Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ruby Tuesday' (MAGICAL RUBY TUESDAY) by De Jong Plant BV from Boskoop has won the title of Best New Plant at Plantarium 2015. MAGICAL RUBY TUESDAY is a striking, compact and above all robust plant with sturdy flowers in a distinctive and highly appealing colour, according to the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society jury.

Eight gold medals

As well as the best new plant, seven other plants were also awarded gold medals by the jury. The jury felt that Ceanothus impressus 'Cool Blue' by Huisman Boomkwekerij from Boskoop was unique in the range and had a fresh image. The silver variegated leaves appear quite stable and the plant offers outstanding presentation.

With regard to Coreopsis 'KA-POW Golden Yellow' by Moerheim New Plant/Meilland Nederland from Leimuiderbrug, the jury had the following to say: “Outstandingly well-presented plants; striking large flowers in a fresh, attractive colour”. The jury felt that Geranium pratense 'Midnightlyona' (MIDNIGHT GHOST) by Compass Plants BV from Hillegom was innovative as a result of the combination of dark leaves and almost white flowers, sturdy stems and good cultivation performance which allows the plants to be displayed in bloom in August.

About Hydrangea macrophylla 'Dancing Snow' (DOPPIO BIANCO) by Kwekerij Lendert de Vos BV from Reeuwijk, the jury said the following: a highly innovative combination of flower colour and shape. The jury felt that Hydrangea paniculata 'PIIHPI' (BABY LACE) by Boomkwekerij Alex Schoemaker/Plantipp BV from Boskoop/IJsselstein consists of attractive, robust and compact plants which are innovative in combination with the flower shape.

In the opinion of the jury, Nandina domestica 'Twilight' by About Plants Zundert BV/Plantipp BV from Zundert/IJsselstein consists of highly uniform and well-presented plants, with the variegated leaves forming an innovation in the Nandina range. The jury felt that Photinia serratifolia 'Oploo5' (PINK CRISPY) by Van Oploo Tuinplanten/Plantipp BV from Bavel/IJsselstein stands out as a result of the attractive combination of leaf colours (young and fully grown) and stem colour.

 The jury also awarded 15 silver medals and 11 bronze medals.

 106 plants judged

The new plants were judged by an expert judging committee from the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society. In the 33rd edition of Plantarium, 127 plants were entered for the new plant awards. In the end, a total of 106 were judged. Unfortunately, various entrants were forced to withdraw their plants before the awards took place due to unforeseen circumstances.

Plantarium ran from 26 to 29 August 2015 in the Plantarium building at the International Trade Centre Boskoop-Hazerswoude. For further information, please visit www.plantarium.nl.

Oak Garden Centre at Chatteris, which featured in an episode of the TV,series The Fixer with Alex Polizzi, has been sold,  report agents Quinton Edwards.

The centre closed down in October 2013 after the TV programme was screened and was initially on the market for £545,000.

The site, almost 3.5 acres, has been sold to a private individual who plans to open a new garden centre there.

Quinton Edwards acted on behalf of the owner David White, who has retired from the garden centre industry but will continue to run his other businesses. Mr White said he was delighted with the service he received from Quinton Edwards and added: “I have been very pleased with the professional service delivered and delighted with what has been achieved in the sale of the site.”

When the business went into liquidation in 2013, White’s sons took it over but were forced to close "after the cold 2013 season.

With summer drawing to a close, garden decoration continues to lead sales volumes as garden centres head towards the quietest trading weeks of the year. Bulb sales and autumn gardening will start to kick in next week after the August Bank Holiday and then it’s the build-up to Christmas.

As with this time last year, solar lights, and solar ice orbs in particular are the No 1 Bestselling garden products. This year, even outselling Tomorite the previous perennial summer bestseller are the Poppy cast iron bird feeders from Gardman (pictured below), which we have reported on previously. We still categorise them as wild bird care lines but if they were to be included in our garden product chart this week they would have been at No 2.



