D.T.Brown - Rhubarb Livingstone

OK not quite in my seed box but ordered for the plot 1 allotment in 2021. The growth during the first year was astounding although due to the weather some stalks did go to seed and had to be chopped off. 

By 2022 all three of the plants were in their own beds, when I received the plants, I only had two beds ready, and the third plant was squatting in Rhubarb Bed 1 for a while until I managed to get the third rhubarb bed ready. One does not take any stalks in the first year of growth and the goodness goes back into the plant and helps it establish.  

In 2022 I took about 40% of the stalks late in the season from two of the three plants and have made a number of Rhubarb crumbles, and I have to say I didn't have to add much sugar, as Rhubarb Livingstone is succulent and delicious and well worth the waiting until the second year before harvesting.  

In 2023 without the need of forcing one of the 3 plants to provide an early harvest, I had lots of Rhubarb between March and October. With my wife passing away in January 2023 I don't need as much Rhubarb now, so in 2024 I donated one of my Rhubarb plants to a plot neighbour.  

He didn't take it all and the blessed plant just bounced back in 2025 and I have harvested all three plants hard. 

Below is the technical and sales blurb from the D.T.Brown Rhubarb Livingstone web page that has now been removed as they no longer sell this variety. In 2024 the cost for 3 x 9cm potted plants was £19.90 a saving of £9.95 if you are looking to add Rhubarb to your allotment plot or garden, I can wholeheartedly recommend Rhubarb Livingstone, doing a google search I have found various sources for it.  

Do you enjoy those bright red stems in early summer, but wish the season for sweet, young rhubarb could be longer?  If so, you will want to grow Livingstone which produces its succulent, delicious, stringless sticks from March to October. This outstanding, British-bred strain was achieved by eliminating the summer dormancy which causes rhubarb to stop cropping by the middle of summer. By the way, this breakthrough came about by conventional means and not by any form of genetic modification.

Livingstone really does yield a fine crop of high quality, red-skinned stems through the autumn months, extending the season for this much-loved fruit (well, vegetable actually!).

The disease-free plants will crop heavily once established.  Whether your favourite is rhubarb crumble, rhubarb pie or simply stewed and served with compulsory custard, Livingstone is the variety we have been waiting for.  Supplied in 9cm pots.

'Livingstone' is a compact variety to about 50cm with bright red stems. Unlike other rhubarb varieties, it does not have a dormant period in summer. The main cropping period is early to late autumn, though it can be cropped in summer if required

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Sow Indoors

 

Sow / Plant Outdoors

 

Flowers / Harvest

 

How to grow

CultivationPlant crowns in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, from late autumn to early spring. Crowns can be cropped for ten or more years, though division may be necessary after about five years. Mulch in spring with a 7cm layer of well-rotted organic matter without burying the crowns, and apply a general fertiliser at 70g/sq m in spring or summer. Water during prolonged dry periods in summer. See rhubarb cultivation

PropagationLift crowns between autumn and early spring (usually in November). Use a spade to divide the crown into sections each retaining a portion of the rhizome (thickened root) and at least one growing point. Sections from the outer part are better than the centres of old plants. Discard any old or decayed parts of the crown. Replant straight away or wrap in damp sacking until ready to plant

Suggested planting locations and garden typesLow Maintenance Patio & Container Plants

How to care

PruningAllow the foliage to die back naturally in winter then cut away the old leaves to expose the growing points to winter cold

PestsAphids, slugs and snails may be problematic

DiseasesHoney fungus and a virus may be troublesome

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

Raspberries On The Plot

 

Not in my seed box, but on my allotment 

In 2021 I ordered the D.T.Brown - Long Cropping Raspberry Collection that consists of 6 canes each of the following three varieties from left to right Malling Juno (early) far left, Tulameen Pearl (mid) 2nd from left, Polka (late) 4th from left came in March of 2021

Autumn Treasure (late) 3rd from the left was sent in error instead of Polka, and once I notified D.T.Brown they sent out the Polka so I ended up with four beds of Raspberries. 

