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Looking for Dianthus

English Heritage are asking all gardeners to look out for original carnations (Dianthus), commonly known as "Pinks"

Original species have a feathered edge to the petals and have a distinctive "clove like" perfume.  The flowers are usually single or double but do not form the large pom pom type heads we associate with commercial grown carnations.

Their striking petal colours, vary from palest pink to dark burgundy, some with intricate bold markings.

 

Dianthus introduced into the UK during the 16th century could be hiding in gardens all over the country and are required for the restoration of the Elizabethan gardens at Kenilworth Castle which is to feature in a four part BBC series to be shown in 2009 on BBC2.

If you think you may have a heritage dianthus, contact English Heritage on 0870 333 1181 or e.mail customers@english-heritage.org.uk.

The British National Carnation Society are also creating a database of all carnation varieties.

Again, to ascertain if any "long lost" varieties are hiding in our gardens and to create an overall picture of Dianthus growing in the UK.

The RHS is the International Registration Authority for Dianthus, including all types of carnations and pinks. A list of cultivar names was published in The International Dianthus Register, and it is kept up-to-date with regular supplements. As well as names, these publications include wherever possible a brief description, parentage, date of raising and classification for each cultivar. These publications are available from the mail order department of RHS Enterprises at Wisley.

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Suppliers of old seed varieties

Here you will find a few commercial suppliers of old varieties of fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Thomas Etty, Somerset (heritage seedsman and bulb merchant) Tel: 01963 359202

Organic Gardening Catalogue, Surrey (organically grown, sundries, discount for Garden Organic and RHS members)

Edwin Tucker & Sons Ltd, Devon (seeds and seed potatoes) Tel: 01364 652233

Chiltern Seeds - Fresh seeds of around 4,500 species and varieties, many rare and unusual, and including almost 200 brand new items and more than 150 reintroductions for 2010. Tel: +44 (0) 1229 581137

If you would like to be listed then please let us know via the form below.

You may also want to be listed in our Keeptradelocal directory of local businesses

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Heritage Seeds

A recent article by Garden Organic focuses on heritage seed and the need to preserve our gardening heritage.

In 1973 the Seed (National List of Varieties) Act was introduced.  Its main aim was to stop unethical selling of sub standard varieties.  All seed had to be tested and registered, a cost which could only be borne by the major seed producers.

However well intentioned this seemed to be, the result was to instantly make hundreds of varieties unavailable to the public.

Local climate

Varieties which is some cases had evolved in a certain region making them ideal for the local climate.

Unlike commercial varieties, most of the heritage seeds produced crops at different times, avoiding gluts and giving a much longer harvest, the diversity in varieties giving a greater range of flavours, textures and colours.

The sale of unregistered seed is illegal and many heritage varieties cannot be registered due to the small quantities of seed existing.

Human nature being what it is, a canny solution was quickly seized upon.

The Heritage Seed Library was the first response.

It doesn't sell unregistered seed: it gives it away to members, who pay an annual subscription.

More recently, organisations such as Vida Verde, Kokopelli, and Beans and Herbs have begun operating in a similar way.

Heritage seed library

They are not museums; they constantly source and trial varieties from all over the world and some carry out their own breeding.

Members also save their own seed to swap with other members, in a heartening return to traditional distribution methods and so a dynamic, evolving and ever-growing library of gardeners' varieties is being maintained.

Many have been brought back from the brink of extinction, and are now grown across the country.

The wider the network, the safer the varieties are, and anyone with a tiny veg patch can join in.

View full article and details of where to source these exciting varieties.

More information

We have listed some suppliers of heritage seeds here >>
Maybe you know of others then please let us know via the contact us form.

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The Perry Pear

The Perry pear is a small hard fruit which when bitten into, seems inedible. However, for centuries these fruits have been used to make Perry, produced in a similar way to Cider.

Trees can be seen in abundance across the Herefordshire - Gloucester border, although we have stumbled upon some in Cumbria. The trees can reach 15 metres in height and will produce crops for at least 300 years. For comparison, this is twice the height and lifespan of an apple tree.

Perry pears had their heyday in the late 17th and early 18th centuries and it is thought that there are at least 120 Perry pear varieties, many so local that they were only ever propagated on 1 or 2 adjacent farms. The heritage of these pears leaves us with some fantastic variety names, including Dead Boy, Mumblehead and Merrylegs. A fine old manor house, Hellens in Much Marcle, open to visitors in the summer, has an avenue of Hellens Early planted about 1710 to commemorating the coronation of Queen Anne.

 

There are likely to be many varieties undocumented all over the country, so let us know if you have one and indeed if you have tried to make perry.

Needless to say, we managed to collect a few carrier bags full and now have a bottle of perry bubbling away...we'll keep you posted on the outcome!

If you want a tree identified, it is probably best to contact Brogdale who hold the national fruit collection. (Details below).

The Herefordshire Cider Route website gives a brief history of the Perry pear and Perry production.

Three Counties Perry website gives a history of the Perry pear and Perry production along with some useful details of producers.

Brogdale - Home of the National Fruit Collection have 20 varieties of Perry pear.

How to Make Perry & Cider - A very informative site which gives in depth details of how to make Cider and Perry, although some basic knowledge or previous experience with home brewing or wine making is needed to understand the terminology.

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Egremont Russet

A recent visit to one of the local stores and we came across this apple with a local name.

The Egremont Russet, according to the Orange Pippin online directory, is a classic English russet apple from the Victorian era.

The website goes on to say that the apple taste is traditionally described as "nutty", with a  flavour  more delicate than most varieties, and quite sweet. Both the flavour and the soft flesh are reminiscent of a firm pear. 

The history

The Egremont Russet was first recorded in 1872, and is believed to have been raised by Lord Egremont at Petworth in Sussex, UK.

It received the Award of Merit from the RHS in 1980.

As far as we can acertain the name has no connection to the Northern English town of Egremont, famous for the Crab fair.

Russeting is the term used to describe apples whose skin is dry and coarse, similar to fine sandpaper. 

 

More information

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2003/nov/17/food.foodanddrink

The National Fruit Collection at Brogdale