Mr Fothergill's vegetable range

The new A-Z Flower and Vegetable Seed Catalogue 2012 from Mr Fothergill’s Direct lists more than 1300 varieties in its 132 pages – and with all of them illustrated in full colour the publication is a ‘must have’ for keen gardeners. Half of the varieties featured are available to the company’s customers only from the catalogue or its website www.mr-fothergills.co.uk. Kitchen gardeners and allotmenteers may be surprised by the strength of Mr Fothergill’s vegetable seed range, which is one of the most extensive in the UK.

The company’s joint managing director John Fothergill is keen to highlight what the company offers vegetable growers. “We scour the world to find interesting and unusual new vegetable varieties to give customers new and exciting taste experiences – this is reflected in the Vegetable Explorer range for example. A broader choice of varieties helps to gives year-round cropping or season extension – such as a range of cauliflowers harvestable every month of the year, plus a huge selection of peas and beans, and a fascinating choice of tomatoes”.

John reports the grow-your-own trend continues, with vegetable seed accounting for 60 per cent of the company’s sales. “We continue to cater for popular trends, such as organic growing, with this year’s introductions bringing to 28 the number we offer. Naturally disease-tolerant varieties are increasingly popular, with Beetroot Red Hawk F1 and Parsnip Duchess F1 new for 2012. We are also on the look-out for varieties of exotic species which perform well outside in the UK, such as Watermelon Fascino F1 and Chilli Pepper Gusto Purple F1”.

Flavour is one of the major criteria when it comes to selecting new varieties, and three brand new introductions for 2012 which reinforce this aspect are ultra-juicy Sweet Corn Mirai 160Y F1, gourmet Strawberry Delician F1 and deliciously sweet Butternut Squash Victory F1, the first two of which are also exclusive to Mr Fothergill’s.

The continuing rise in food prices and the food miles associated with produce from abroad is also encouraging more people to grow at least some of their own vegetables at home. “We therefore continue to expand our range to include a variety for as many situations as possible, such as containers, the patio, small back garden, allotment, even the flower border”, concludes John.