Malling Juno (early) - Tasting the first raspberries of the season is always a treat and Malling Juno is one of the best on the market. The medium to large berries has a firm texture and a deliciously sweet flavour - just perfect for eating fresh. 

The spine-free canes are leafy, easy to handle and prune and, the fruits are well presented, so picking is easy too! Cropping from early to late June (even earlier if grown under cover), plants are known to have excellent disease resistance as well. Bred by East Malling Research.

Very few Raspberries in the first year (2021), but such growth once they got going, a super yield in the spring of their second year (2022), third year the harvest's just went on and on. 

The paths either side of the bed required clearing of new canes that come up despite the timber edging to the paths. This was not a problem as they were offered to new plot holders on the site.

I also obtained some yellow All Gold from a plot neighbour and these now live in the boundary bed that was built in early 2023.   

Tulameen Pearl (mid) - Tulameen Pearl is far superior to the popular Tulameen which D.T Brown have sold in the past. D.T.Brown thinks this vigorous new strain is a real find and that customers will agree it’s a winner, which I have to agree with. It has a high yield with berries which are larger and brighter, and the fruit is firmer so keeps better once picked, not that they ever last long with my family.

Not a great yield in the first year (2021) which is to be expected, but a good number of additional canes in the first year and a significant increase in yield in its second year (2022). I'm looking forward to seeing what 2023 will bring as the quantity of canes increase.  

Polka (late) - A multi-award winner at the National Fruit Show, Polka has exceptional fruit quality, and the large/ medium red berries are full of fragrant zesty flavour. Bred in Poland with Autumn Bliss as one of its parents, the virtually spine-free raspberry canes will yield double the crop of Autumn Bliss and Polka crops up to 2 weeks earlier, from late July to October. Polka even grows well on less desirable soils. 

 

Autumn Treasure (late) - Bred at the world-renowned East Malling Research centre, is set to be the benchmark for home gardeners. This quality primocane has a high disease resistance to root rot, wilt and powdery mildew, and crops well even on poorer ground. It gives an exceptional yield of very attractive, large, firm berries from August to October and the fruit stands wet weather very well. The flavour is very good indeed - not as acid as Autumn Bliss. Spine free canes.

I'm very impressed with the quantity of Raspberries that this variety gave in its first year (2021) and the number of additional canes they have grown and produced fruit in 2022 was staggering and in 2023 the amount of canes and fruits were off the chart. 

There were also those particular raspberries that were not in a condition to be taken home and that had to be consumed as I was harvesting.

It was indeed a very lucky accident that Autumn Treasure were sent in error, and I would highly recommend this variety of Raspberry.

All photos above are from 2021. In 2024 I need to build better cages to hold the raspberries in place so the paths remain open. 

In 2023 I was given All Gold Raspberry canes that I've placed in the Boundary beds on the main Path 

All Gold Raspberry is an outstanding autumn-fruiting raspberry, producing large, golden yellow fruits, with a taste that is even more exquisite than its red-fruited sisters! An excellent raspberry for fresh use and freezing and also for garnishes and wine-making!

These heavenly, sweet fruits can be harvested from late August until mid October, , ideal for smaller gardens where they can be grown in a large container

Digging up Yellow Raspberries that are escaping from my plot neighbours raspberry area. Michelle told me anything that is growing between the two timber post I'm welcome too as she has to dig them up and manage the area anyway and If I do a little weeding along the way she will not complain.

So dug up they were, roots trimmed and then put in a bucket of water to have a nice drink whilst I collected more of their brothers and sisters.

Height: 150cm (59"). Spread: 50cm (20")

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Potatoes

 

Most companies historically dispatch & delivered around the end of January/ start of March. I have all the insulated chitting boxes made a couple of years ago ready to rock and roll. 

