Varieties

POPULAR OUTDOOR TOMATO VARIETIES

By David Marks
There are literally hundreds of tomato varieties available to be grown from seed in the UK. Which you choose depends on a number of factors, some of which are listed below.

Cordon or bush type
Colour preference
Size preference
Taste type preference
Texture type

If you answer those questions then your choice of tomato varieties will decrease remarkably. This guide of the more common varieties available in the UK for growing outdoors helps you to do just that.

TOMATO VARIETY ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Cordon type, glossy deep red skin, large size, top taste and slices well.
There are a couple of tomato variety impostors with names that sound like “Abraham Lincoln”. The most common is “Abe Lincoln” which is …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY AILSA CRAIG

Cordon type, glossy red skin, average size, top taste and slices well.
Combine that with the fact that f1 hybridisation has yet to come up with a better tasting tomato and you have no reason to spend several pounds …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY ALICANTE

Cordon type, glossy red skin, medium sized, good full bodied taste and texture.
Full of flavour and freely produced are just one benefit. Good disease resistance, excellent grower both outdoors and in the greenhouse are …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY AMATEUR

Bush type, glossy red skin, medium sized, very reliable cropper.
The Amateur has been grown in the UK for at least 65 years and reliability is one of its key attributes. In our very variable summer weather this …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY AMISH PASTE

Cordon type producing large tomatoes primarily for sauces.
This variety produces three or four large fruits per truss and these may need some support to prevent the weight of the fruit …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY BLACK RUSSIAN

Mahogany coloured skins, large size, good taste and excellent for slicing.
The fruits are far darker compared to your average tomato and the skin colour is best described as mahogany. Fruit size is variable but individual …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY CRIMSON CRUSH

Cordon type, deep red fruits slightly larger than a cherry tomato.
First released for sale in January 2016. Without doubt its main claim to fame is that it is claimed to be 100% resistant to blight …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY GARDENERS DELIGHT

Cordon type, glossy red skin, slightly larger than a cherry tomato, sweet, juicy and medium firm.
Gardener’s Delight is the most widely grown tomato variety as far as the amateur gardener is concerned. It’s also very popular …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY LOSETTO

Bush type, red skin, cherry tomato size, good resistance to tomato blight.
Losetto is a bush type (determinate) of tomato which was introduced to the market by T & M in 2011. Basically it can be left to its own devices …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY MONEYMAKER

Cordon type, productive even in poorer conditions.
MoneyMaker dates back over 100 years, to 1913. Over the last 80 years it has probably been the most popular tomato grown in the UK although …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY OUTDOOR GIRL

Cordon type, early crop even in cooler areas.
A very under-rated variety for growing outside in the open. Will produce a crop in those conditions where most other varieties fail. The tomatoes are coloured a rich …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY SAN MARZANO

Cordon type, plum tomato shape but slightly larger, red glossy skin, meaty and firm
This is primarily a cooking variety, superb for recipes which require passata or any type of tomato sauce. It’s a meaty tomato …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY RED ALERT

Bush type, deep red skin, cherry tomato size, sweet, juicy and medium firm but variable.
An unusual variety because it’s a bush type and the seed merchants would have you believe that needs no support. In theory that’s true but …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY SHIMMER

Cordon type, bronze and light red red skin, slightly larger than cherry tomato size, sweet, juicy and medium firm. First released to the US in 2018, a finalist for plant of the year at the 2018 RHS Chelsea Show …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY SUN BABY

Cordon type, very yellow, thin skins, large trusses and excellent flavour. Sun Baby tomatoes are fully yellow with only a slight tinge of orange. These are bite sized cherry tomatoes which weigh in at about 14g each …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY SUNGOLD

Cordon type, orange coloured skin, cherry tomato size, very sweet, juicy and medium firm.

Sungold is without a doubt the most popular yellow cherry tomato variety in the UK for amateur gardeners. It’s probably also the most popular …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY SWEET MILLION

Cordon type, red coloured skin, good balance of sweetness and acidity, high yields.

This variety produces a large crop of red, moderately sweet cherry tomatoes early on in the season. It is widely available from garden centres …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY TIGERELLA

Cordon type, red and orange striped skin, good balance of sweetness and acidity.

Grown mainly for its attractive appearance, this is a border-line variety for growing outdoors. The tomatoes are normally just slightly smaller than a billiard ball ….. CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY TINY TIM

Bush type, deep coloured skin, cherry tomato size, moderately sweet, juicy and firm. Slightly lacking in flavour, very attractive on a windowsill.
Tiny Tim has been bred specifically to be grown in containers. First offered to the public in 1945 it has remained a very popular variety ever since. Its parents are …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

TOMATO VARIETY TOM TATO

Cordon type, grows tomatoes above ground and potatoes below ground from the same plant.

TM, one of the large seed merchants in the UK, announced in 2013 that they had developed a brand new single plant which …… CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED REVIEW

HEIRLOOM TOMATO VARIETIES

Many gardeners in the UK now grow two or more varieties of tomatoes and often select one or two heirloom varieties because of their interest and their long term proven suitability to our climate and resistance to pests and diseases. Heirloom varieties also have the advantage that saved seeds will produce the same plant.

MORE PAGES ABOUT GROWING TOMATOES:

Growing Outdoor Tomatoes

Caring for Outdoor Tomatoes

Pruning Tomato Plants

Recommended varieties

Pests and diseases

BACK TO VEGETABLE INDEX PAGE

Varieties

Growing Sweetcorn

When and How to Sow Sweetcorn

Ongoing Sweetcorn Care

Pests and Diseases

Recommended Sweetcorn Varieties

Comments, Questions and Answers

RECOMMENDED SWEETCORN VARIETIES

By David Marks
As well as the three different types of sweetcorn there are also many different varieties bred to satisfy the needs of different types of gardeners. The key difference between the varieties is probably the speed at which they mature.But that's not the only difference. The size of the cob is another factor and the vigour of the plant. Another key factor for many gardeners is the eventual height of the plant.

Growing sweetcorn in an area exposed to wind can be a big problem so varieties which are relatively low growing can be a great advantage. Below we list those varieties of sweetcorn which we believe are worthwhile for growing in the UK climate and we list their advantages and disadvantages.

Beware of the descriptions given by the seed merchants for sweetcorn, they are almost always very over-optimistic!

CONQUEROR

A well-proven variety which always receives a good deal of support in gardening forums throughout the UK. This is a supersweet variety which produces long cobs in mid to late season. The plants are on the tall side so would need staking in windy sites.

