I called QVC and they said I had to deal with Roberta's, after going back and forth like this through about half a dozen phone calls with no one wanting to own the problem and do anything about it, Roberta's finally agreed to send a replacement. It arrived dead in the box. After that I didn't have the time or the energy to repeat the experience every time one of the plants died. Although I appreciate the convenience of being able to buy plants from QVC, since I am a caregiver for an elderly parent and also work odd hours it isn't easy for me to go browse local nurseries and garden centers, I thought this was the ideal solution for me, but I will not consider buying any more except the Desert Rose trees. I also recently contacted Roberta's to ask a question about the difference between the red varities of this plant, if they had answered they would have probably gotten another sale, but they completely ignored both my emails. My father also had tomato plants from both Cottage Farms and Roberta's the year before and not one of them produced a single tomato though the plants I picked up on display outside the local grocery store did splendidly and they were planted right beside the more expensive Cottage Farms and Roberta's plants.

Rockycoast · ‎03-02-2016

Totally agree with "Why Bother" when it comes to Roberta's. They just are not a quality company. Purchased their "over the top" dahlias in 2014. What a disappointment to say the least. Roberta's replaced the tubers after I emailed them. They replaced them with even poorer quality tubers! I asked this before of qvc...why bring back proven poor quality merchandise (these dahlias only rated a 2 out of 5) to sell? Makes no sense to me.

stets · ‎03-21-2016

They're smart to put them on early when we're all chomping at the bit for garden weather. I have had both good and bad luck, so can't complain. My foxtail lillies from Roberta's stop traffic every year with their towering blooms. However, their foxgloves were a disappointment. (Though the location I put them in may have been a factor.) Cottage Farms reblooming irises and Japanese irises took a couple of years to acclimate, but they are spectacular now. Again, the ones that didn't make it were my fault. However, I agree that purchasing from local nurseries is better because you see the color and condition of the plant. But the unusual stuff is worth ordering from Roberta's and Cottage Farms. Besides, who can resist Phillip Watson!

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

I tried Robertas and Cottage Farms a few times with the same results---all dead plants within a few weeks. No more---I buy from my local nursery now with huge success.

tlkmtg · ‎03-14-2010

Years ago I purchased many plants from Q, and they did wonderful, just gorgeous..

But I think the volume sold, is so great, the nurseries are sending out rushed/smaller/younger starts..as I too have not had luck with any in the last several years.. (I garden, not a master gardener, but raised by one).

So I just don't buy plants on Q, although tempted by some..

Roberta's I have never had luck with.... sadly

lucymo · ‎12-13-2010

I haven't had luck with ordering from Robertas or Cottage Farms on QVC. A few years ago I ordered some plants from Cottage Farms Direct and they were some better but not good enough that I didn't have to baby them for awhile before planting them in the garden. So, I just gave up on them. I wish they would spend more time showing and talking about the actual size plants that they ship instead of the mature plants that they haul in. That's what sells the plants and it will take a lot of patience and care to get the small plants we receive to the size they keep showing if we can at all.

Hooty · ‎03-09-2010

I haven't been bit by the Roberta's bug, but when I first started watching QVC, I was bit by Cottage Farms, and I may as well thrown my money into the wind, LOL! One day it hit me, that their plants come from the same state (AL) I live in, but why aren't they growing for me, that broke me, and I can find nicer plants locally!

ami95 · ‎01-31-2014

I've had some success with Roberta's plants so I'm careful as to what I order from them. I ordered the Chinese Peony tree this year but that's it. But I've had great success with Cottage Farms. We live out here in the country in central IL. Smaller plants that can adapt do SO much better here than bigger plants that you get at Lowes or Walmart. I did lose 1 Blueberry shrub. But Cottage Farms alwas stands behind their plants.

I bought the Carpet Sedum last year and this Spring every single pot of them came back and are going great.

Their SunPatients grow so large that they look like shrubs by Sept. And their petunia mixed pot collections filled a large container spilling over the sides. I ordered the collection this year along with the lantana tree.petunia collection. Where I live we have just one place to shop or we have to drive 45 miles to Lowes, etc. I'm getting where I just don't want to drive to get plants for my pots/gardens anymore.

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

@ami95 wrote:
I've had some success with Roberta's plants so I'm careful as to what I order from them. I ordered the Chinese Peony tree this year but that's it. But I've had great success with Cottage Farms. We live out here in the country in central IL. Smaller plants that can adapt do SO much better here than bigger plants that you get at Lowes or Walmart. I did lose 1 Blueberry shrub. But Cottage Farms alwas stands behind their plants.
I bought the Carpet Sedum last year and this Spring every single pot of them came back and are going great.
Their SunPatients grow so large that they look like shrubs by Sept. And their petunia mixed pot collections filled a large container spilling over the sides. I ordered the collection this year along with the lantana tree.petunia collection. Where I live we have just one place to shop or we have to drive 45 miles to Lowes, etc. I'm getting where I just don't want to drive to get plants for my pots/gardens anymore.

@ami95 I have ordered quite a bit from both companies this year and what has arrived looks great, as well as last year's purchases. I just received two Cottage Farms tree Gardenias and they look wonderful, very tall and full with fat buds on them.