In the past I have been very lucky in that seed companies have supplied me with new varieties to trial and blog about and then I have topped up with some of my standard go too varieties.  

In 2026 I didn't see any new varieties to ask to trial so I've visited my local Blue Diamond Garden Centre and bought 2kg sacks. I will be searching the catalogues to see if I can find any new varieties to trial in 2027

 First Early  - Sharp's Express - Taylors 

First Early / Salad Potato - Pentland Javellin - Taylors

Second Early - Charlotte - Taylors 

 Main Crop - Desiree - Taylors

There are three main types of potato to grow, named according to when you plant and harvest them.

First early or ‘new’ potatoes are the earliest to crop, in June and July. They don't store for long so are best eaten fresh.

Second earlies (also called ‘new’ potatoes) take a few more weeks to mature and are harvested in July and August. These also don't store for long, so are best eaten fresh. Salad potatoes have a firm, waxy texture and many have an intense, nutty flavour. They are usually first earlies or second earlies.

Maincrop potatoes take the longest to mature and are harvested from August to October. They are suitable for baking, roasting and mashing, and can be stored for a few months.

First early potatoes

First early or 'new' potatoes are so-called because they are the earliest to crop, in June. They take 10-12 weeks to mature. Plant 30cm apart, with 60cm between rows, around 12cm deep.

Plant: March (with frost protection)
Harvest: June and July
Recommended varieties: 'Arron Pilot', 'Red Duke of York', 'Lady Christl', 'Orla' and 'Rocket'.

Second early potatoes

Second early potatoes take 14-16 weeks to mature. As with first earlies, plant them 30cm apart, in rows 60cm apart, 12cm deep.

Plant: March (with frost protection)
Harvest: July and August
Recommended varieties: 'Charlotte', 'Maris Peer', 'Ratte'

Maincrop potatoes

Maincrops take 16-22 weeks to mature. Plant 40cm deep, in rows 75cm apart, at a depth of 12cm.

Plant: mid to late April
Harvest: August to October
Recommended varieties: 'Pink Fir Apple', 'Desiree', 'Cara', 'Helidi Red', 'Maris Piper', 'King Edward', 'Sarpo Mira'

Salad potatoes

Salad potatoes share a firm, waxy texture and many have an intense, nutty flavour, perfect with a knob of melted butter or cold in a potato salad. They are usually first earlies or second earlies.

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

In My Seed Box for 2027 - Peppers

 

In 2022 peppers were started off in a portable grow station in doors in February, moved out to the external grow house in March and finally into the space saver and allotment greenhouses on the allotment. 

I haven't really grown peppers since then. Pepper seeds last 3 - 6 years when stored in ideal conditions, and at the moment I only have one pack that is viable, so I will keep a look out for more for 2027, as I would like to have a bash at them again.  

Review Of Seed Stocks in Packets

Sweet Paragon                    - 10 Seeds - D.T.Brown - Sow By 2025 

Alphabetical Listing of seeds I have grown previously 

                                                  Sowing          Sowing         Plant                Harvest
                                                  Indoors          Outdoors     Out

Chilli Lancer                              Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct
Chilli Machu Pichu                    Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct
Chilli Moruga Red                     Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct
Hot Red                                    Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct
Sweet Boneta                                               Late Mar - April                         Jul - Frost

Sweet California Wonder          Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct
Sweet Lemon Dream                Feb - April                          50mm tall            Jul - Oct
Sweet Lunchbox Mix                 Feb - April                          50mm tall            Jul - Oct

Sweet Mixed                             Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct

Sweet Paragon                         Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct

Sweet Summer Salad Mix        Mar - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct

Sweet Tangerine Dream           Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct

Germination 7 - 14 days 

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

10% Off All Root Trainers - Oakland Gardens

 

In My Seed Box for 2027 - Onions From Seed

  

I have grown Onions from seeds in the past and was quite successful but for the last few years I have been using sets. I did have problems with white rot on Mill Green Plot 1A and I tried growing on my old plot on Spencer Road and still had white rot problems. 