Restrict this variety to one or two cobs per plant and then expect a cob of about 22cm / 9in long. Cobs are generally well-filled and look very attractive.

The RHS reconfirmed their Award of Garden Merit status for Conqueror in 2013. This variety is widely available not only from garden centres but also from online seed suppliers.

EARLIBIRD

A supersweet variety which is true to its name, producing delicious cobs early in the season. One of the best supersweet varieties for the UK climate. One or two cobs are produced per plant and each cob will average 22cm / 9in long.

The RHS reconfirmed their Award of Garden Merit status for Earlibird (initially given in 2003). This variety is widely available not only from garden centres but also from online seed suppliers.

Because Earlibird is a supersweet variety of sweetcorn, it is best not grown with other varieties.

GOLDCREST

A relatively new supersweet variety which has been awarded an AGM byt the RHS in 2016. Our own trials in 2019 found it to be average rather than outstanding. Read our full review of Goldcrest here.

Sweetcorn variety Goldcrest grown on our allotment

INCREDIBLE

Incredible is a sugar enhanced variety of sweetcorn which is more popular in the US but is still easy to obtain in the UK.

We grew it on our allotment in 2021, not a good year weatherwise for sweetcorn. Normally this is a mid season variety but in 2021 it performed similar to a late variety. Cobs were medium sized, around 20cm / 8in long.

Even though the weather in 2021 was not ideal by any means, each plant produced 2 cobs and I suspect in a more average year three cobs per plant could be realistsic.

Sweetcorn variety Incredible grown on our allotment

Good, sweet taste and the kernel skins are fairly thin. Not the best looking variety, it lacks the elegant thin looks of some of the others.

LARK

An extra tendersweet variety which has thin tender skins and lots of sweet flavour. Cobs are produced in mid-season. We grew this variety on our West Midlands allotment in 2017 and they reached maturity in late August.

A very reliable and well-proven sweetcorn which tolerates cooler growing conditions. Restrict plants to two cobs and expect a well-filled cob about 20cm / 8in long.

Sweetcorn Variety Lark grown on our allotment

The RHS reconfirmed their Award of Garden Merit status for Lark sweetcorn in 2016 (initially given in 2003). The final height is around 6ft / 180cm and they withstood a few harsh wind even at that final height on our allotment. We highly recommend this variety, very sweet, tender and tasty.

This variety is widely available not only from garden centres and also from online seed suppliers.

HONEYDEW

Another extra tendersweet variety, this one has the most tender skins of all. Easily capable of producing two, maybe three, good cobs per plant.

MIRAI 003

Supersweet type which normally produces two cobs per plant. Very sweet, reliable performer in the UK weather. This variety has so much going for it that we have produced an individual page for it which can be found here.

Because Mirai 003 is a supersweet variety of sweetcorn, it is best not grown with other varieties.

NORTHERN XTRA SWEET

An extra tendersweet which is well suited to the UK weather even in the North of the country. New varieties however have left it behind as far as flavour and texture are concerned – the skins of the individual kernels are tougher then normal. Not tall so they withstand the the wind better than many.

PRELUDE

If you want a long sweetcorn then prelude is probably the best variety. It's a supersweet which is an early cropper.Because Prelude is a supersweet variety of sweetcorn, it is best not grown with other varieties.

SPARROW

Sparrow is an extra tendersweet variety which we trialed in 2018 on our West Midlands allotment. The plant is average height and withstood quite harsh winds during the early summer with only one falling over slightly. We left the fallen sweetcorn to its own devices and it still produced one decent sized cob.

The average length of the cobs were 23cm / 9in with, in almost all cases, all of the individual kernels fully formed. There were very few gaps in the sweetcorn. You can expect between 1 and 2 cobs per plant, the warmer your area the more likely you are to get two cobs per plant.

Sparrow sweetcorn variety

The variety Sparrow tastes sweet, of that there is no doubt. Individual kernels are slightly larger than normal, which we prefer. They boil to a deep yellow and look exceptionally good on the plate.

It’s slightly difficult to be certain how they grow in cooler areas because the summer of 2018 was exceptionally warm over an extended period of time. Clearly they grow well in warm conditions. The RHS trials of 2016 grew this variety in both Rosemoor (Devon) and Wisley (Surrey) and they were given an AGM. We would agree with that verdict, this is an exceptionally good variety for most of the UK.

One fact became clear from our trials of this variety in 2018 and that concerned the watering requirements of sweetcorn. The summer of 2018, in most areas of the UK, had a very, very low amount of rainfall for three months.

Aside from watering the plants when they were initially planted, we were only able to water the sweetcorn once during that period because of lack of a water supply. These near drought conditions had no effect whatsoever on the sweetcorn – the cobs were still full and juicy.

The probable reason for this lack of need for hand watering was that we mulched the entire sweetcorn bed with 5cm / 2in of woodchip. Whereas other areas of our allotment dried out completely, the soil underneath the mulch remained mainly moist.

A lesson learned for us, it’s clear the roots of sweetcorn are better at extracting moisture from the soil than we thought especially with a good layer of mulch.

SWIFT

One of our favourites for no reason other than reliability and superb sweet taste. Cobs are about 22cm / 9in long and well filled with straight rows. Swift is an extra tendersweet variety.

We trialed this variety on our allotment in 2018. The skins on the kernels is one of the thinnest of all. Expect two cobs on most plants early in the season and well suited to the UK climate. Slightly shorter than average so withstands windy conditions well.

Swift sweetcorn variety

One problem that has been reported with this variety is that large amounts of the seeds fail to germinate. For this reason, read carefully the advice we give about sowing sweetcorn seeds which can be found here.

Our own personal experience concerning germination of this variety is good. Originally given an RHS Award of Garden Merit in 2003, this was reconfirmed in 2012.

MORE PAGES ABOUT GROWING SWEET CORN:

Growing Sweetcorn

Sowing Sweetcorn

Caring for Sweetcorn

Recommended varieties

Pests and diseases

Sweetcorn Questions and Answers

Sometimes our readers ask specific questions which are not covered in the main article above. Our new
Sweetcorn comment / question and answer page
lists those comments, questions and answers. At the end of that page there is also a form for you to submit any new question or comment you have.

Varieties

Runner Bean seeds and sowing

Ongoing care guide

Review of best runner bean varieties

Pests and diseases

Runner Bean Question and Answer

Runner Bean recipes

TOP VARIETIES OF RUNNER BEANS

By David Marks
Runner Beans stand out as slightly unusual in the bean family of vegetables. Not only do they wind up their supports in the opposite direction to other bean plants but, unlike French Beans, they also need bees to produce a crop of beans.

