• Masterpiece Green Longpod An excellent longpod variety producing long pods that contain up to 8 green beans. A very high yielding heritage variety dating from the late 1800′s with a superb flavour. Awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM).
• Aquadulce Claudia Probably the best broad bean variety for sowing in the autumn. It is hardy enough to withstand winter frosts and gives an early harvest of tasty, white seeded long pods. Another heritage variety from the 1850′s which has received the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM).
• Bunyard’s Exhibition This variety was introduced pre 1835. A longpod variety producing a large harvest of delicious flavoured white seeded beans with up to 9 beans per pod.
• The Sutton A great dwarf variety growing to just 12 inches which makes it ideal for small gardens and exposed sites. First intrduced in 1923 The Sutton can be sown in late autumn, under cloches, and gives a good yield of 6 inch pods containing 5 tasty beans. Awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM).
• Red Epicure If you want to grow a broad bean that is a bit different then try this variety. The pods contain up to 5 crimson red beans which aswell as tasting lovely add a vibrant splash of colour to the dinner plate (when steamed). Dates from 1894.
• Imperial Green Longpod An excellent variety that ticks all the boxes. The plants produce a very heavy harvest with pods growing up to 15 inches in length containing 9 green beans. The taste is superb and the beans freeze well. Awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM). What more could you ask for?
• Witkiem Manita A good variety for early spring sowings with tolerance to the cold weather. It is very high yielding and fast maturing so gives an early harvest of short pods containg top quality white beans. Awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM)
• Medes A medium height, compact plant which produces an excellent, heavy crop of medium length pods containing up to 6 white tender, juicy beans. Suitable for a spring sowing and awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM).
• Optica Being a lower growing plant it is ideal for small kitchen gardens and has been awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM). It is a very heavy cropper with short pods containing 5 white beans which have a wonderful flavour. If the pods are picked young they can be eaten whole.
• Stero An extremely popular slender podded variety which sets mange-tout style pods that are so tender and sweet that they can be eaten raw or just lightly steamed. Regular picking will ensure a heavy yield and later in the season you can allow the beans to form inside the pods for harvesting in the normal way.

• Blue Lake A climbing french bean which is an heirloom variety dating from 1885 producing very high yields of straight, stringless pods that have an excellent flavour. Towards the end of the season the pods can be left to mature to produce a crop of haricot beans.
• Cobra This variety is a vigorous growing climbing french bean which will provide you with a huge harvest of long, straight and totally stringless pods. The beans are very tender and extremely tasty. Awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM).
• Kenyan Safari A dwarf french bean that is very heavy cropping producing large clusters of beans which are held well clear of the soil. The beans are the ‘filet’ type, very slender and stringless with a fabulous flavour. Awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM) it is an excellent variety to grow in containers.
• Cherokee Trail Of Tears These black beans were carried by the Cherokee Indians when they were displaced from their lands in 1838. Thousands died on the march hence the name Trail Of Tears. It is a very prolific climbing french bean with purple pods containing black beans. The pods can be eaten fresh and the beans can be dried.
• Purple Teepee Another excellent dwarf french bean variety that is suitable for growing in containers. The quick maturing pods are purple, pencil thin and stringless. They are carried above the foliage of the bean plant making harvesting easy. Unfortunately the wonderful purple pods turn green when cooked but still have a superb taste.
• Kingstone Gold A beautiful yellow podded climbing french bean. The plants grow to 6 foot tall and easly set beans which are tender and full of flavour. Awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM) the golden yellow pods make a striking addition to any vegetable garden.
• Cosse Violette (Purple Podded) An heirloom climbing french bean variety which dates from 1868. It is a very early maturing variety with beautiful deep purple flowers. A very vigorous variety and high yielding with purple beans being produced in large clusters with slightly twisted, slender pods until late in the season.
• Tendergreen This is a dwarf french bean which has been grown since the early 1900′s producing meaty, fleshy, stringless beans which are tender with a delicious flavour. The pods mature early and a high yield is maintained throughout a long season. Another excellent variety for container growing.
• Blauhilde A colourful purple podded climbing french bean which produces extremely long, fleshy, stringless pods up to 11 inches in length over a long season with an excellent flavour. Resistant to Common Bean Mosaic Virus.
• Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco An Italian variety of climbing bean originally grown in the early 1800′s producing large fabulously coloured pods and beans which are heavily streaked with red. A vigorous climber the stringless pods can be harvested young and eaten whole or allowed to mature to shell for borlotti beans.

