Closest place to buy plants near 49th and baltimore/springfield ave?

**westisthebest** · 06-10-2012, 12:19 PM

Looking for basil plants. Is Lowes the only option?

**lewblum** · 06-10-2012, 02:33 PM

Are you trying to avoid the big box? If not, you've got Home Depot on Oregon right off of 76.

If you are trying to avoid the big box, you could try Urban Jungle on Passyunk Ave, Hillside Nursery on Baltimore Pike in Clifton Heights (closer than it seems) or Albrecht's on Montgomery Ave in Narberth.

For basil, I would personally just go to Lowes.

**wissahorse** · 06-10-2012, 03:25 PM

Several vendors have been selling them at the Clark Park Farmers Market on Saturdays; I don't know whether the same vendors are there on Thursdays. We got nice big plants that were large enough to start harvesting right away.

Lisa

**boognish** · 06-11-2012, 08:09 AM

Basil's one of the worst plants to purchase as a mature plant will go to seed within a month. Not a big deal if you're going to use it immediately, but even so, I'd recommend getting some potting soil and a pack of seeds. Works for us.

**wissahorse** · 06-11-2012, 10:12 PM

Goodness, I've been doing it for fifteen years and never had a hint of a problem. But this is not a gardening thread so I won't belabor the point . . . .

Lisa

**seand** · 06-12-2012, 10:11 AM

You just have to pinch off the flowers on basil. Cilantro was the one that went to seed in a blink of an eye with the warm spring this year, at least for me.

**boognish** · 06-12-2012, 11:32 AM

Pinching helps, but it rapidly gets to the diminishing returns point quickly. That's why every gardening book suggests multiple sowings on a bi-weekly basis.

Cilantro is the worst though.

**seand** · 06-12-2012, 12:12 PM

Also purple and Thai varieties seem to have a longer season, FWIW.

Cilantro, its like it totally transforms to a different plant in a day when it goes to flower and that was early this year.

**hiding plant** · 06-15-2012, 04:41 PM

I second the vendors at Clark Park but my favorite place to buy plants in the city is Greensgrow up at Cumberland and Aramingo (approx) - cheaper than big box and Urban Jungle and great variety. I believe all veggie starts are half-off for the rest of the season, not sure if that includes herbs or not.

**Moonraker** · 06-15-2012, 04:47 PM

Produce Junction near. Channel17-

**thoth** · 06-15-2012, 08:52 PM

I noticed a guy at 40th and Lancaster with a large variety of plants. Dunno if they were savory herbs and the like or just all flowers, but worth a gander.

**randomuser** · 06-21-2012, 06:46 AM

I'm glad somebody suggested Hillside Nursery in Clifton Heights. Nice to see somebody who knows quality mom and pop places outside of the city. He's right when he said it's closer than it seems. It's only a few miles down Baltimore Ave.

**boognish** · 06-21-2012, 08:43 AM

And it's perfect if you don't have a car. You just have to hitchhike.

**randomuser** · 06-23-2012, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by boognish

And it's perfect if you don't have a car. You just have to hitchhike.

or ride your bike down Baltimore Ave, though I'm not sure I'd recommend that given how narrow Baltimore Ave gets in that area.

**seand** · 06-24-2012, 12:51 PM

Its not an awful bad ride out to Landowne. Baltimore Pike gets pretty bike unfriendly out by Clifton Heights.

**randomuser** · 06-24-2012, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by seand

Its not an awful bad ride out to Landowne. Baltimore Pike gets pretty bike unfriendly out by Clifton Heights.

Yeah I wouldn't want to be riding a bike along Baltimore once you get near the Pizza Hut and all of that and Baltimore Ave becomes Baltimore Pike. You can take PT to Hillside, too. It's within walking distance of both the Media/Elwyn Regional Rail line and the 102 trolley.

**lewblum** · 06-24-2012, 05:27 PM

There's actually an on-road bike route that parallels Baltimore Pike. You just take Whitby all the way out.

**westisthebest** · 06-27-2012, 02:46 PM

Thanks peeps......On another note, this is a cool indy movie theatre straight up baltimore....Home

**annie** · 06-27-2012, 03:47 PM

I used to volunteer out there and walk up that part of Lansdowne Avenue. It's a sad little commercial strip these days but the theater did look fun. Mostly church thrift stores - not the fun 2nd Mile kind but the crummy kind and a PNC bank where the drive through people would frequently almost hit me. It's not far from a regional rail stop.

**Lolly** · 06-27-2012, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Moonraker

Produce Junction near. Channel17-

Where's that exactly? Someone else mentioned Produce Junction as a good place for plants on this thread too. I've been dying to go there but have not been able to determine when the one in South Philly (off Packer Ave near 3rd) is open.