Tozer Seeds are at the forefront of breeding new Runner Bean varieties. Much of their current efforts involve the inclusion of French Bean genes in new Runner Bean varieties. One key reason for this is that Runner Beans can sometimes have difficulty in producing pods even though a good crop of flowers have been produced. French Beans do not suffer from this problem.

Most runner beans are self-pollinating but require bees or other insects to set their bean pods. For some reason, warmer than normal night time temperatures result in a poor crop of beans although the production of flowers is not affected. This may be one reason why some gardeners spray their plants in the evening of warm nights – it will have a generally cooling effect.

I am no bee expert but for those of you who are interested in different bees in the UK I found found this page extremly informative webpage aboutdifferent types of bees in the UK.

For expert advice on preparing the ground and sowing runner bean seeds, click here. For ongoing care advice throughout the season, click here, and for advice on pests and diseases, click here.

In general runner beans produce beans which if planted the next year will be slightly different from the parent plant. Major differences are unlikely but these small differences add up over 10 or more generations. Each seed company therefore will sell beans which produce slightly different plants. One seed company stands out head and shoulders as far as breeding runner beans is concerned is Tozer Seeds. They are specialists at developing new varieties and improving existing ones of this tasty vegetable.

VARIETIES OF CLIMBING RUNNER BEANS WE RECOMMEND

LADY DI

A personal favourite of ours which we have grown for many years. If you just can't stand even a small amount of "stringiness" to your runner beans then this is the one for you. Even if you let them reach past maturity they still remain stringless. In these circumstances the whole pod will eventually get a fibrous quality to it but definitely no string!

As with all runner beans, Lady Di is no exception, harvest it early and it is delicious, leave it too long on the plant and it will deteriorate. But with Lady Di, if you use it in casseroles or soups its stringless qualities make it tasty at any stage of its development.

This variety produces edible pods slightly earlier in the year than some others we have tried and the red flowers are very attractive. Awarded an RHS AGM in 2006.

ACHIEVEMENT-MERIT

An improved version of the old runner bean favourite Achievement. Awarded an AGM in 2006 this variety is stringless if picked when young. Attractive red flowers which produce a slightly later than normal crop of tasty beans. Good for exhibiting in the "longest runner bean" competitions.

Runner Bean Achievement Merit

Not one of the commonest varieties, Achievement Merit can be bought at Thompson Morganhere.

ENORMA-ELITE

A firm favourite of many gardeners for years. Produces a reliable crop of largish beans with red flowers. The beans are stringless and they set well in most weather conditions. This particular variety shows significant
differences between the various seed merchants so bargain priced seeds may be the result of a poor breeding program and not produce the best that this variety is capable of.

FIRESTORM

The same as Snowstorm below but with orange-red flowers – see here.

POLESTAR RUNNER BEANS

A favourite variety for many years this is stringless and produces lots of red flowers. The pods are fleshy, straight and very tasty. A reliable cropper which produces beans a week or two earlier than average, expect to be harvesting 13 to 14 weeks after sowing. It continues to produce runner beans up till the first frosts.

This variety is easy to find in garden centres and from online seed merchants, it’s also sometimes found at discount prices from the large supermarkets and discount store.

RED RUM

Red Rum was awarded an AGM by the RHS in 2006 and this means that it has a lot going for it. Some silly claims have been made by one of the seed companies that it produces a crop within 40 days, take it from us, it does not. But it does produce larger crops earlier in the season compared to most other varieties because it sets bean pods very reliably from its attractive red flowers. Runner Bean plants often fail to set pods from their flowers because the night time temperature is to high, they are rather picky plants in this respect. However Red Rum is well known to set pods more reliably than most.

Runner Bean Red Rum

The pods grow straight and are stringless although we still recommend harvesting your crop when the pods reach about 18cm / 7in long for the best taste. To sum up, Red Rum is a tasty stringless variety which is one of the most reliable croppers in the UK climate. Has some (but not huge) resistance to Halo Blight. As far as we know this variety has some genetic elements of French Beans incorporated into it.

SAINT GEORGE

A new variety from Tozer Seeds which is really an improved version of the variety Painted Lady. The flowers are red and white making it the most attractive of all the runner beans. It's a strong grower producing crisp, stringless pods. Awarded an RHS AGM in 2006 it’s now one of our firm favourites.

SCARLET EMPEROR

One of the oldest varieties of runner beans which is still commonly sold. This variety produces decent beans however they are by no means stringless so need to be picked when young. More modern varieties have better disease resistance and grow better beans but if you want a slice of history then this bean will not disappoint.

SNOWDRIFT

Another variety which has been bred to include French Beans in its genetic makeup. Snowdrift was introduced in 2016 by Mr Fothergill’s to enable this variety to self-pollinate without the intervention of bees.

Snowdrift Runner Beans

The flowers, as the name suggests are white and the beans are straight, tasty and stringless. A relatively new variety well worth trying.

SNOWSTORM

Another variety from Tozer Seeds which has been bred using some of the genes from French bean varieties. The result is that Snowstorm sets beans much more easily compared to most other varieties and is not so dependent on the activity of bees and other insects. This is not only a valuable characteristic if the bee population in your area is low but it also helps in windy situations where insects are not able to adequately pollinate plants.

The name Snowstorm was given because of the pure white flowers which are very attractive against the dark green foliage. The pods are ideal when picked at about 30cm, making tasty and straight runner beans.

WHITE LADY

A classic runner bean variety which is grown in many parts of the world purely for its display of white flowers. The beans themselves are produced mid-season and are one of the tastiest of all. Pick them young and they are completely stringless with a juicy non-fibrous texture. A reliable cropper and awarded an RHS AGM.

WISLEY MAGIC RUNNER BEANS

Some of the seed merchants appear to be selling this variety as a new one in 2014 / 15 but in fact it was available from as far back as 1999 when the RHS awarded it an Award of Garden Merit (reconfirmed in 2013). This is a strong growing variety which is well mentioned frequently in gardening forums, always a good sign. You can expect to be harvesting Wisley Magic during late July to late October in most parts of the UK. The prolific and attractive, deep red flowers appear in early July and produce runner bean pods which are full-flavoured. Pick them before they get too long and they are stringless. The pods are mid-green, straight-growing and of regular shape. The plants grow well in almost all conditions and freeze perfectly. They produce a large crop even in over-warm conditions.

