Several years ago Thompson & Morgan caused a sensation when they launched their dual cropping Tomtato plant that produced both tomatoes and potatoes. Now they have done it again, this time with Egg & Chips, a quirky potato and aubergine graft.
Thompson & Morgan new product development manager, Michael Perry says:" As long as you have room for a large patio pot, you have the space to grow your own potatoes and aubergines or potatoes and tomatoes. These plants really capture the imagination of children. Grow Egg & Chips with your kids or grandkids this summer and see their amazement as they harvest large shiny aubergines from the top and a crop of large white potatoes from the pot below.”
Egg and Chips can be grown outside in a sunny sheltered spot and will crop right through to the first frosts of autumn – even longer if you can bring the container indoors later in the season. It costs £14.99 for one 9cm pot.
www.thompson-morgan.com
TOP TIP
Check hedges for nesting birds before trimming and do a similar check for hedgehogs in log grass before wielding the strimmer.
WHAT TO DO NOW
Pot up strawberry runners that have taken root and grow on in a sheltered spot.
Feed containers weekly with liquid tomato food to keep plants flowering.
Collect seed of Calendula and Nigella as it ripens, label clearly and store in a cool, dry space in an airtight tin for sowing next year.
Give Lavender a light trim as soon as it has finished flowering in order to prevent plants from developing bare, woody stems.
Remove and destroy rose leaves showing signs of black spot and clear away any that have already fallen onto the soil.
Harvest artichokes before the heads begin to turn purple.
Pinch out side shoots from tomatoes.
Camellias and magnolias start forming next year's buds this summer so keep plants well watered during dry spells.
Summer prune apple trees to ensure a good crop in future years.
Cut laurel hedges with secateurs, not trimmers, to prevent slicing through leaves which will then go on to develop brown edges.
Prune rambling roses, removing one third of the oldest stems and tying in new growth to supports.
Keep cutting sweet peas to ensure a continuous supply of flowers.
Remove flower spikes from rhubarb plants, cutting them as close to the crown as possible.
Take cuttings of fuchsias and pelargoniums, setting the prepared cuttings around the rim of small pots filled with gritty compost. Keep moist and shaded until roots form.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here