I think the art is to watch and harvest as soon as one sees the signs of white rot and of course rotate the crops on the plot. I have an additional half plot, I have decided that it's once again time to try growing Onions from seeds. 

In the beds where I have seen some white rot in 2022, I have grown Calient Mustard that's a great organic means of creating a soil environment that's uninviting to the disease. I had a great crop of over 300 onions in 2023 and not so many in 2024, and much less in 2025 due to limited space as I transition from ground level to raised beds.  

Onion seeds only last 2 - 4 years if kept properly, so I have ditched any seeds with a sow by date before 2024, as normally there is only a 2 year allowance by seed companies, and not all seed companies publish the saved end of date on the back of the packets . 

Review of Seed Stock in Packets with sow by Dec 2024

Welsh Onion                    - 250 Seeds - D.T.Brown  -  £2.19 

Review of Seed Stock in Packets with sow by Dec 2025

Onion Galacticus Seeds  - 100 Seeds - Dobies - £3.49

Redlander F1                   - 150 seeds - No Longer Listed -  D.T.Brown 

Review of Seed Stock in Packets with sow by Dec 2026

Redrover F1                     - 150 seeds - £2.99 - Suttons 

Germination  10 - 14 Days

Alphabetical Listing of Onions I have grown in the past 

                                          Sowing           Sowing       Planting          Harvesting
                                          Indoors          Outdoors       Out     

Ailsa Craig                         Dec - Mar                                                Aug - Sept
Bedfordshire Champions                       Mar - Apr                             Aug - Sept
Ciboule Red Dragon                              Mar - Apr                             Aug - Nov
Fasto                                 Jan- Mar       Mar - Apr         April            August - September     
Giant Zittau                                            Mar - May                           July - Sept 
Hylander F1                      Jan - Apr                                                 July - Aug
Red Baron (T&M)                                   Mar - Apr                            Aug - Sept
Red Baron (Fothergill's)    Jan- Mar       Mar - Apr          May           August - September
Senshyu Yellow

Welsh Onion                      Feb - Apr      Mar - Sept                         March - Oct Once Established

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Onion Sets

 

In the UK, onion sets are small, immature onion bulbs, grown from seed the previous year and harvested early to be planted out in autumn or spring for a quicker and more reliable crop than starting from seed. They offer a convenient way to grow onions, especially for novice gardeners, and provide an earlier harvest, though there is a smaller variety selection compared to seeds and they are typically more expensive.  

How they are made and why they are used

• Crowded growth: Onion seeds are sown densely, leading to small, undeveloped bulbs.
• Harvested early: These tiny bulbs are harvested before they reach full size. 
• Ready to plant: Unlike seeds, they are already at a more advanced stage of growth, making them quicker and more reliable to sprout. 

Advantages of using onion sets

• Ease of growth:

  Onion sets are an easy and fast way to get a harvest of onions, ideal for beginners. 
• Earlier harvest:

  Planting sets can lead to an earlier harvest compared to growing from seed. 
• Heat treatment:

  Many sets are heat-treated to prevent them from bolting (producing a flower instead of a bulb), which is a common issue when growing from sets. 

Things to consider

• Cost: Onion sets are generally more expensive than onion seeds.
• Variety: The range of onion set varieties is much smaller compared to the vast selection available as seeds. 
• Bolting risk: Sets are more prone to bolting than seeds, though heat-treated varieties significantly reduce this risk. 

The red onion sets I ordered came last week and were planted into part of Bed 1 and into bed 3 l normally grow a selection of colours in late spring but for now thats what I'm over wintering 

Varieties of onion sets I have grown in the recent past include:-

 

Karmen from Mr Fothergill's. 