VARIETIES OF DWARF RUNNER BEANS WE RECOMMEND

HESTIA

A new variety of dwarf runner bean which is proving a great success. The red and white flowers alone are enough reason to give this plant space in your garden. At the same time however it will produce a good crop of stringless and tasty runner beans. This is not a "novelty" variety, it really does the job.

This makes an ideal container plant, it just needs to be watered regularly in summer. When it grows several stems often appear and that's quite normal. We have found that a few canes about a foot long greatly help to support this variety even though it is a dwarf runner bean. If birds have been a problem in previous years with your runner beans then Hestia can easily be netted to keep them off.

PICKWICK

A traditional dwarf runner bean variety which stood the test of time and proved its worth. Masses of orange flowers appear in late spring followed by an excellent crop of stringless beans.

Pickwick Dwarf Runner Bean

The plants grow to a full height of about 60cm / 2ft and spread 1m / 3ft. Although dwarf they are not -self-supporting but three 60cm canes per plant will be enough to support them . Can easily be grown in containers.

NEXT PAGE – PESTS AND DISEASES OF RUNNER BEANS

MORE ABOUT GROWING RUNNER BEANS

Growing Runner Beans

Caring for Runner Beans

Runner Bean varieties

Pests and diseases

Runner Bean Recipes

COMMENTS / QUESTIONS LEFT BY OUR READERS

Sometimes our readers ask specific questions which are not covered in the main article above. Our
Runner Bean comment / question and answer page
lists their comments, questions and answers. At the end of that page there is also a form for you to submit any new question or comment you have.

varieties

How to Grow Rhubarb

Recommended Varieties

How to Care for Rhubarb

Pest and Disease

Rhubarb Question and Answer

RECOMMENDED RHUBARB VARIETIES

By David Marks
Rhubarb is one of those vegetables where the particular variety grown is not so important as with other vegetables.

The two key differences between varietiesis firstly the colour of the stalks and then how early or late they are produced. Many varieties of rhubarb nowadays are red in colour and they hold this throughout the cooking process. The colour is purely aesthetic and has no effect on the taste. In truth a few drops of red food colouring in with a green rhubarb does exactly the same job. The second main difference is the time of cropping, from first earlies to maincrop later in the season.

If you want to see rhubarb plants before you buy then we suggest you visit the National Collection which is atRHS Wisley which has just over 100 different varieties.RHS Harlow Carr also have an excellent collection of rhubarb plants. Wakefield host a festival each year with rhubarb very much at the centre,click here for details of the next festival.

CAWOOD DELIGHT

In our opinion this variety is over-rated although it does have one redeeming quality and that is the deep red colour of the stalks. Taste and texture is about average. Cawood Delight is not a strong grower however and you would need a couple of plants of this variety to get the same yield as one plant of The Sutton.

THE SUTTON

Another old variety, The Sutton rhubarb was raised by a Mr Daws of London and first sold in 1895. This is a mid-season variety producing edible stalks any time between mid May to early June depending on where you live. Although the stalks don't grow straight and they are mix of red and green, this variety is believed by many to be the best tasting rhubarb.

It produces a good number of moderately thick stems regularly each year. Widely available at garden centres and from online suppliers.

STRAWBERRY

Very red stalks, this variety reliably produces a good crop. Available from the RHS.

VICTORIA

A firm favourite variety of rhubarb for many years, it was first introduced to the UK in 1837 by Joseph Myatt. Reliable and produces good thick stems. This is one of the best looking of all rhubarb with a deep red stem at the base turning greener towards the top. The taste is delicious although it can be slightly bitter
compared to the very best, When cooked it has a stringless texture. The stems are produced slightly later in the season on this well established and pest free variety. A good choice if you like to force rhubarb for an early season crop. It crops later than most varieties if not forced.

TIMPERLEY EARLY

Bred by H. Marshland and first sold in 1945 to be very early (even without forcing) and especially good if you want to force your rhubarb. Long, red and thinner than normal stalks. Good taste and very sweet so be careful when adding sugar to recipes using this variety.

Available from Jacksons Nurseries online, click here.

COMMENTS / QUESTIONS LEFT BY OUR READERS

Sometimes our readers ask specific questions which are not covered in the main article above. Our
Rhubarb comment / question and answer page
lists their comments, questions and answers. At the end of that page there is also a form for you to submit any new question or comment you have.

MORE PAGES ABOUT GROWING RHUBARB:

Growing Rhubarb

Caring for Rhubarb

Recommended varieties

Pests and diseases

Rhubarb Question and Answer

Varieties

Onions from seed

Onions from sets

Autumn planting onions

Onion pests and diseases

Best onion varieties

How to save onion seeds

RECOMMENDED UK ONION VARIETIES

By David Marks
There are many varieties of onions available to be grown from seed and sets in the UK. Which variety is best for you depends on a number of factors, some of which are listed below.

Keeping qualities
Appearance
Size
Taste type

If you answer those questions then your choice of onion varieties will decrease remarkably. This guide to the more common onion varieties available in the UK for growing outdoors helps you to do just that. The varieties listed below are in alphabetic order.

AILSA CRAIG

APPEARANCE: Best known for its capabilities to grow huge onions for the show bench. The skin is golden and the inside is white. The bulbs are oval.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Store well, average until late December.

TASTE: Mild flavour, good for salads as well as cooking

AVAILABILITY: We have only found them sold as seeds, widely available in garden centres and online.

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

NOTES: Ailsa Craig has been used by gardeners for over 120 years and not only for show purposes. They are a long day variety so not best when grown in the south of England. Good disease resistance.

AUTUMN CHAMPION

APPEARANCE: Slightly variable but normally spherical. Golden brown skin and white inside.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Stores until mid-December

TASTE: Mild flavour

AVAILABILITY: Widely available as sets and seeds

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

NOTES: Cultivated for over 120 years in the UK. Ideal for autumn planting.

BEDFORDSHIRE CHAMPION

APPEARANCE: Oval to nearly circular shape, traditional golden brown skins and very white inside. Slightly larger than average bulbs.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Good keeping qualities and will last until February on average.

TASTE: Mild flavour which is suitable for salads and cooking.

AVAILABILITY: Widely available online but as seeds only. Suttons sell them in a 550 seed pack.

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

NOTES: Bedfordshire Champion dates back over a hundred years as far as gardening use is concerned and in our opinion it it the epitome of how an onion should look and taste. Good disease resistance and an excellent choice for the beginner. Not for autumn planting.