Gardman says the 37 garden centres in the Choice marketing group have  sold 30,000 poppy feeder to date in an exclusive promotion designed to raise money for local British Legion branches.

The GTN Bestsellers team is on special look out for new and innovative garden decoration items at spoga+gafa this weekend, where we will be presenting awards to the winners of The Greatest Outdoor Living Retailing Awards, one of which is The Greatest Garden Decoration and Lighting Sales Team.

What are your top tips to increase Garden Decoration and Lighting sales for 2016? Will you be creating more colour themed displays to inspire and drive sales? Do let us have your ideas: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

The stand by J.G. Cammeraat vof from Boskoop (above) was selected as the best Green stand at Plantarium 2015 by the jury of the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society. The Retail Experience Shop by TPK Media & Events from Nieuwstadt (below) was awarded this title in the Suppliers category.

The jury were full of praise about the stand by J.G. Cammeraat vof: The stand has a fantastic image with clear, eye-catching presentation. There is uniformity in the labelling and the image of the stand as a whole. The products, which are displayed in various sizes, are of top quality and there is a good colour balance in the presentation of the grasses. The stand is extremely well presented and is therefore the well-deserved winner of “best stand at Plantarium 2015”, according to the jury.

Best Suppliers stand

The Retail Experience Shop, the stand by TPK Media & Events, is the best stand in the Suppliers category. The stand offers an inspirational colour experience. The total combination of products will give customers plenty of ideas! Second place went to Rovero from Raamsdonksveer. The stand clearly demonstrates their range, with equally clear explanations. Third place went to the stand by Aeroplas Europe BV from Zevenaar. On this stand, the products are presented in an appealing and homely way.

Green participants

Second prize for the Green participants went to Boomkwekerij Koningstuin from Helenaveen. The products on display are of extremely high quality with long cultivation periods, and the attractive Pinus varieties are shown to their best advantage in a relaxed presentation. Third place went to Kolster BV from Boskoop. This stand displays extremely attractive products and conveys the outdoor lifestyle in an appealing way.

Judging

The Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society (KVBC) judged the entries. All the green stands were judged according to the same criteria, namely product quality, presentation and range, with quality counting for the most points. This method allowed the stands to be judged in a fair and objective way and meant that smaller standholders were also eligible for a high score. A special jury committee judged the Suppliers stands with the following criteria in mind: total presentation, which message does the stand convey, is there an eye-catcher which attracts attention and is there a connection with the theme of Plantarium 2015?

The 33rd edition of Plantarium ran from 26 to 29 August 2015 in the Plantarium building at the International Trade Centre Boskoop-Hazerswoude. For further information, please visit www.plantarium.nl.

See The Garden Retail Experience for yourself in February 2016.

Garden Trade News, in conjunction with the HTA, are organising a trip out to The Garden Retail Experience show in Boskoop in February 2016.  If you are interested in joining us for what is guaranteed to be an inspirational and enjoyable trip, please e-mail: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

The Gardman Poppy feeders have really made an impact on wild bird care sales in the epos data supplied to GTN for Bestsellers every week.

This week’s sales volumes for the Top 50 Wild Bird Care and Wildlife products is up 29% on last year.

So how about making more of decorative wildlife products? Barton Grange had a huge success with making wild bird care part of Christmas last year, so there are some pointers that will enable you to make it all more accesible for customers.

IPM Essen, the German plant fair that has picked up increasing interest amongst UK garden centre buyers in recent years, will launch a unique new concept in 2016 to show how horticultural businesses can benefit from modern lifestyle trends.

Called ‘Hortivation’, the new event will attempt to provide point-of-sale solutions that reflect the influence of today’s communications, fashions and lifestyles in general.

The concept will get its first airing at Messe Kalkar in June next year

Celebrity chefs, fashion designers and modern urban gardeners are today’s trend-setters. ‘Hortivation by IPM ESSEN’ will look beyond the boundaries of horticulture and promises to “rethink sales promotion”:

Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen GmbH, says the aim is to bring gardeners, traders and consumers closer together. “It will present how the green sector can learn from the trends such as communication, fashion, cuisine and lifestyle and can exploit the currents directly for itself,” he said. The focus will be on marketing and so will complement the core IPM ESSEN show at the beginning of the year

The partners of the new fair are the Rhineland State Horticultural Association", the Westphalia-Lippe State Horticultural Association and the Association of the German Flower Wholesale and Import Trade.

