Gardeners’ World legend has apple named after him in touching tribute from friends
PETER Seabrook was a legend in the horticultural world.
As well as being editor of Sun Gardening for over 30 years and presenter of Gardeners’ World, he also advocated for growers throughout the UK.
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To honor his legacy, his friends in the industry have developed a new apple variety: Peter’s Gold.
And amazingly, its origins can be traced back to Peter’s own garden in Essex, after he gave an apple he thought he ‘liked’ to his friend Nick Dunn of Frank P Matthews nursery ten years ago.
Nick told me: “He was a very special man. He always valued commercial gardeners and was a great ambassador and extremely generous with his time.
“About ten years ago, Peter called me and told me that he had grown an apple in his own garden from an apple seed he had found on the side of the road!
“So he sent me samples and there were a lot of good criteria for introducing it to the public.
“It was disease resistant, produced a good crop every year and the lemony flavour was excellent.
“It keeps for a long time, which is very unusual for a home-grown apple. It’s a late pick, early to mid-October, and you can easily keep it until Christmas or even March in the fridge, and it’s very crisp.
“So before he died, we agreed that we would put it out there.
“We have been doing testing for years at our nursery because we had to be absolutely sure that the plant would perform well year after year and in all weather conditions.
“He had the tree, we had the offspring and one day we agreed that we had 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 contacted his children.
“And now it’s finally ready for market, which is so exciting.
“We feel very privileged to be able to release this under his name. He was a wonderful person and a dear friend of the nursery. And it’s a delicious apple.”
Peter’s Gold is now available for purchase – for more information visit www.frankpmatthews.com
Also in Veronica’s column this week…
Competition, news and top tips..
NEWS! AUGUST is the perfect time to spot hedgehogs – thanks to the longer days. In the 1950s there were more than 36 million in Britain – but experts now estimate the number to be fewer than 900,000.
How can you make your garden more hedgehog-friendly?
Testicle Founder Dr Emily Lambert told me: “Adding a Hedgehog Highway to your fence is a great way to help wild boars move around without having to cross busy roads. Adult hedgehogs can travel up to 3km at night, so introducing wildlife corridors can help them safely find food and shelter.
“It also helps if you encourage a wide variety of insects in your garden.
“Hedgehogs are looking for extra food as they prepare for winter, and ponds provide a great choice of snails and other moisture-loving insects – just protect them with sloping edges.”
NEWS! Barnsdale Gardens Rutland, are having their Summer Vegetable Weekend this weekend – including tours. They are opening up the production areas that are normally off-limits to visitors, and if you come along tomorrow – Sunday – Susie, expert vegetable grower in chief, will be giving tours of the fruit and vegetable growing areas at 12 and 2pm.
She will be happy to advise you on growing your own vegetables and talk to you about her favourite subject.
There is also a selection of activity sheets for children and sowing tips for novice gardeners.
NEWS! The world’s stinkiest plant has blossomed in Edinburgh’s Royal Botanical Gardens. Known as the Corpse Flower – Titan Aram – it usually only flowers once every few years – growing 11cm per day – and emits a dazzling stench for days.
WIN! ONE lucky family – or two adults and two children – can win a Palace and Play Pass for a wonderful Blenheim Palace. AND an Afternoon Tea experience for 2 adults and 2 children in the newly refurbished Orangery – together worth £252. Complete the form to enter THIS form. For more information and full terms and conditions, visit www.thesun.co.uk/BLENHEIM. Or write to Sun Blenheim Comp, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Please include your name, age, email address or telephone number. Only for UK residents aged 18 and over. Ends 23.59GMT 24.08.24 Terms and conditions apply.
TO RESCUE!
Keep your feet cool in a pair of Town and Country Eva Cloggies for £15.99 at B&Q or buy from Woodside version for £4.99
THIS WEEK’S TASK! Bindweed will now put on a real show – make sure you remove all the roots from under the ground to prevent it from growing again. Keep deadheading. Watch the video above for my tips on how to get rid of it.
TOP TIP! Cut a plastic bottle in half and stick the cap in the ground next to your thirsty vegetable. When you fill it with water, it will reach the roots instead of drying up on the surface.