CENTURION F1

APPEARANCE: Another F1 variety developed from Sturon. The bulbs are slightly flatter but otherwise the same.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Good keeping qualities and will last until January on average.

TASTE: Medium strong flavour.

AVAILABILITY: Available online from three or four suppliers but only as sets. Suttons are selling them as a 250g pack (approximately 60 sets).

HARVEST SEEDS?: No

NOTES: RHS AGM re-confirmed in 2002. A good, traditional, maincrop onion.

EGYPTIAN WALKING ONIONS

We mention this type of onion here not because we particularly recommend them but they are fun to grow. The small onions form above ground at the top of a long stem in summer. When ripe the stem gradually falls over and where it touches the ground, typically 30cm / 1 foot from the parent, they will root and grow a new plant the next year.

Egyptian Walking Onions sets (very small) are typically bought and planted in either spring or early autumn but can be sown any time in between as well. The onions are small, strong tasting and an acquired taste. Getting hold of them to buy can be difficult. Try an E-bay supplier you trust if you cant find them elsewhere.

ELECTRIC

APPEARANCE: Glossy red skins, inside is white with red streaks. Looks impressive raw in salads. Nearly round shaped.

KEEPING QUALITIES: A month or so.

TASTE: Strong flavour

AVAILABILITY: Appear only to be available from Thomson Morgan as sets.

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

NOTES: This is an onion for overwintering. Plant in October for a June crop.

GLOBO F1

APPEARANCE: Straw coloured skin which is much lighter than many onions, the skin is pure white. The onions are larger than average in normal gardening conditions. Not quite a globe shape.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Moderate, average November to December

TASTE: Mild but lacks any real onion flavour

AVAILABILITY: Developed by Suttons this is available from a few other suppliers as seeds

HARVEST SEEDS?: No

NOTES: Doesn’t produce onions big enough to beat the best, unremarkable variety in most respects. More expensive than most onion seeds.

HYTECH F1

APPEARANCE: Light brown coloured skin, white bulb inside. Not quite a globe shape.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Good, average to January

TASTE: Mild suitable for cooking and salads, slightly sweet taste.

AVAILABILITY: One of the most widely available varieties online and in garden centres. Sold as sets and seeds.

HARVEST SEEDS?: No

NOTES: The “F1” label means it is more expensive compared to most but without any significant advantages.

KAMAL F1

APPEARANCE: Red skinned, white and red inside the bulbs are not far off circular.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Medium, average to December.

TASTE: Medium flavour

AVAILABILITY: Available as seeds online only.

HARVEST SEEDS?: No this is an F1 variety.

NOTES: Unremarkable, Red Baron is better in all respects.

RADAR

APPEARANCE: Light brown skin, white inside. Average size, slightly variable shape.

KEEPING QUALITIES: This is an overwintering variety and stores well for the type. July harvests will store until September

TASTE: Mild onion flavour

AVAILABILITY: Widely available online as sets only.

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

NOTES: A Japanese onion type which has one of the longest storage times. Plant sets in September for an early July crop. This is one of the most popular over-wintering onions and deservedly so, resists bolting well.

RED ARROW

APPEARANCE: Rosy red skins with white and red lined flesh. Average size and almost round shape.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Keeps for about two months

TASTE: Mild onion flavour

AVAILABILITY: Only available online as onion sets from Suttons and Dobies. Suttons work out cheapest at £3.49 for a 250g pack (approximately 60 sets).

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

NOTES: Resists bolting well, British bred, matures a couple of weeks earlier than average.

RED BARON

APPEARANCE: Dark red skin, red and white inside.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Store well, average until late December.

TASTE: Strong flavour

AVAILABILITY: Widely available as seeds and sets. Only buy heat-treated sets of this variety if you want to avoid any chance of bolting in the very south of the UK.

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

NOTES: RHS AGM. Matures mid to late season. A long-day variety which does best from north of London and Bristol in the UK. The onion sets can bolt when grown in the south of England.

RED BRUNSWICK

APPEARANCE: A pleasantly shaped flat onion with a red skin and red / white inside.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Store wells, average until March.

TASTE: A mild to medium taste and this is where it shows it versatility. It is a good cooking onion but at the same time its mild taste and excellent colour make it ideal for salads, far better than Red Baron for that purpose.

AVAILABILITY: Moderate availability as seed, unable to find any as sets.

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

NOTES: Not a good variety to over-winter.

RED RAY

APPEARANCE: Ruby coloured skins with white and red lined flesh. Average size and almost round shape.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Keeps for about three months

TASTE: Medium onion flavour

AVAILABILITY: Available online from three or four suppliers but only as sets. Suttons are selling them as a 200g pack (approximately 45 sets) for £3.99.

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

NOTES: Intended as an improved version of Red Baron. In our trials it performed no better or worse than Red Baron.

SANTERO F1

APPEARANCE: Golden skins, white inside. The medium-sized bulbs are nearly round.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Store very well, average until March.

TASTE: Medium strong flavour.

AVAILABILITY: Widely available as sets, seeds and young plants both online and in garden centres.

HARVEST SEEDS?: No, this is an F1 variety

NOTES: Downy Mildew resistant. Suttons sell them as “Santero Improved” which is exactly the same variety as Santero. Matures a couple of weeks earlier than most

SENSHYU YELLOW

APPEARANCE: Golden skin and white inside, attractive looking semi-flat onion.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Low, keeps for a month at most.

TASTE: Mild taste, young plants can be used as spring onions.

AVAILABILITY: Widely available as both sets and seeds. This is a Japanese overwintering variety (not a maincrop variety) so sets are available from September, seeds need to be sown in August for a good crop.

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

NOTES: Probably the most widely planted over-wintering onion, it has been used with success for many decades. Introduced from Japan in the early 1970s.

AVAILABILITY: Available online as seeds from Suttons in a 350 seed pack.

SETTON F1

APPEARANCE: An improved version of Sturon (see below). Golden brown outer skin colour, white inside. Said to have a more regular round shape.KEEPING QUALITIES: Store well, average until January. Normally has thin neck.

TASTE: Medium strong flavour.

AVAILABILITY: Widely available as sets. We couldn’t find any seeds but this may change if the variety gains in popularity. More expensive compared to Sturon because it is F1.

HARVEST SEEDS?: No

NOTES: RHS AGM in 2002, a good variety if you like traditional onions.

SNOWBALL

APPEARANCE: White skins and white flesh, slightly flat KEEPING QUALITIES: Does not store well at all

TASTE: Mild flavour.

