PETER Seabrook was a legend across the horticultural world.
Not only was he Sun Gardening Editor for more than 30 years – and a Gardeners’ World presenter – he championed growers all over the UK.
Now, to honour his legacy, a new apple – called Peter’s Gold – has been propagated by his industry pals.
And astonishingly, it can be traced back to Peter’s own Essex garden, after he handed over what he thought was a ‘decent’ apple he’d found to friend Nick Dunn from tree nursery Frank P Matthews a decade ago.
Nick told me: “He was a very special man. He always valued commercial horticulturalists and was a wonderful ambassador and extraordinarily generous with his time.
“About ten years ago Peter phoned me up and said he’d raised his own apple in the garden from a pip from an apple he’d found on the roadside!
“So he sent me samples of it and there were a lot of good criteria for introducing it to the public.
“It was disease resistant, a good cropper every year, and the lemony flavour was excellent.
“It keeps a long time – which is very unusual for a domestically grown apple. It picks late in early to mid October, and you can keep it and store it quite easily up until Christmas or even March in a fridge and it’s very crisp.
“So before he died we agreed we were going to bring it to market.
“We did years of trials at our nursery as we had to be absolutely certain it was performing year after year, in all weathers.
“He had the tree, we had the progeny and then we agreed one day we’d done enough and it was good enough to release.
“We were never going to call it Peter’s Gold – that came after he died when I got in touch with his children.
“And now, finally, it’s ready for market, which is just so exciting.
“We feel very privileged to get it out there under his name, he was a wonderful person and a dear friend to the nursery – and it’s a delicious apple.”
Peter’s Gold is available to buy now – for more details check out www.frankpmatthews.com
Competition, news and top tips..
NEWS! AUGUST is the perfect time to spot hedgehogs – thanks to the longer days. In the 1950’s there were more than 36 million in Britain – but experts now put figures at less than 900,000.
So how can you make your garden more hedgehog friendly?
Seedball Founder Dr Emily Lambert told me: “Adding a Hedgehog Highway to your fence is a great way to help hogs get around without needing to cross busy roads. Adult hedgehogs can roam up to 3km a night, so by introducing wildlife corridors you can help them search for food and shelter safely.
“Encouraging a wide range of insects in your garden also helps.
“Hedgehogs will be searching for extra food as they prepare for winter, and ponds offer a great choice of slugs and other moisture-loving insects – just protect them with sloping sides.”
NEWS! Barnsdale Gardens , Rutland, are holding their Summer Vegetable Weekend this weekend – including tours. They will be opening up the productive areas that are normally off-limits to visitors, and if you come along tomorrow – Sunday – expert vegetable grower in chief Susie will lead tours of the veg and fruit growing areas at 12pm and 2pm.
She will be available to advise you on your own veggie production and chat about her favourite subject.
They will also have a selection of children’s activity sheets and vegetable sowing for budding gardeners.
NEWS! THE World’s smelliest plant has burst into bloom at Ediburgh’s Royal Botanical Gardens. Known as the Corpse Flower – Titan Aram – it usually only blossoms every couple of years – grows 11cm a day – and emits an eye watering stench for days.
WIN! ONE lucky family – or two adults and two children – can win a Palace and Play pass for beautiful Blenheim Palace. AND one Afternoon Tea experience for 2 adults and 2 children in the newly refurbished Orangery – together worth £252. To enter fill in THIS form. For more information and full T&C visit www.thesun.co.uk/BLENHEIM. Or write to Sun Blenheim Comp, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Ends 23.59GMT 24.08.24 T&Cs apply.
SAVE!
Keep your feet cool in a pair of Town and Country Eva Cloggies for £15.99 from B&Q or buy Woodside’s version for £4.99
THIS WEEK’S JOB! Bindweed will be putting on a real show right now – make sure you remove all the roots from under the soil to stop it regenerating. Keep deadheading. Watch the video above for my tips on how to get rid.
TOP TIP! Cut a plastic bottle in half and sink the lid end into the soil next to your thirsty veg. Filling it with water means it will properly get to the roots rather than dry out on the surface.
