By Lyn Funnell
Avocados are full of vitamins and National Avocado Day in the UK celebrates this healthy fruit.
Apparently it originated in Mexico between 5,000 and 7,000 years ago.
We found a local nursery that sells avocado trees. They’re imported from Sicily and they all sell rapidly.
They like reasonably bright sunlight, but not direct. And temperatures must be over 5 degrees.
It’s a tropical plant and likes bright conditions, but with shading.
If it’s been grafted, it produces avocados in its 4th year. If not, it takes up to 10 years.
Emily Rae has run Plants4Presents for 20 years. Her Mum started the business. They have been in their present site since 2006. The huge old greenhouses were constructed in the 70s and there used to be a flower nursery there.
When we entered, we were greeted by a mass of colour and the most wonderful perfumes that filled the greenhouse.
I was surprised to see rows of small trees heaving with oranges and lemons.
The citrus plants are the biggest sellers and the lemons are the most popular, and the easiest to grow. They sell about 4,000 a year. They grow best in a pot and they don’t like to be waterlogged.
Keep them on a patio. The 4 Seasons lemon will go to -1 degrees. But beware of heavy frosts.
You can also buy a small lemon hybrid for a windowsill. It produces full-size lemons.
The little orange trees were beautiful, bent down with lots of little oranges.
In the Philippines they pick them green and use them like a lime.
They’re delicious in a gin and tonic, or in a Pimms.
The trees are very popular for Mother’s Day and Christmas.
Emily said they post about 500 orders a week, but 5,000 a week at Christmas.
She took us into the packing room, where you can choose from a large selection of pots for your gift, and then it’s carefully wrapped and placed in a cardboard box.
I saw a row of cowboy cactus. They look like prickly pears, but they’re ornamental and are best grown indoors in a pot as they need to be kept about 5 degrees.
Then Emily showed us a group of large and small olive trees. I didn’t realise they could grow in this country. They’re best planted in the ground in poor soil. A large tree costs £75 and a small tree costs £38. I bought a small one.
The collections of colourful plants like azaleas and oleanders were lovely.
We’ll definitely be going back to buy some more plants very soon!
Order by 3pm for NEXT DAY DELIVERY or choose your preferred delivery date on the order form.
FREE NEXT DAY DELIVERY on orders over £50 and tracked deliveries from just £6 for orders under £50
https://plants4presents.co.uk/
Plants4Presents
Fletching Glasshouses
Fletching Common
Newick
Lewes
BN8 4JJ
Please note the nursery is not currently open to the public but they hope to reintroduce open days again next year.
If you have a BT landline you can call us at a local call rate on 0845 226 8026 or on our geographic number 01825 721162