AVAILABILITY: Available as sets only.

HARVEST SEEDS?: Not known.

NOTES: A low yield of badly formed onions, not recommended at all. Don’t be tempted by the glossy pictures, your onions will not turn out like that!

STUTTGARTER

APPEARANCE: Golden skins, slightly flattened appearance KEEPING QUALITIES: Stores well, to February

TASTE: Mild flavour, excellent for all purposes especially salads.

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes.

NOTES: An old favourite variety in the UK which reliably produces a good crop. Has withstood the test of time. Sometimes referred to as Stuttgarter Giant. Rarely bolts and tolerates cool conditions well.

AVAILABILITY: Available online as onion sets from Dobies in a 250g pack (approximately 60 sets).

STURON

APPEARANCE: Golden brown outer skin colour, white inside. The bulbs are nearly round and with care can grow larger than average.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Store well, average until January. Normally has thin neck.

TASTE: Medium strong flavour.

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

NOTES: RHS AGM, withstands the cold well so is a good variety for sowing direct in the ground. Matures mid-season. One of the oldest onion varieties, a good all-rounder which has withstood the test of time well.

AVAILABILITY: Available online as onion sets from Dobies in a 250g pack (approximately 60 sets).

WALLA WALLA

APPEARANCE: Very light brown skin, pure white inside. Large round bulbs looks superb

KEEPING QUALITIES: Poor, stores for a couple of weeks but see notes below for why this still a very worthwhile variety to grow.

TASTE: Sweet and very mild. Can be eaten raw, excellent in salads.

AVAILABILITY: Available as seeds from Nicky’s Nursery

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

NOTES: This maincrop variety is different from the rest, its sweet taste is a treat. Imported from Corsica. You won’t want to grow many because they don’t keep well but grow a few and you’ll be very pleasantly surprised.

YELLOW RYNSBURGER

APPEARANCE: Straw brown outer skin colour, white inside. The bulbs are an almost round shape.

KEEPING QUALITIES: Store well, average until January.

TASTE: Medium strong flavour.

HARVEST SEEDS?: Yes

AVAILABILITY: Only available as seed and only available from Real Seeds – ignore their claim that “it is one of the most-grown onions in the UK” because it certainly is not!

NOTES: A rather unremarkable maincrop onion.

Onions from seed

Onions from sets

Autumn planting onions

Onion pests and diseases

Best onion varieties

How to save onion seeds

Varieties

VARIETIES OF
FRENCH BEANS

When, Where and How to Sow French Beans

Ongoing French Bean Care

French Beans in Containers / Raised Beds

French Bean Pest and Disease

French Bean Recipes

Recommended French Bean Varieties

By David Marks

French Beans can't rival rice or wheat as a major food source around the world but they are on the second rung as far as a source of food is concerned. Records exist showing their cultivation as far back as 5,000 BC
in South America so the world has had plenty of time to produce a wide diversity of varieties.

The two key types are dwarf / bush types and climbing types but within these groups there are hundreds of varieties.

DWARF / BUSH FRENCH BEAN VARIETIES

ALLEGRIA

A new variety which is not easy to find in garden centres but can be found online. It was awarded a RHS AGM in 2010 and is a late cropper which allows you to extend the French Bean cropping season. Pencil shaped and very straight this variety is tasty and tolerates heavy soils better than most.

Allegria French Bean

They grow to 60cm / 2ft high and produce masses of thin, straight bean pods which are best harvested when 10cm to 12cm (4in to 5in) long.

Allegria grows well even in heavy ground. It produces a crop slightly later in the year when many other varieties are past their peak. Expect the first beans in early August after the white flowers fade. Not the heaviest of crops but the quality of the beans more than makes up for that. One online supplier of
Allegria seeds is Plant Genesis.

AANNABEL

Awarded an RHS Award of Garden Merit which has been confirmed in several trials, Annabel produces rounded pods 8cm to 10cm (4in) long. They are slightly thicker than the average fine French Bean. The plants are small at around 30cm high and ideal for growing in containers. The flowers are white and the first pods are normally ready for picking in late July. Expect about an average yield of beans.

Annabel French Bean

The Annabel variety of French Bean is widely available both in garden centres, diy stores and online.

MASTERPIECE

This variety has been grown for many decades and is still one of the top-selling French beans. The pods are slightly flat and they are produced freely from the end of July onwards (about 13 weeks from sowing to the first crops). Expect a total crop per plant of just a smidgeon under 3kg. Plant height is around 45cm and individual pods are about 10cm / 4in long. Some of the pods will touch the ground which is not the ideal.

Masterpiece is widely available both in garden centres, diy stores and online. Our recommended supplier is Kings, their page for this variety can be found here. Not our favourite French Bean but performs reasonably well. Kids seem to prefer a finer, thinner French Bean.

THE PRINCE

The French Bean variety which we recommend as one of the best. Awarded a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM) in 1996, this variety produces medium green pods which are almost always straight and of the same length.

Flavour is delicious with tender and juicy pods. The cropping period is longer than most and of course this is a stringless variety. This variety of French Bean is widely available in garden centres, diy stores and online. Our recommended supplier for The Prince seeds can be found here.

PURPLE TEEPEE

Delicious French Beans which are deep purple when growing, pods produced at the top of the plant for easy picking.

Not only are the beans a fun colour but they taste good as well. The plants are……. CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR IN DEPTH REVIEW OF PURPLE TEEPEE

This variety of French Bean is widely available in garden centres, diy stores and online. Our recommended supplier for Purple Teepee seeds can be found here.

SONESTA

If you want a dwarf French Bean which is slightly different but also has top taste and texture then give Sonesta a try. It produces yellow beans which add colour to a salad and other meals. The plants grow to 60cm / 2ft high and the beans are about 15cm / 6in long. Overall yields are higher than average.

The beans are stringless with an excellent flavour and texture. Sonesta has an RHS Award of Garden Merit. The seeds are widely available online and often available at garden centres.

SPRITE

One of our favourites dwarf French Bean varieties because the pods look and taste even better than those sold in the supermarket. Ultra straight, pencil like and round, this is the perfect looking French Bean. Best picked when the beans are 15cm / 6in long to keep them tender. They are dark green and retain that colour well when cooked.

Sprite French Bean

Totally stringless, Sprite is a tasty French bean variety which is well worth a try. It was given an RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993 which was kept in 2016. The plant is very compact and requires no support at all in most situations.

