Print This Post
Heritage Seed Makes Comeback
March 9, 2010 by admin
Filed under Vegetables
An article in Horticulture Week points to changes that may lead to relaxation of the heritage seed rules.
EU rules currently state that if a variety is not on a national list, you can't sell it. This list was set up with the commercial seed sector in mind but the amateur gardener became needlessly inconvenienced by this legislation. A seed variety costs around £1,500 to register at present.
Heritage, unregistered varieties are only able to be grown via seed swapping amongst enthusiasts and the varieties rely heavily on Seed Guardians who grow the plants specifically for their seed to preserve the variety and allow a selection of seed to be available for those interested.
Revived varieties of tomatoes, cabbages and lettuces could come onto the market in two or three years if the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) relaxes the legislation.
Some vegetable varieties are grown for outstanding flavour or perfomance in a particular environment. These may soon be available again with gardener's being able to grow varieties that their parents or grandparents favoured.
Read to full article in Horticulture Week.
A few specialist suppliers who offer heritage seed and plants
Print This Post
Old Varieties v New
January 10, 2010 by admin
Filed under Featured, Vegetables
Over the last three years we have been growing heritage vegetables as well as more modern varieties and whilst we have not been conducting a scientific experiment, the outcome is interesting.
2009 Harvest
We trialled heritage varieties of Tomato (San Marzano Di Lampadina) and French Bean (Blauhilde).
Both varieties were grown under the same conditions as the modern varieties; Tomato (Gardener's delight) & French bean (Pantheon)
Firstly the French beans - The heritage variety (Blauhilde) really did struggle, with generally weaker plants succumbing very easily to slug damage and mildew.
Out of the total crop sown, around 70% succeeded to seedling stage but only 25% of the plants made it to cropping stage of which crops were generally poor.
Tomato San Marzano Di Lampadina did very well as seedlings (probably due to the lovely warm spring).
They produced quite strong plants with a fair crop of medium sized fruits. However, the time taken to ripening seemed to exceed the amount of sunlight hours available in the North of England and fruits struggled to ripen.
A batch of Green tomato chutney put them to good use.
We have also grown other old varieties of vegetable including brassicas and shallots and in general, the results have been much the same with plants struggling through the wet summer and producing less yield with a constant fight against disease.
Although heritage varieties are worth growing for their different flavours and textures, we found that we have had to nurse them to production stage with a great deal of loss.
Worth mentioning, is the simple fact that our Cumbrian summers over the last three years have been rubbish, to say the least. Extremely wet, dark and with very little strong sunlight.
We are interested to hear what other growers of heritage vegetables have experienced around Britain and we certainly still advocate growing the older varieties, although we do suggest researching the varieties well to see if they will be suited to prevailing conditions.
Print This Post
Berkshire Apples Sought
We have had a request from a gentleman looking for pictures of and maybe ultimately suppliers of two varieties of apple from Berkshire:
"Guelph" a dessert apple from Newbury
"Frogmore prolific", a cooking apple from Windsor.
Does anybody know if these varieties are still in cultivation?
Print This Post
Apple – Duke of Devonshire
The Duke of Devonshire apple was raised in 1835 by Wilson, gardener to the Duke of Devonshire at Holker Hall, Cumbria.
Duke of Devonshire apple
Introduced around 1875, the fruits have a firm, fine texture with rather dry flesh and a slightly nutty flavour.
Uses: Desert
Parents: Unknown
Flowers: Early to Mid May
Picking: Early October
Natural Storage: January - March
The Duke of Devonshire apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.
Young trees are available from Adam's Apples, in Devon.
Print This Post
Apple – Cockpit
Originating from Yorkshire, the Cockpit apple was first discovered in 1831.
Cockpit apple
Fruits have coarse flesh with a slight acid and almost astringent flavour.
A famous Yorkshire apple which grows well in Cumbria.
Uses: Culinary
Parents: Unknown
Flowers: Early to Mid May
Picking: Early October
Natural Storage: October - December
The Cockpit apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.
Print This Post
Apple – Golden Spire
The Golden Spire apple was reported to have been discovered in 1850 by Richard Smith of Worcester.
Golden Spire apple
Fruits have a dense, crisp flesh with an acidic, astringent flavour.
Uses: Culinary
Parents: Unknown
Flowers: Late April to Early May
Picking: Early September
Natural Storage: September - October
The Golden Spire apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.
Print This Post
Apple – Carlisle Codlin
The Carlisle Codlin apple is thought to have originated in Carlisle in Cumbria and records show evidence of it's presence before 1830.
No image available
Fruits have a rather soft and slightly coarse textured flesh, juicy and mildly acidic. The skin is very smooth and shiny when ripe.
Cultivation of this apple is probably only of local heritage interest, it does not have a good flavour and its very upright habit, makes picking of the fruit difficult.
Uses: Desert
Parents: Unknown
Flowers: Early May
Picking: Late September
Natural Storage: October - December
The Carlisle Codlin apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.
Print This Post
Word Search: Apple varieties
Apples are being celebrated throughout the UK and elsewhere at this time of year at various Apple Day Events.
Apple Word Search
With this in mind we thought we would create a word search using many old varieties of apples .
See how many you can find hidden in the jumble of letters.
If you are holding an Apple Day event then let us know about it and we can help spread the word.
The files are in PDF form so Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.
The word search
The answers
(Available only if registered)
Print This Post
Apple – Blenheim Orange
The triploid apple, Blenheim Orange was discvoered by Mr Kempster at Woodstock near Blenheim, England around 1740.
Blenheim Orange
Distribution of the apple did not start until 1818 and it received the Banksian Medal in 1822.
Fruits have a creamy white, somewhat course texture with rather dry flesh. It has a rich sweet, nutty, aromatic flavour.
Said to be good with cheese and for making Apple Charlotte.
Uses: Desert
Parents: Unknown
Flowers: Early to Mid May
Picking: Late September
Natural Storage: October - December
The Blenheim Orange apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.
Young trees are available from Adam's Apples, in Devon.
Print This Post
Apple – Edward VII
The first record of the Edward VII apple was in 1902. Introduced by Rowe of Worcester in 1908.
Edward VII
The apple received the RHS Award of Merit in 1903.
Fruits have a firm, rather coarse texture, fairly juicy, with an acid flavour.
Reported to be an excellent cooking apple.
Uses: Culinary
Parents: Female -Blenheim Orange? x Male - Golden Noble?
Flowers: Mid to late May
Picking: Mid October
Natural Storage: December to April
The Edward VII apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.