The show promises to provide garden centres, retail businesses, discount retailers, DIY stores, the retail food trade and production horticulture with fresh ideas and selling concepts extending across different ranges, to market green products closer to the consumers’ desires. It will embrace ideas like selling regionally cultivated herbs alongside barbecues, or spotted balcony plants that harmonise perfectly with the garden apron in a polka dot design or the vegetable bed on the roof of a high-rise building where salad is planted for a company's canteen.

The exhibitors will include producers of finished goods, like flowering pot plants, green plants, vegetables, nursery plants, bushes and shrubs, palm trees and cut flowers, the wholesale flower trade, plant breeders, manufacturers of horticultural technology and garden equipment such as outdoor furniture, grills, equipment and tools, as well as retail service providers and IT specialists.

Hortivation by IPM ESSEN will run from June 13 to 15, 2016 at Messe Kalkar, in the Lower Rhine region, simultaneously with Flower Trials®.

Further information: www.hortivation.de

The Greatest Outdoor Living Categories

• The Greatest BBQ Sales Team of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Decoration and Lighting Sales Team of the Year
• The Greatest Inspiration for New Gardeners Team – Love The Plot You've Got Award
• The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Sales Team of the Year

The Greatest Garden Centre Team Awards Categories

• The Greatest Garden Care Retail Team of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Centre Customer Service Team of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Centre Training Team or Initiative of the Year, sponsored by MorePeople
• The Greatest Garden Centre Merchandising Team of the Year
• The Greatest Gardening Supplier of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Centre of the Year (Public Vote), sponsored by National Garden Gift Vouchers

As usual The Greatest Awards team of experts will be out and about meeting nominated teams, gathering information and taking photos of their work so that the Gold, Silver and Bronze Greatest Awards winners can be chosen.

Plus your team have the chance to become The Greatest Garden Centre Team of 2015 by involving your customers in the public voting later this summer.  The Greatest Garden Centre Teams, small, medium and large will be the teams that have the best relationships with their customers and generate the most votes (taking size of centre into account) and in the event of a tie, the centre with the most complimentary comments form their customers.  To take part in the public vote please e-mail trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call The Greatest Awards on 01733 775700 to request an in store voting pack.

As this issue of GTN Xtra goes to press the expert judges are meeting to decide the winners of The Greatest Outdoor Living Retail Team Awards in advance of The National Plant Show.  Make sure your Garden Care and Garden Centre teams are nominated for visits later in August and September.

The Greatest Awards would like to thank sponsors, Elho, National Garden Gift Vouchers, MorePeople and The HTA plus the event organisers at The HTA Catering Conference, National Plant Show, GIMA Awards spoga+gafa and HTA Futures for agreeing to be presentation venues for The Greatest Awards ON TOUR 2015. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available for product and service suppliers seeking to gain the highest possible exposure between now and November this year.  Please contact mandy.atkin@tgcmc.co.uk for details.

Click here to read Issue 1 of the Glee Daily News 2015:  http://gleedailynews.newsweaver.com/Gleeedailynews/xd2n5gqg7ka

There will be more preview issues of The Glee Daily News this year, plus three "Live" from the show issues, and an Omnibus issue after Glee.

REMEMBER TO COLLECT YOUR FREE GLEE SHOW CATALOGUE AT THE ENTRANCES WHEN YOU VISIT GLEE

Assistant Manager, Studley Garden Centre

This is a great time to join Studley Garden Centre, part of the Hillview Garden Centres group, as we're about to embark on an investment programme that is aimed to double the store's turnover.

We're looking for a strong individual, ideally with a garden centre background. You'll be shop floor based but required to assist with some of the site administration, budgets etc so need to be computer literate.
Most importantly you'll be a great retailer and team leader.

