With 3 climatic zones and over a million plants, Eden never fails to provide anything less than a jaw-dropping horticultural extravaganza.

 

September

If you're into growing your own, September heralds the start of one of the best seasons to visit Eden. With an abundance of produce ripening in the late summer sun, our Global Gardeners exhibit is looking particularly good. Pay a visit to the allotments where you'll find a whole host of plants from courgettes, herbs and onions to more unusual edibles like sweet potato, scorzonera and amaranth. Even more palatable plants can be found in the Mediterranean Biome, including stone and citrus fruit and watermelons. Come and take a look!

 

What? Watermelon

Where? Mediterranean Biome

Watermelons have their origins in the desert where they provided a source of water for thirsty travelers. Traders sold the seeds in cities along ancient trade routes and they spread around the Mediterranean, finding their way into Spain with the Moors in the 10th century.

What? Sweet Potato

Where? Global Gardeners Allotments

Outside in the Global Gardener exhibit we grow two types of sweet potato, the tropical varieties, (Jewel, Gold Rush, Chin Mi) and the temperate variety T65. The temperate varieties are better suited to the UK climate and will provide a successful outdoor crop throughout the UK. Propagated from cuttings or 'slips' they require a long growing season of approximately 150 days to produce a good crop and growing under protection improve their chances of success.

What? Three Sisters planting method

Where? Global Gardeners Allotments

A traditional Native American method of companion planting Maize, Squash and Climbing Bean together to produce all three of their main agrivultural crops from one area. The maize gives support to the bean, the bean provides nitrogen for the soil and the squash provide a living mulch to keep down weeds. Once harvested, the three together provide a good nutritionally balanced diet.

Autumn gallery