Seeds of Sprite French beans are sometimes available in garden centres and diy stores. Our recommended online supplier for Sprite can be found here.

TENDERGREEN

An excellent choice for variable UK weather which can easily produce an early crop. CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR IN DEPTH REVIEW OF THIS VARIETY

CLIMBING / POLE FRENCH BEAN VARIETIES

BLAUHILDE

This is a climbing French bean which will grow to 2.5m easily so it needs support as soon as the seedlings appear above the surface. The pods are a deep purple with green flesh inside and they turn to green when they are cooked.

Each pod is unusually long at ……. CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR DETAILED REVIEW OF BLAUHILDE

COBRA

Cobra is a climbing French Bean which has been awarded a RHS AGM in both 2000 and reconfirmed in 2008. Classic, modern pencil shape, this is the way to grow a huge crop of delicious beans in a small area. Completely stringless, Cobra will crop through to early autumn.

Cobra French Bean

The Cobra variety of French Bean is widely available both in garden centres, diy stores and online. One online supplier of this seed which we recommend is Simply Seeds.

PURPLE CASCADE

Purple Cascade is a climbing French Bean which has very vibrant (some might say "over vibrant"!) purple pods. If they are lightly cooked or steamed the pods retain most of this purple colour. They grow as well as any other variety so if you want a novelty plant this year then give these a try. Planting and general care is
described in detail here. The best price we could find for seeds was from Marshall’s.

Purple Cascade French Bean

HUNTER

Hunter French Beans have flatter pods compared to average French Bean and they almost stringless, certainly so when young. The pods grow to around 25cm / 10in long although we suggest harvesting them at 20cm / 8in to get the freshest flavour and best texture.

Hunter climbing French Bean

Hunter is a climbing French bean reaching a height of about 180cm / 6ft. When they get 10cm / 4in from the top of the supports, pinch the growing tip out to prevent clogging up the top of the plant.

This variety will produce a huge crop for the space it occupies so it needs to be kept well fed with a balanced liquid fertiliser and don’t let it dry out. The RHS has awarded this variety an AGM.

Growing French Beans

Caring for French Beans

French Beans in Containers / Raised Beds

French Bean varieties

Pests and diseases

French Bean Recipes

Top ten pear varieties

Buying – Price Comparison

COMPARISON OF TOP TEN PEAR TREE VARIETIES

By David Marks
This article compares the top ten pear varieties commonly grown in the UK. Each variety can be researched in more detail by clicking of the pear variety name for a more comprehensive description.

At the end of this article we suggest three varieties which will pollinate each other very successfully and provide a lengthy cropping season for the average UK garden.

FACTORS USED IN THE COMPARISON

First, the ten pear varieties compared are in alphabetic order not order of preference. It is almost impossible to recommend a particular variety from the ten described below because each person will have different needs and garden situations.

There are many heritage varieties available which are not mentioned in the list below and the reason is their poor disease resistance. In their day they may well have been grown with minimal problems but pests and diseases, especially, have evolved over time to make older varieties a prime target. For those who prefer an ornamental pear tree, we would recommend Pyrus Pashia.

POLLINATION BETWEEN VARIETIES OF PEAR TREES

One of the key factors when buying a pear tree is pollination. Only a few pear trees are reliably self-fertile, several are partially self-fertile and the majority as self-sterile. For a self-sterile pear tree, it is absolutely essential to have a compatible pear tree of another variety nearby if pollination (and therefore fruit production) is to occur. Partially self fertile varieties are likely to produce a fruit crop when no other variety is nearby but fruit production will be increased, to differing degrees, when a suitable nearby pollination partner is nearby

The definition of a “nearby pollination partner” is variable because it depends on a variety of factors including the distance between two trees, the layout of the land between them, wind strength, temperatures at the relevant time of year and many other factors. In suburban areas and many urban areas it is quite possible that there will be a suitable pollination partner within reach most years, that is the nature of British garden in those areas but nothing is guaranteed.

Bees do fly considerable distance in spring to find sources of nectar but the precise distance is variable. We will stick our necks out and say that a suitable pollination partner within a quarter of a mile is likely to be sufficient but only personal experience can prove this in your particular garden / allotment. A distance of two miles is also often sufficient but far less reliable.

The detailed description of every one of the varieties described below contains a list of suitable pollination partners.

BETH

POLLINATION: Self sterile (see main article for pollination partners)

TASTE AND TEXTURE: Sweet, juicy, smooth.

REGULARITY OF CROPPING: Very regular.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Regularly produces an early season crop of tasty pears.

The Beth pear tree can be summed up in two key phrases, early in the year to fruit and a superb flavour. It might not be your choice for the first pear tree you buy but it must come high on the list for a second pear tree. Most pear trees produce fruit in October but Beth reliably fruits in early September …. Click here for the full article on the Beth pear tree.

BEURRE BOSC

POLLINATION: Self sterile (see main article for pollination partners)

TASTE AND TEXTURE: Soft and buttery, lots of russet skin

REGULARITY OF CROPPING: Regular, good crop.

SPECIAL FEATURES: None

The Beurre Bosc pear variety produces very tasty pears which can be somewhat variable in texture. When grown in the UK against a sunny wall the texture is soft and melting. In cooler situations the pear becomes slightly crisper but eminently eatable. Although preferring warm conditions it ….. Click here for the full article on the Beurre Bosc pear tree.

CONCORDE

POLLINATION: Self-fertile but does even better with a suitable pollination partner (see main article for pollination partners)

TASTE AND TEXTURE: A full pear flavour and aroma. The texture is smooth with a slight crispness. Lots of juice. Overall excellent.

REGULARITY OF CROPPING: Regular, good crop.

SPECIAL FEATURES: One of the few recently bred pear trees that are available commercially. Easy to grow, tolerant of soil conditions, ideal for the beginner. Produces fruit early in its life.

This relatively new variety takes much of the excellent taste characteristics of Doyenne Du Comice and combines them with the regular and vigorous cropping features of Conference. Although classified as self-fertile there is no doubt that Concorde benefits greatly from a suitable nearby pollinating partner ….. Click here for the full article on the Concorde pear tree.

CONFERENCE

POLLINATION: Self-fertile but does even better with a suitable pollination (see main article for pollination partners)

TASTE AND TEXTURE: Sweet and soft when ripe.

REGULARITY OF CROPPING: Regular and crops well.

SPECIAL FEATURES: An excellent all-rounder for growing in the UK. Will produce a crop on its own.