Send CV and covering letter to Paul Williams, GC Manager Studley Garden Centre, paul.w@studleygardencentre.co.uk

Buyer - Garden Centre Chain - South England (ref:BP7611)

Location: South East England

Salary: £36,000

Date: 26 Aug

Job Type: Full-Time

Duration: Permanent

Buyer 

The Business 

This business is an established and well known garden centre group based in the UK. The business has a reputation for quality for all aspects of their operation but are particularly well known for their excellence in horticulture. 

The Role 

• I am seeking a dynamic buyer to purchase the garden range at a garden centre group based in the south of England.
• This will cover everything from tools to chemicals and all other garden sundries.
• The role will focus on creating a unique and exciting range to cater for the loyal customer base that frequents the centres. 

The Person 

• We need someone with outstanding buying experience, preferably with market experience in garden retail.
• You must be passionate about buying and will take a real sense of pride over quality and value.
• You will be a fantastic communicator with great relationship building experience.
• You will be proficient in EPOS and Excel and will be comfortable using these tools to perform statistical analysis. 

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further contact Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Grounds Maintenace Team Leader Site Supervisor (ref:DS7626)

Location: North West England

Salary: £23,000 to £25,000

Date: 28 Aug

Job Type: Full-Time

Duration: Permanent

The Business 

Our client is a well established landscape and grounds maintenance business who carry out commercial and large domestic projects across Manchester and the surrounding county. 

The Role 

• To co-ordinate the day to day running of the contract, encompassing planning of performance and delivery of general operations and grounds maintenance to the required contract specification.
• Report to and support the Contract Manager for Operations and Maintenance
• Complete site visit audits and reports
• Complete all maintenance activities to contract schedule
• Keep all machinery and equipment breakdowns to a minimum.
• Keep accidents and other H&S incidents to a minimum by implementing good working practices, training and adhering to company H&S policies. 

Principle Accountabilities

• Contract Performance & Delivery
• Co-ordinate teams according to contract specifications and workload.
• Fulfil a working role where there is additional demand on resources and supervise grounds maintenance operations.
• To monitor work progress and performance, taking prompt action when needed and reporting any irregularities or problems directly to the Contract Manager.
• Manage client expectations in relation to completed, outstanding and additional work.
• Maintain records of all tasks completed, for example, route sheets.
• Complete general quotes for additional works as and when requested.
• Participate in any joint quality inspections as requested by client officers.

Relationships

• Establish and maintain excellent client relationships.
• Attend and act as an ambassador at client or related events.
• To be approachable and responsive to the needs of your staff and minimise conflict.
• To communicate effectively and confidently both on a one-to-one basis and in groups.
• To develop team work by effective communication and regular meetings. 

Customer/Client care

• To create a positive impression with clients, presenting a professional and proactive attitude through constant communication and acting as an ambassador for the Company
• To fully understand the company's complaints procedures
• Complete valuations, site visit audits and reports
• To understand the client's needs and initiate any feedback. 

People Management

• Manage the performance of contract staff, through regular 1:2:1's.
• To give all direct reports the opportunity to discuss their work, challenges and aspirations.
• Manage any employee relations issues, utilising support from HR, within the parameters of Company policies.
• Adhere to HR processes and procedures, ensuring matters are dealt with quickly and fairly.
• Monitor time and attendance and the collation and processing of timesheets for payroll.

Quality, Health & Safety

• To understand the law relating to Health & Safety and understand and implement the company's Health & Safety policy. Completion of Accident and Near Miss reports.
• To understand and implement risk assessments and COSSH.
• To understand and work to agreed Company procedures
• Responsibility for the security of Company buildings, vehicles, machinery and materials.
• To ensure that all members of staff behave in a professional manner: wear the correct PPE, keep vehicles and machinery clean and well maintained and that sites are kept clean and tidy at all times.
• Responsibility for keeping machinery and equipment in good working condition and reporting faults etc as per Company process. 