These unusual varieties are often called “Ugly Tomatoes” but they really are not, they are how tomatoes used to be before people began breeding tomatoes to create the “perfect” tomato that everyone grows and loves.

The look and flavour of many of these tomatoes is fantastic. One excellent variety is a black tomato called Black Cherry which is very unusual and another fabulous tasting variety with a great name is called Bloody Butcher which produces an excellent crop of good sized tomatoes.

Many of the more unusual tomato varieties taste so much better than the average varieties that people like to grow. I am sure that once you have grown these unusual tomato varieties that you will never go back to the regular commercial varieties again.

Unusual varieties generally are heirloom varieties meaning that they are old open pollinating varieties. Many of these heirloom varieties are becoming very rare, in-fact some of the best varieties are no longer available as the seeds are so scarce.

Unusual tomato varieties are always fascinating to grow and you really should try to grow a few of these varieties every year.

• First In The Field is a heirloom variety from the early 20th century. It is a determinate (bush) tomato variety and is extremely good for growing outdoors, with a vigorous habit, producing a good harvest of very well flavoured red fruits.
• Bloody Butcher is another heirloom variety and although best grown under glass will grow outdoors in warm areas. Bloody Butcher is a very early and very productive indeterminate (cordon) variety producing excellent flavoured fruits.
• Pink Brandywine dates from the 1880′s. It is a indeterminate (cordon), potato leaf variety which can be grown outdoors. It produces late season pink beefsteak type tomatoes with slightly green shoulders. These can easily grow to over one pound in weight, meaty, with a superb rich flavour and are excellent thickly sliced and fried.
• Inca F1 is a determinate (bush) plum variety. It grows outdoors and produces a heavy crop of firm, meaty, plum tomatoes with an excellent flavour. A good variety for roasting and making sauces with.
• Ferline F1 This is an indeterminate (cordon) variety that is a recent introduction. It is tomato blight resistant and also resistant to both fusarium wilt and verticillium wilt. Ferline can be grown outdoors and produces heavy crops of fabulous, tasty tomatoes right up to the first frosts.
• Costoluto Fiorentino An open pollinated Italian tomato variety producing a large crop of huge, ribbed, delicious tasting tomatoes that can be used in cooking and sliced fresh. Awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM).
• Black Cherry is the only truly black tomato available. The flavour of these tomatoes is quite complex, sweet yet rich and they certainly add a bit of colour to your meals.
• Tiny Tim is a small bush variety that is ideal for planning in containers, window boxes or in hanging baskets. The small cherry tomatoes are bright red, almost seedless and taste great!
• Golden Sunrise is a golden yellow variety which is well known for it distinct taste. It is the greatest yellow tomato ever!!
• Green Zebra is yet another fantastic tomato to grow, they are sweet yet with a sweet sing taste. These plants can become quite large but they will be filled with golf ball sized tomatoes perfect for summer salads.

Connovers Colossal

This variety has received the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) as it is an outstanding variety. It is open pollinated, with both male and female plants, slightly bigger purple tipped spears and produces a huge yield for a non hybrid variety.

Pacific Purple F1

A variety from New Zealand producing heavy yields of purple spears which are high in antioxidants, tender, sweet and delicious eaten raw.

Gijnlim F1

This male dominant F1 hybrid produces heavy crops on sandy or clay soils early to mid season. High resistance to rust. Awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM).

Jersey Giant F1

An American male dominant F1 hybrid variety. It has superb flavour with thick straight spears.

Eros F1

This variety originates from Italy and is an F1 hybrid producing large green purple tipped spears. This will grow well in heavier clay soil aswell as sandy soils.

Jersey Knight F1

All male hybrid variety produces thick, tender, tasty spears. Slightly later than Jersey Giant so extends the season. Highly tolerant to Fusarium, Crown and Root Rot.

Martha Washington

An old American favourite. An open pollinated variety, strong growing and producing long thick spears. Resistant to rust.

Guelph Millennium F1

This all male variety from Canada has superb winter / cold tolerance. It is well suited to growing in Northern parts of the UK and is good even in poorer soils.

Backlim F1

All male F1 hybrid. Produces good yields of thick spears with well closed tips mid to late season. High resistance to rust. Awarded the RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM).

Thielim F1

This all male hybrid is a recent introduction. It is early to crop with a good yield and is less susceptible to Botrytis.