Category Archives: Plants & Seeds
Redcurrant ‘Laxton’s Number One’
A traditional variety and still very widely grown. Redcurrant ‘Laxton’s Number One’ produces generous crops of top quality fruits which are borne in long strings from July. The glossy, scarlet fruits are small but flavoursome. This well respected variety flowers slightly later than many varieties, avoiding damage from late frosts.
Rhubarb ‘Delight’ (Spring/Autumn Planting)
An everbearing variety which is day-neutral, making it possible to harvest two crops per year. Dark green and red stems are produced in abundance. The stems have a fruity apple-like flavour with a good balance sweetness and acidity. Rhubarb ‘Delight’ is easy to grow with good disease resistance.
Rhubarb ‘Champagne’ (Spring/Autumn Planting)
This early variety is ideal for forcing to produce long, slender, pink-tinged stalks. For a deeper, red-coloured stem, leave the stems of Rhubarb ‘Champagne’ unforced – they will still be just as sweet and delicious!
Blackcurrant ‘Big Ben’
The largest blackcurrant we have ever seen – and with a lovely sweet flavour too. The large, glossy, strong-skinned fruits weigh on average 2.9g each, compared to a weight of 1.1g in standard varieties!
Plum ‘Rivers’s Early Prolific’
Plum ‘Rivers’s Early Prolific’ is an early season variety cropping in July. As the name suggests, it reliably produces heavy crops of small, blue-black fruits. When fully ripe, the fruits can be eaten freshly picked as a dessert plum, but they are better used in the kitchen for pies, sauces and preserves.
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Lady in Red’
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Lady in Red’ bears clumps of delicate pinkish flowers from early summer, followed by red berries that linger well into autumn. This easy to grow shrub is weatherproof and produces stunning ruby-red foliage, hence its name. Physocarpus ‘Lady in Red’ is perfect for adding a splash of colour to mixed borders and plants
Pear ‘Obelisk’
Perfect for the smaller garden, Pear ?Obelisk? is a dwarf with an upright, columnar habit that requires less space than most varieties. Better still, it is self-fertile so you won?t need a pollination partner to ensure good crops. The sweet dessert fruits are green with a pleasing red flush, crunchy flesh and a mild flavour.
Pear ‘Onward’
A superb garden variety that produces yellow-green fruits with orange flushed skins. The creamy, white flesh is soft, sweet and juicy, reminiscent of its parent variety ?Doyenne du Commice?. Pear ?Onward? is a reliable cropper that grows well in the UK, with blossom that seems to resist the spring frosts every time.
Pear ‘Red Sensation Bartlett’
Visually stunning, Pear ‘Red Sensation Bartlett’ is a natural mutation of the popular variety ?Williams? Bon Chretien?. The spring foliage is a tinted red, giving this variety plenty of ornamental appeal. The fruits have deep maroon red skins which contrast beautifully with the creamy-white flesh.
Pear ‘Conference’
The best known of all pears, ‘Conference’ is excellent eaten as a dessert pear but also exceptional when cooked. The long bell shaped fruits with firm flesh can be eaten hard or fully ripe with a smooth juicy flavour.
Pear ‘Winter Nelis’
Extend the season with this late dessert variety that ripens in early November and stores nicely until January. Don?t be fooled by the dull, russet-skinned appearance of these little fruits ? their flavour is quite exceptional! Pear ?Winter Nelis? is ideal for cooking or eating fresh if you enjoy a firm texture.
Plum ‘Avalon’
A dual purpose plum producing some of the finest quality dessert fruits. In August, the large, red fruits begin to ripen. Pick them slightly underripe, while they are paler in colour, for use in the kitchen. They are best left on the tree for eating fresh, until they have turned to a dark crimson colourwith
Plum ‘Guinevere’
Similar to the better known ?Marjories Seedling?, but mainly used as a dessert fruit. Plum ‘Guinevere’ produces heavy crops of large, black fruits in late September which can be eaten fresh or used in the kitchen. Unusually for most plums, the fruits will store well if refrigerated.
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diablo’ bears clumps of small white flowers with a subtle pink hue during early summer. The blooms contrast spectacularly with the deep copper-red, handsome foliage and shining red seed heads follow, lasting well into autumn. This modern shrub appears even more impressive when planted alongside a range of other shrubs with colourful foliage,
Plum ‘Herman’
A particularly early variety that can be harvested as early as July. The blue-black fruits have golden flesh with an excellent flavour. Plum ‘Herman’ is best enjoyed freshly picked from the tree as a dessert fruit.
Crab Apple ‘Nuvar Marble’
Crab Apple ?Nuvar Marble? is a modern, British-bred variety that looks magnificent in autumn. The large, orange fruits are blushed red with glossy skins that glow in the autumn sunshine. This variety ripens early, giving you plenty of opportunity to make delicious Crab Apple jelly.
Plum ‘Mirabelle Countess’
A versatile, dual-purpose cherry-plum that can be eaten fresh or cooked in pies and preserves. Plum ‘Mirabelle Countess’ produces red-skinned fruits which can be harvested in July and August. The fruits are larger than most Mirabelles, though smaller than a normal plum, and have a particularly sweet flavour.
Plum ‘Mirabelle Golden Sphere’
The fruits of Plum ‘Mirabelle Golden Sphere’ are extremely attractive. Rounded , golden-yellow cherry-plums ripen in August, making a showy display in your garden or orchard. The yellow-fleshed fruits are sweet and plummy in flavour with a hint of sharpness.
Plum ‘Mirabelle Ruby’
The deep red fruits of Plum ‘Mirabelle Ruby’ are some of the largest fruits found among Mirabelle varieties. With dark flesh and a fresh peach-like flavour, they make a useful addition to the kitchen. Use them in pies, crumbles, preserves and sauces.
Pear ‘Benita’
This is an intriguing cross between a European and an Asian Pear, resulting in traditional, sweet flavoured fruits with the crispness of an Asian Pear. The golden fruits have a beautiful oval shape and a light russeting to their skins. They can be harvested in September and keep well after picking.