The Person 

• A good working knowledge of Health & Safety, its enforcement and ability to impart that knowledge on others.
• Grounds Maintenance technical knowledge and experience
• Ideally qualified to IOSH level.
• Competent computer user in particular MS Excel and Word
• Knowledge of relevant UK legislation, policy and guidance
• Full Driving Licence
• Approachable manner when dealing with clients
• Highly motivated with the ability to work without supervision
• Excellent communication skills including verbal, written and presentation
• Commitment to own personal development 

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further contact Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929013910

Horticulture Manager | North Norfolk | Destination Centre (ref:BP7586)

Location: Norfolk

Salary: £21,000 to £25,000

Date: 11 Aug

Job Type: Full-Time

Duration: Permanent

Horticulture Manager 

The Business 

My client is a large garden centre group with stores based throughout the United Kingdom. The business has a reputation for quality and destination garden centres. This is a business which invests in its people and provides the opportunity to further a career in garden retail. 

The Role 

The role is part of the centres senior leadership team alongside the restaurant manager and deputy manager. It could suit a candidate who is currently a manager at a small centre and looking to step up or a candidate in a larger centre looking to join a group for progression.

Day to day the role will involve the leadership and motivation of your team to provide the highest standard of customer service, plant care and merchandising. This centre has a unique customer base because of location adjoining a large supermarket. This provides for a new challenge for candidates coming from a more traditional plantarea environment. 

The Person 

I am looking for a superb planteria specialist with a real knack for retail.

Horticulture experience could be gained from practical experience or from an academic qualification but candidates will be expected to lead a horticulture focussed team with good knowledge. Retail experience must be good and you must have demonstrable management ability in a retail environment. This could have been developed in a role outside of horticulture but must be recent.

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further contact Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Landscape Contracts Manager (ref:DS7627) 

Location: North West England
Salary: £30,000 to £40,000
Date: 28 Aug
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

The Business

Our client is a well established landscape and grounds maintenance business who carry out commercial and large domestic projects across Manchester and the surrounding county. They are currently looking for a Contract Manager 

Reports To: Operations Manager

Responsible For: Site Supervisor, Senior Foreman, Foreman, Operatives 

The Role 

To manage the day to day running of contracts, encompassing contract performance, delivery of contract objectives, client relationships, people management, safety conformance and financial performance. 

Principle Accountabilities

• Contract Performance & Delivery
• Execute contracts to specification and budget, meeting customer's needs / deadlines and exceeding expectations
• To utilise best, most economic and effective work practices
• Identify and execute opportunities for additional works
• Create a positive impression and to foster a good working relationship and environment.
• Proactively manage all areas of delivery, in order to solve problems before client raises an issue
• Manage the work planning process to ensure optimum utilisation of human resources; be well prepared for internal program meetings
• Monitor material orders, ensure all are complete in a timely manner 

Relationships

• Establish and maintain excellent client relationships; commercial thinking
• Initiate client communication to foster open lines of communication
• Proactive and well prepared at Progress Meetings with clients
• Regular site visits to complete audit and report
• Approachable and responsive to the needs of your staff and minimise conflict
• Communicate effectively and confidently both on a one-to-one basis and in groups.
• Develop team work by effective communication and regular meetings

Customer/Client care

• Create a positive impression with clients, presenting a professional and proactive attitude
• Develop and maintain strong, long term relationships with customers to encourage repeat and follow-on work
• Understand the importance and benefits of the company's complaints procedures
• Build a good understanding of the Company, its history, business strategy, objectives and position in the market place
• Actively seek out new business and assess prospective contracts, passing information to the Business Development team as requested 

People Management

• Manage the performance of all contract staff, regular 121s, performance reviews and creation of development plans
• Provide an opportunity for all staff to discuss their work, problems and aspirations.
• Recruitment and selection of all contract staff according to Company procedure with HR
• Manage any employee relations issues with support from HR, within scope of company policy
• Create and manage a contract specific training plan
• Manage the recording of training records and the process for training staff according to Company standards, needs of the role, and local requirements.
• Adhere to HR processes and procedures, ensuring matters are dealt with quickly and fairly.
• Monitor time and attendance and the collation and processing of timesheets for payroll.
• Ensure that various employment checks are completed according to requests from HR including licence checks and DBS 

