Grow Your Own Magazine

When the Isle of Wight separated from the British mainland millions of years ago it took with it unique genetic plant material from which developed a distinctive range of stone fruit.  Island farmer Tommy Bevis selected two distinct varieties he found growing in a hedge by his farm cottages and decided to grow these on to determine their potential.  Now, several years later, D. T. Brown is so impressed with both varieties it is introducing Tommy’s Greengage and Tommy’s Island Blue Plum exclusively to its customers in the Fruit and Vegetables 2012 Catalogue.  Tommy’s Greengage gives a very heavy crop of deliciously sweet and fragrant small fruits in late August, while his Island Blue Plum has fruits which look like damsons, but are really sweet when picked in early September.  One potted tree of either variety costs £19.95.
 
Will Sibley is one of the world’s leading authorities on tree fruit.  D. T. Brown believes his new Sibley’s Patio Quince is possibly the most useful and high yielding of all patio fruit trees.  This naturally dwarfing variety is grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock to produce a tree which looks superb on the patio. More importantly, it can yield up to 50 attractive yellow fruits within three years.  The only maintenance needed is to pinch out its growing tips twice a year to keep it in shape.  Attractive pink-green flowers and bright, pale green foliage are followed by fragrant and delicious fruits in late summer.  One potted tree of Sibley’s Patio Quince is priced at £29.95.
 
Burbanks Tangerine is a plum with an incredible flavour, plus a distinctive tangerine bite, and yet Tim is unable to understand why it is so rarely available.  It is a most attractive variety with almost spherical fruits, is easy to pollinate and its medium, even growth makes it a good choice for gardens.  Said to have been a favourite of HM The Queen Mother, there is a Plum Burbanks Tangerine growing at Sandringham House.  It crops later than the ever-popular Victoria, thereby extending the season, and is offered at £24.95.
 
To request a free copy of the D. T. Brown Fruit and Vegetables Catalogue 2012, write to D. T. Brown, Western Avenue, Matrix Park, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 7NB, telephone 0845 3710532, fax 0845 3710534 or go online http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk