Down on the Allotment

Matron grows vegetables and fruit in a Hampshire garden. I've been growing veggies since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Some traditional varieties and old favourites as well as new ideas. I share my garden with my allotment assistant Daisy the Labrador. On Twitter as @MatronsVeggies

Tuesday, July 09, 2013

More from Hampton Court

 The shopping opportunities at the Hampton Court Flower Show were amazing.  I found a stand selling vintage ironmongery and gardening tools.  The second fork on the left now belongs to me!  More quality, strength and ergonomic handling-ness than anything you could buy nowadays - and at a fraction of the price.
 And just so many garden statues and ornaments to choose from.
 But back to the serious business.. the UK Horticulture stand shows the quality and breadth of produce from members of the National Farmers Union.  Stunning display of fruit and veg.
 Had to hold myself back from just pinching the exhibits.
 Another purchase I made was from Sea Spring Seeds, a nursery specialising in Chillis.  This wonderful Apricot Chilli (photographed at the RHS Autumn show last year) is a mild, and fruity Habanero chilli with virtually no heat at all.  I have a beautiful plant potted up in my greenhouse, will let you know how it comes along.
 But Matron had a giggle at the Plant Heritage stand,  I just love the sound of the 'Dwarf Nun's Bellybutton bean' I was wondering if the Nun was a Dwarf, or if the bellybutton was rather small..
Or how about a 'Drunken Woman' Lettuce?  I wonder if it just falls about all over the place...  Don't you just love some of these variety names from the past?

5 Comments:

At 11:11 PM, Blogger Hazel said...

There's a coincidence, Matron - I have just put a pic up on the blog of the drunken woman lettuce (full name, as I understand it, is 'Fringe Headed Drunken Woman Lettuce').

Love to see your posts of Hampton Ct - I was there with my sis a couple of weeks ago - would have loved to visit the Show!

 
At 9:07 AM, Blogger Peggy said...

Hampton Court is a show we haven't been to ,may put it on the list for next year. Did you purchase the Dwarf Nun's etc...
I would have thought the vintage tools would be much more expensive as over here giving anyhting the prefix 'vintage' means the price is hiked up!

 
At 5:50 PM, Blogger Matron said...

Peggy - highly recommended, it is a huge show with lots more to see than Chelsea.
The fork was only £20.. you can't get a new one for that. Bargain.

 
At 7:47 AM, Blogger Midmarsh John said...

The fork looks a good buy. That style of handle is more comfortable to hold than the T shaped ones where the upright gets in the way.

 
At 1:33 PM, Blogger Carrie said...

Oh goodness - that fork! Those fruit displays - arrgh it makes me so jealous. I'm invited to all these shows by the organisers but I can't afford to fly over etc. Plus my Malvern trip years ago was a huge let down.
I will have to make sure this post isn't seen my Andrew - he will be so jealous, he really wants old fashioned well made gardening tools.

 

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