Quality, Health & Safety

• Recognise the law relating to Health & Safety and understand and implement the company's Health & Safety policy
• Understand and implement risk assessments and COSSH
• Understand and work to agreed company procedures, in particular, operating within the Company quality system
• Select the right machine for the purpose, understand the maintenance required and have systems in place to ensure maintenance takes place
• Rigorous concern for security of company buildings, vehicles, machinery and materials
• Take ownership for contract depot, office site and yard
• Ensure that all members of staff behave in a professional manner: wear the correct PPE, keep vehicles and machinery clean and well maintained and that sites are kept clean and tidy 

Financial Management

• To understand and operate within the company's financial procedures
• Complete valuations with the support of senior management
• To regularly monitor progress and review cost and expenditure to ensure that budgets are met
• Track and solve any issues with regard to over expenditure and threats to budget 

General

• Utilise IT across every aspect of managing a Contract
• Communicate with colleagues at all levels; share best practice, pool knowledge and resources
• Feedback and take an active part in any cross department initiatives
• Constantly seek to improve and change to deliver best value 

The Person 

Knowledge And Skills 

• Extensive Contract Management knowledge and experience
• Good working knowledge of H&S, its enforcement and ability to impart knowledge on others.
• Competent computer user in particular MS Excel and Word 

Personal Qualities

• Approachable manner when dealing with clients, strong relationship building skills
• Highly motivated, high level of enthusiasm
• Excellent communication skills including verbal, written and presentation 

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further contact Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 01780 480530

The organisers of Glee extended the voting deadline for the Glee Buyers Power List to this evening, Monday 31st August 2015.

The list aims to recognise individual buyers and buying teams who have gone above and beyond to make a difference within the garden retail industry this year.

The shortlist contains the top nominations in each of the five categories, representing the leading 50-plus buyers and buying teams across the country. The industry can now cast their votes for their top three buyers or teams in each category. Individual category winners and a ‘winner of winners’ will be announced during a special Buyers Power List ceremony at Glee on Tuesday 15 September.

Voting closes at midnight on 31st August. To vote, log on using this link. Voting is open to everyone in the industry.

The Shortlist

Best Online Garden Retail Buying Team

• Achica
• Amazon
• Crocus
• Greenfingers.com
• Halls Garden Centre/gardensite.co.uk
• Ideal World
• Primrose
• QVC
• Shop Direct  
• Ocado

Best Multiple Garden Centre Buying Team

• Blue Diamond
• British Garden Centres
• Dobbies
• Hillier Nurseries & Garden Centres
• Hillview Garden Centre
• Klondyke
• Notcutts
• Otter Nurseries
• SCATS Country Stores
• Squires GC
• Thompsons Plant and Garden Centre
• Wyevale Garden Centres

Best Independent Garden Retail Buying Team

• Avant Garden Centre
• Ayletts Nurseries
• Barton Grange
• Bents
• Burford Garden Centre 
• Capital Gardens
• Chessington Garden Centre
• Frosts
• Garsons
• Haskins
• Perrywood GC
• Polhill Garden Centre
• Scotsdales
• Summer Hill Garden Centre
• Webbs

Best DIY/Builder Merchant Buying Team

• B&Q
• Homebase
• Jewson
• Ridgeons
• Stax Trade Centres
• Wickes 

Best ‘Other’ Garden Retailer Buyer Team

• Aldi
• Argos
• Home Bargains (T J Morris)
• House of Fraser
• John Lewis
• Lakeland
• M&S
• Morrisons
• Next
• Robert Dyas
• The Range
• Waitrose

Glee event director Matthew Mein said: “The response from the whole industry has been fantastic, with nominations coming in thick and fast. The shortlist showcases the hard work and commitment that each retail buyer or team has undertaken in the last 12 months, and we’re so pleased to be able to provide a platform on which this dedication can be celebrated and rewarded.”

