A new series for winter on where to buy your tomato seeds (UK). I hope to cover everyone; from the glossy brochure people to the photocopied sheet folk. I’ll be sitting down with a cup of tea, a catalogue and seeing what each company has to offer the tomato lover.
I’m starting with Kings Seeds, founded in 1888 and still farming from 325 acres in Essex. Colourful, clear brochure; and plenty of temptation beyond tomatoes. Vegetables, Soft Fruit and Flowers including the ‘UK’s largest range of Sweet Peas’ and a few pages of sensible, helpful garden ‘sundries’ ( for which read – strictly no meerkats).
The tomato selection numbers 35 and is divided into three categories: Outdoor types, Under cover types and Bush types. There is also one tomatillo – Verde.
Outdoor types: Ferline F1, Sweet Million F1, Ailsa Craig, Alicante, Craigella, Gardener’s Delight, Golden Sunrise, Harbinger, Marmande, Moneymaker, San Marzano, St Pierre, Stonor’s Exhibition, Tigerella and Tiny Tim.
Under cover types: Bambino F1, Shirely F1, Sungold F1, Vanessa F1, Black Russian, Britain’s Breakfast and Yellow Cocktail.
Bush types: Smadar F1, Tumbler F1, Amateur, First in the Field, Garden Pearl, Outdoor Girl, Red Alert, Roma VF, Red Robin, Sub Artic Plenty, Tumbling Tom Red and Tumbling Tom Yellow.
A few varieties are highlighted (I couldn’t find a key so I hope I’ve guessed correctly).
Star Buy (seeds represent an extra-value price per packet) Harbinger and First in the Field.
And two Exhibition tomatoes: Stonor’s Exhibition described as a classic round, red, show bench variety and Britain’s Breakfast (great name) described as lemon shaped, red fruit. Neither were in the London RHS Autumn show but I’ll keep an eye out for them at future shows to see how they fare. And Golden Sunrise (which came 2nd in the ‘medium other than red’) is highlighted as being ‘one of the best flavoured tomaotes.
The brochure has order details at the back which can be made by phone, fax, post, website and postage for seed is listed as £1.50
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
We have been doing the RHS London halls for many years selling Heritage and Heirloom seed, we were at the 2010 RHS Autumn show with our stock of seed (we stock many types of Tomato seeds) and in fact were offering all the three you mentioned above as not being available, which were the ‘Stoners Exhibition’, ‘Britains Breakfast’ and Golden Sunrise.
Hello
Thank you for getting in touch and letting us know where to find you and your seeds. I do know your stand – always very busy and buzzing at the RHS London Shows – as well as from your beautiful displays at Hampton Court. I am working my way through all the seed suppliers, as the phrase goes – in no particular order – and will be sure to make one of my Wednesday posts about Pennards – and your fantastic range of tomato seeds. For anyone wanting to getting ahead of me – here is the link’s – lots of lovely choice and descriptions.
I am trying to source a tomato CRIMEE which I found in France last year. Is there anywhere I can find the seed in the UK?
Hello.
It’s not a variety that I have come across in my scouring of catalogues or lists. Was it a dark variety – in which case I am wondering if Black Krim would be similar enough for you to try – or any of the other dark ones – like Black Prince, Black Russian, Black Seaman – all of which are Russian heritage varieties…
Good Luck and I hope you get to enjoy more delicious tomatoes this year.