It is the most widely grown pear tree variety in the UK because of its cropping reliability, good disease resistance and self-fertility. Taste and texture are also good. ….. Click here for the full article on the Conference pear tree.

DOYENNE DU COMICE

POLLINATION: Self sterile (see main article for pollination partners)

TASTE AND TEXTURE: Sweet, deep pear flavour, soft and melting texture

REGULARITY OF CROPPING: Good

SPECIAL FEATURES: Top quality taste and texture.

If you want a slice of pear tree history but at the same time want top quality eating pears then Doyenne du Comice should be top on your list. It is a typical French style pear with fruits that almost melt in your mouth. The flavour is everything you could want from a pear, sweet but full of real fruit flavour ….. Click here for the full article on the Doyenne du Comice pear tree.

GORHAM

POLLINATION: Partially self-fertile (see main article for pollination partners)

TASTE AND TEXTURE: Sweet juicy and smooth texture

REGULARITY OF CROPPING: Regular with good crops

SPECIAL FEATURES: As good as Williams Bon Chretien but with better disease resistance.

A highly under-rated variety of pear, Gorham is, in reality, an “improved” version of the Williams / Bartlett pear. The flavour of the two varieties is almost indistinguishable but what makes Gorham stand out is its high resistance to scab. It also has good resistance to mildew ….. Click here for the full article on the Gorham pear tree.

PERRY PEAR TREES

Perry pear trees are growing in popularity as more and more people brew their own alcoholic drinks. It’s far easier and quicker to make pear cider (more correctly known as Perry) than wine. Perry is simple the juice of pears turned into an alcoholic drink in a similar way as cider. To recommend one pear tree for this purpose is almost impossible because they do ….. Click here for the full article dedicated to popular Perry pear tree varieties available in the UK.

WILLIAMS BON CHRETIEN

POLLINATION: Self-fertile but does even better with a suitable pollination partner (see main article for pollination partners)

TASTE AND TEXTURE: Sweet juicy and smooth texture

REGULARITY OF CROPPING: Regular with good crops

SPECIAL FEATURES: An excellent all-rounder for eating and cooking.

The taste of Williams Bon Chretien pears is, overall, sweet but there is a background hint of acidity. There is a slight musk element in the aroma. The flesh is juicy and soft when ripe. One benefit of Williams pears is that they cook very well. The majority of the world production of tinned pears are of the Williams variety. ….. Click here for the full article on the Williams Bon Chretien pear tree.

WINTER NELIS

POLLINATION: self-sterile (see main article for pollination partners)

TASTE AND TEXTURE: Sweet and juicy with fine texture.

REGULARITY OF CROPPING: Good regularity.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Excellent storage properties, can be eaten well into January

Winter Nelis, when grown in the UK, is the best of the winter pears overall. When picked in October it has the ability to be stored into January. Because the weather has started to turn cooler in October no special storage facilities are required other than a garage or shed. ….. Click here for the full article on the Winter Nelis pear tree.

TOP THREE PEAR VARIETIES FOR THE UK

We have selected the three varieties of pear tree below not only because they are excellent in their own right but they will also be excellent pollination partners and produce pears over a relatively long period of time.

Our choice for early pears would be Beth, then mid-season would be Concorde and finally for later in the season Winter Nelis. These three varieties should provide you with eating pears over a two month period and if you store Winter Nelis correctly you may well extend that by a month or more.

MORE PAGES ABOUT GROWING PEAR TREES:

HOW TO GROW PEAR TREES

PEAR TREE BUYING PRICE COMPARISON

TOP TEN PEAR TREE VARIETIES IN THE UK

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PEAR TREE

PEAR PEST AND DISEASE

HOW TO PRUNE YOUR PEAR TREE

COMMENTS / QUESTIONS LEFT BY OUR READERS

Date: 24 July 2019

From: David

QUESTION: I have a 40 foot south facing wall and would like grow espalier pears. Your top 3 varieties seem to be unsuitable for espalier cultivation. Can you recommend varieties that can be grown as espaliers?

ANSWER: The article I wrote on 10 recommended varieties of pear trees lists them in alphabetic order not in list of being the best. Maybe I have listed the top three elsewhere but I can’t see that.

Two well established favourites which are fine for espalier growth are Concorde and Conference. Conference is fully self-fertile and Concorde is partially to nearly self fertile. Conference produces a crop slightly later than Concorde so this would spread the cropping season if both were planted.

I would go for a mix of Conference and Concorde.

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Kings Seeds	£2.55 for 50 seeds —-5.1p per seed
Dobies	£2.99 for 50 seeds —- 6p per seed
Marshalls	£2.79 for 40 seeds —- 6.8p per seed
Nicky’s Nursery	£2.15 for 30 seeds —- 7.2p per seed
Mr. Fothergills	£3.55 for 40 seeds —- 8.9p per seed
Moles Seeds	£4.90 for 50 seeds —- 10p per seed
Thompson & Morgan	£3.69 for 35 seeds —- 10.5p per seed

Nicky’s Nursery	£2.65 for 30 seeds —- 8.8p per seed
Simply Seeds	£1.99 for 20 seeds —- 10p per seed
Suttons	£4.99 for 35 seeds —- 14.25p per seed
Dobies	£3.79 for 25 seeds —- 15.15p per seed
Kings Seeds	£3.10 for 20 seeds —-15.5p per seed
D. T. Brown	£3.29 for 20 seeds —- 16.4p per seed
Mr. Fothergills	£3.45 for 20 seeds —- 17.25p per seed
Thompson & Morgan	£3.99 for 20 seeds —- 20.0p per seed
Moles Seeds	£5.10 for 25 seeds —- 20.4p per seed
Marshalls	£3.29 for 15 seeds —- 21.9p per seed

Simply Seeds	£1,29 for 20 seeds —- 6.45p per seed
Mr. Fothergills	£3.80 for 40 seeds —- 9.5p per seed
D.T. Brown	£3.89 for 40 seeds —- 9.72p per seed/a
Dobies	£2.99 for 30 seeds —- 10p per seed
Kings	£3.05 for 30 seeds —- 10.2p per seed
Unwins	£2.99 for 15 seeds —- 20p per seed

D. T. Brown	£2.39 for 60 seeds —- 3.98p per seed
Moles Seeds	£5.25 for 50 seeds —- 10.5p per seed

Self-sterile	Eating
Pollination Group 3 to 4	Good disease resistance
Harvest: Mid season	Taste: Sweet
SUMMARY: Medium sized, very dark red fruits with small stones. Good disease resistance (especially to canker). More information …