Blackberry, thornless evergreen

A very attractive bramble with finely divided, evergreen foliage and pretty pinky white flowers in early summer. Reliably produces large crops of black berries ripening in Aug-Sept. Fully hardy, prefers fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or part shade. Prune canes in early spring. HGT: 2m

Boysenberry - Rubus boysenberry

The exact parentage of this wonderful fruit is open to debate; it is either a cross between a blackberry, raspberry and loganberry or a cross between a loganberry and a dewberry. Legend has it that it is the latter and was first discovered and propagated by Rudolph Boysen in America. This is a truly wonderful fruit producing consistently large sweet reddish-black berries (reminiscent of an old fashioned bramble) that ripen from late June onwards. Self fertile.

Cape gooseberry - Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii

A vigorous, hardy perennial which produces a round, bright orange fruit hidden within a paper 'lantern'. Commonly known as the Cape Gooseberry they actually have a pleasant tart flavour reminiscent of lemon. Prefers well drained soil in full sun/part shade HGT: 75cm

Fig 'Adam' - Ficus carica

A french variety, this hardy fig has green to yellowish brown skinned fruit with a touch of violet. The flesh is amber to red. The foliage is dramatic with very large leaves. Legend has it that this is the fig Adam used to protect his modesty - hence the very large leaves!

Fig 'Brown Turkey' - Ficus carica

The hardiest of the figs producing fruit with reddish brown skin, red flesh and a sweet flavour ripening from late August. Keep watered during growing season and feed with a potash fertiliser once fruit start to swell. Restrict roots! Prefers fertile soil in full sun.

Fig 'Brunswick' - Ficus carica

A hardy fig producing fruit with greeny yellow skin & sweet tasting pink flesh ripening from early August. Keep watered during growing season and feed with a potash fertiliser once fruit start to swell. Restrict roots! Prefers fertile soil in full sun

Fig 'Ice Crystal' - Ficus carica

A rarely offered fig having unusual highly divided leaves somewhat resembling ice crystals. Fully hardy, this fig produces masses of small brownish-purple fruit ripening mid-season. Keep watered during growing season and feed with a potash fertiliser once fruit start to swell. Prefers fertile soil in full sun

Fig 'St John's' - Ficus carica

A semi hardy fig producing early crops of large, juicy pear shaped fruit with pale green skin & white flesh. The best for flavour! Keep watered during growing season and feed with a potash fertiliser once fruit start to swell. Restrict roots! Prefers fertile soil in full sun

Fig 'White Marseilles' - Ficus carica

A hardy fig producing fruit with light green skin & sweet green flesh ripening from early September. Keep watered during growing season and feed with a potash fertiliser once fruit start to swell. Restrict roots! Prefers fertile soil in full sun

Gooseberry - Hinnomaki Green

An outstanding dessert variety from Finland, combining superb flavour, high yields & good mildew resistance. Fruits ripen to a soft green in mid July & have a 'sweet-tart' flavour. Prefers well drained soil in full sun. Self fertile. Fully hardy.

Gooseberry - Hinnomaki Red

 An outstanding variety from Finland combing superb flavour, high yields & good mildew resistance. Fruits ripen to a dark red in mid July & have a 'sweet-tart' flavour. Can be eaten either fresh or cooked. Prefers fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Self fertile. Fully hardy

Grape 'Dusty Miller'

More correctly known as the Pinot Meunier, this grape is most important in France where, together with Chardonnay & Pinot Noir, it is one of the three grapes authorised for use in the production of champagne. Its common name derives from the covering of tiny white hairs that give it a 'dusty' appearance. Well suited to cooler climes, Dusty Miller produces a light fruity wine, best drunk young, that fleshes out champagne & adds softness & fruitiness.

Grape 'Lakemont' 

An easy & vigorous outdoor 'table' variety producing large bunches of seedless yellow oval grapes with a good Muscat flavour ripening Sept to Oct. Mildew & botrytis resistant, self-fertile. Can be grown inside or out. Prefers a well drained soil in full sun. Fully hardy.

Japanese Wineberry - Rubus phoenicolasius

A recent introduction that produces masses of highly nutritious, unbelievably sweet red fruit. The Wineberry isn't a hybrid but a fruit in its own right though it has been likened to a raspberry filling the gap nicely between summer & autumn raspberries. Prune 1/3 canes each spring.

Jostaberry - Rubus x culverwellii

A thornless hybrid of the gooseberry and blackcurrant producing large, crimson black round fruits on 1yr old wood, ripening in late summer. Keep watered during growing season and feed with a potash fertiliser once fruit start to swell. Self-fertile, V. reliable & disease resistant. Prefers fertile soil in full sun

Loganberry - Rubus x loganbaccus

Discovered in Santa Cruz by Judge Logan, (after whom it was named), the loganberry is a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry, with the fruit being longer, jucier and sharper than a raspberry. Self fertile, it fruits on new canes during Aug to Sept. Prefers fertile. humus rich soil, shelter from cold winds & in full sun/part shade.

Loquat - Eriobotrya japonica

An unusual evergreen large shrub/small tree with amazing dark green, toothed. stiff leaves up to 30cm long with pale furry undersides. The loquat bears beautifully fragrant, yellowish white flowers in late autumn which, in a good summer, are followed by clusters of golden orange, cherry-sized, edible fruit. Fully hardy, the Loquat is happy in most soils in full sun. HGT: 6m 

Pineapple Guava - Feijoa sellowiana

An evergreen shrub with pale grey bark & grey/green felted leaves. Grown as a commercial crop in New Zealand, the Feijoa produces masses of unusual crimson & white flowers with prominent crimson stamens during July, followed by delicious slightly pear-shaped fruits with a pineapple & strawberry flavour ripening in mid to late autumn. It may take 2 - 3 years to crop but in the mean time the flowers are also edible. Prefers moist but well drained soil in full sun - may need winter protection when young. HGT: 4m

Ugni fruit (Chilean guava) - Ugni molinae 'Flambeau'

Reputedly a favourite of Queen Victoria, this gorgeous little evergreen has cream, green & pink variegated foliage which can be used as a tea substitute. The Ugni produces pretty white flowers through May & June followed by edible dark red fruit with a taste of wild strawberries. (Ugni jam being a cornish favourite). Even the seeds can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute! Prefers well drained soil in full sun.