The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation which supports students studying Horticulture at UK and Ireland colleges and universities is returning to the Green Heart area of Glee 2024.
The charity, funded by the industry with the likes of Blue Diamond Garden Centres, Smart Garden Products and Westland Horticulture being amongst the many industry supporters, will use Glee as an opportunity to introduce the garden retail trade to two stunning new plants. Breeders and growers who recognise the value of the work done by the Foundation, often will give a percentage of the Royalties from new plants as their contribution to the scholarships awarded annually by the Trustees.
The new plants being introduced this year are:
Malus domestica ~ Apple Peter's Gold
A superb desert apple, late keeping variety. Consistent cropper of round golden fruit, sometimes with a pink flush. Large attractive pink to white flowers. Grafted onto MM106 semi-dwarfing rootstock so suitable for smaller gardens. The sale of each tree helps to support students studying Horticulture.
A brand new eating apple variety, with a good 'crunch', aromatic and full of flavour and juicy. A good keeper to, well into the new year without any special care. Easy to grow, easy to prune and a donation from the sale of every tree helps support students studying Horticulture. Peter Seabrook, the renowned gardening journalist and horticultural expert, was a Trustee of the Foundation and ‘found’ the original tree growing near his home. Frank P Matthews, the premier tree grower in the UK have developed the tree and bringing it to market in time for autumn sales in 2024 and also taking reserve orders for spring 2025 from retailers.
Tagetes erecta ~ Marigold Glow Up
Three stunning flower colours in the range of this new African type Marigold, bred by Indus Burpee and being distributed by Pro-Veg Seeds - gold, yellow and orange. Flowering from June until the first frosts of autumn. Grows to 40cm tall, best in full sun in containers or borders. Very weather resistant, doing well rain or shine. Early flowers are tennis ball sized and loved by pollinating insects.
A new development in large flowered Marigolds, showing much great weather tolerance than traditional varieties. Strong flower colours, healthy glossy green leaves easy to grow and a long flowering period. Extensive trials show consistent results right across Europe. Totally programable for growers, allowing precise cropping times, maximising sales potential and minimising waste.
Guests at the Foundations Summer Garden Party to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Foundation, held at Ball Horticultures trial grounds in Oxfordshire in July this year, were each treated to a pack of the young Marigold plants as a ‘thank you’ for coming. One guest recently posted on social media:
The Marigold Glow Up plants you gave me have been fantastic - I squashed them all in one pot and they have proved great companions for my tomatoes this year. The flowers seem to last for weeks - I have only had to deadhead one to date! - and they’re certainly bright and cheerful even on the dullest of days. Very many thanks. And all this from someone who would not normally plant marigolds!
Both of the Apple and the Marigold come on the back of the Foundation winning the 2023 Glee New Product Award [Plants] with Kerley & Co. bred Petunia Tumbelina ‘Nicola’. Described at the time as:
“the latest member to join the Tumbelina family, the flower type is best described as an open double, with a unique colour combination of magenta and white outer petals with deep coloured centres and shows good weather tolerance. Perfect for planting in hanging baskets and patio pots where they can tumble over the edges. Thrive in either full sun or part shade, flowering for over six months, until the first frost in November. Its compact habit yet prolific outdoor flowering makes this ‘must have’ in every summer garden. Water as required and feed regularly, weekly in the key growing season, particularly when grown in a container.”
Petunia Nicola has gone on to become a favourite with gardeners and growers this year.
Do visit Green Heart while you are at Glee, and do have a look at the work of the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation. There may be an opportunity for you and your company to get involved. It might be selling some of the plant varieties that earn the charity some money, or supporting their work in other ways. It may be that you have a member of your team who would benefit from the support of a scholarship to help them advance their own career.
