Old Varieties

Celebrating and remembering old fruit and vegetable varieties

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Orchid Show at Tatton Park

Orchid Show at Tatton Park – Sunday 5th June – 10am – 4pm. – Tatton’s orchid house open 1pm – 4pm.

The North of England Orchid Society are hosts to Orchid nurseries and other orchid societies who will gather together to  bring to the Tenants’ Hall at Tatton Park one of the largest displays of orchids you will find.

The Tenants' Hall at Tatton Park will host one of the largest displays of orchids you will find
The Tenants' Hall at Tatton Park will host one of the largest displays of orchids you will find

Not only will visitors admire the beauty of hundreds of orchids in full bloom, but they will also be able to buy from a selection of orchids for sale to suit all tastes and pockets, from a simple and inexpensive houseplant to those hard to find plants for the dedicated orchid grower, and lots of advice for beginners as well.

Did you know that orchids are the largest family of flowering plant life?

There are over 30,000 different species, just a fraction of these will be enough to fill the Tenant’s Hall at Tatton Park with many massive displays of blooms for the enjoyment of those who visit us on the 5th June. Orchid show free to enter.

Park entry charges apply. Call 01942 810958 for more info.

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.

Heritage Seed Library Carlin Seeds
Heritage Seed Library Carlin Seeds

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.