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Apr 05 2010

Carlin Peas

The Carlin pea is a traditional drying pea which seems to date way back in the English medieval monasteries and was certainly used in Elizabethan times.

Carlins are associated with the North and Especially North East of England where they often eaten on Passion Sunday. Legend has it, that they saved many Northumbrians from starvation during the Civil war of 1644.

Now classified as a heritage or Heirloom variety, Carlin or Maple Peas can still be obtained and grown from seed.

Planted and grown in much the same way as Sweet Peas, the plants can reach an average height of about six foot, bearing beautiful white and lilac flowers.

If given full sun and plenty of water, the crop quite prolifically. The seeds can be used fresh or allowed to ripen and dried for storage.

Many heritage varieties of seed are not available for public sale due to licencing leglisaltion but these seeds are available to members of the Heritage Seed Library.

or from seed exchange websites.

Feb 22 2010

Heritage Flowers Gift Box Set

Whilst on our search for old varieties of flower seed we came across this great gift offer by English Heritage.

EH_heritage-flower-seeds — Give a gift of Heritage flowers

The Thomas Etty Esq Heritage Flowers box set contains a packet of each of the following:
Snap Dragon, Sweet William, Forget-Me-Not, Pot Marigold, Tall Climbing Nasturtium and Field Poppy.

Presented as a box set of six seed packets, this is an ideal gift for Mother’s day, Easter and birthdays.

The heritage flower seed box set is available online form the English Heritage shop.

Oct 13 2009

Apple – Cockpit

Originating from Yorkshire, the Cockpit apple was first discovered in 1831.

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.

Oct 13 2009

Apple – Golden Spire

The Golden Spire apple was reported to have been discovered in 1850 by Richard Smith of Worcester.

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.

Oct 13 2009

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.

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.