Pink Panther from Mr Fothergills 

Snowball from Mr Fothergills 

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

Jobs On The Plot for October

 

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Spring Onions

 

In previous years I have done really well with Spring onions, I used to have two or three with my sandwich most lunchtimes, when my wife was alive. Something that stopped during my cancer treatment in late 2023 and thereafter. A note has been added to my Sowing & Planting Plan for 2027 so I can get Spring Onions going a month earlier than previous years.

The life expectancy of Onion seeds is 2 - 4 years, and most suppliers have a two year gap between packed and sow by date.  

Sow By 2026 

Ishikura (bunching)                 - 375 Seeds - £1.00*       - Wilko - Sow By 2026

Ishikura (bunching)                 - 375 Seeds - £1.00*       - Wilko - Sow By 2026

Ramrod                                   - 250 Seeds - £1.00*       - wilko - Sow By 2026

Ramrod                                   - 250 Seeds - £1.00*       - wilko - Sow By 2026

* Purchased in the Wilko 50% 0ff sale 

Alphabetical Listing of Varieties historically grown 

                                                Sowing            Harvest

Arrow                                     Mar - Apr          Aug - Nov
Feast F                                  Mar - Jul          Jun - Onwards ( Winter hardy) 
Gerda                                    Mar - Jun          May-Dec - Marshalls

Ishikura                                  Mar - May        Jun - Sep - Thompson & Morgan

Ishikura                                  Mar - Jul          May - Oct - Mr Fothergill's

Ishikura                                  Feb* - Jun         12 Weeks after Sowing - Kings Seeds

Lilia                                        Apr - Jul            Jun - Oct

Long White Ishikura               Mar - Jul           May - Oct - Johnsons
North Holland Blood Red       Feb - Jul           Apr - Oct
Pompeii                                  Mar - Jul          Jun - Oct
Purplette                        Mar - Jul          Jun - Oct

Ramrod                                  Mar - Jun          May - Oct - wilco

White Lisbon (Winter Hardy)  Mar - Sep         Mar - Nov - wilco 
White Lisbon                          Mar - Sep         May - Oct - Thompson & Morgan
White Lisbon                          Mar - Jul           May - Oct - Mr Fothergill's

White Star                              Mar - Aug                  - Dobies

White Star                              Sept to overwinter 

* Under Glass 

Sowing Plan for 2027

From 2027 a return to growing in vending machine cups in tray modules and transplanted into the onion beds plant membrane for the new sized raised beds 

Looking at the back of the seed packets, yes I do read them! What I find interesting is the different guidance provided by different seed companies for the same variety of plant. for example, looking at Ishikura Spring Onions from Wilko, Thompson & Morgan & Mr Fothergill

Sowing Outdoors

Mar - May ~ Thompson & Morgan
Mar - Jun ~ Wilko
Mar - July ~ Mr Fothergills

Frequency of Sowing

Wilko &  Mr Fothergills both suggest every 2 - 3 weeks for a continuous supply throughout the summer, interestingly Thompson & Morgan advice is that "The long harvest period means one sowing lasts the whole season!" which is kind of mad as there harvest period is shorter than both Wilko & Mr Fothergills ! Thompson & Morgan also states "Can be harvested pencil-thin or thinner, or left to mature to carrot size" although they don't state what kind of carrot.  

Thinning

Wilko & Mr Fothergills both suggest no thinning is required whereas Thompson & Morgan state it is!

Harvesting

May - Oct ~ Wilko
Jun -  Sep ~ Thompson & Morgan
May - Oct ~ Mr Fothergills

Germination 

Wilko &  Mr Fothergills both state 14 - 21 days and Thompson & Morgan provides no information on germination, I have seen this missing on quite a lot of their packs and it's something I'm and I guess most other gardeners are actually quite interested in.

I know that like Structural Engineers, if you get four or five gardeners together and ask them a question you are likely to get three different answers but until I see what other suppliers of Ishikura Spring Onions have to say, I think I will ignore T&M and go with the guidance from Wilko & Mr Fothergill.

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index