Thompson & Morgan have named the fully blight resistant Tomato ‘Mountain Magic F1’ as its Vegetable of the Year for 2016.

Blight is a rising problem for UK growers, especially for plants raised outdoors, due to increasingly wet and humid summer weather – conditions the fungal disease thrives under. T & M say ‘Mountain Magic F1’ has been developed with outdoor growers in mind, which is good news for the many gardeners without greenhouses who have been forced to give up growing tomatoes because of blight

Mountain Magic F1 is a cordon-trained variety ideal for sunny veg patches and borders, as well as grow bags and patio containers. Combining the rich flavour of heritage varieties with modern F1 hybrid disease resistance, it’s a tasty tom with a going for it Not only does it have good resistance to early blight, it carries the late blight-busting Ph-2 and Ph-3 genes, giving it protection against all current British strains including Pink6 and Blue13, the most virulent to hit UK crops. It also has in-built genetic resistance to both verticillium and fusarium wilt as well as skin cracking.

The variety joins last year's introduction, ‘Romello F1’, a compact, the world’s first late blight resistant baby plum variety. Fruits weigh 16-18g and grow towards the outside of the plant for easy picking. ‘Romello F1’, makes the ideal cherry tomato for salads or picking straight from the vine, alternatively treat it as a mini plum for the perfect pasta sauce.

‘Romello F1’  and ‘Mountain Magic F1’ retail at £3.99 for six seeds and five seeds respectively.

Both blight resistant varieties are ideal for an April sowing under cover, for planting outside in early June.

Thompson & Morgan vegetable product manager Colin Randel says ‘Mountain Magic F1’ certainly deserves its title of Vegetable of the Year.

Next year has been nominated by seedsmen as The Year of the Tomato.

Autumn-planting seed potatoes reclaim the top spots in the GTN Bestsellers Veg2Gro chart this week - but green manure seed mixes have performed strongly, too.

Overall the chart suggests that there is still plenty of enthusiasm for extending the grow-your-own season into the autumn and early winter.

• Thompson & Morgan’s organic green manure mix is the highest climber, moving up 23 places to No 4.
• The highest re-entry is another T&M line - perpetual spinach seeds at No 21.
• Five Quantil packs make return visits to the chart - the highest being Lettuce Radichio and Red Spring Onion at No 22 and 23 respectively.
• Quantil’s Lettuce Butter Head was a strong mover, climbing 15 places to No 31.

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Xanthos' by Van Hemert & Co Seeds from Hazerswoude (above) won the Plantarium Press Award in the Garden, balcony and patio plants category. In the Concepts category, this award went to Hydrangea macrophylla Music Collection® by De Jong Plant BV from Boskoop (below.)

The jury were unanimous in their verdict of Hydrangea macrophylla Music Collection®. The Music Collection® is a complete concept with an attractive range of plants in appealing colours. The link with music appeals to a new generation of garden lovers, according to the press jury. With regard to Cosmos binnatus ‘Xantus’, there was a particularly close finish as the winner was only 2 points ahead of Anemone Wild Swan by F.N. Kempen BV from Mijdrecht. The jury felt that Cosmos binnatus ‘Xantus’ marked a breakthrough in the Cosmos range as a result of its unique pale yellow flowers. The Plantarium press award was presented by the chairwoman of the jury, Ms Hester MacDonald from World Radio Switzerland.

Second and third place

In the Garden Plants category, 18 entries were judged by the jury. Second place went to Anemone Wild Swan and third place to Kiwiberry®, a new and highly productive kiwi series submitted by Joh. Stokwijk & Zn. Boomkwekerijen BV.

There were 6 entries in the Concepts category this year. Exotic Sensations by Plantport Boskoop Kweeksmakelijk BV from Boskoop and Parfum de Nature Rozen by Lakei Boomkwekerijen from Lottum ended up in joint second place.

Judging

The jury for the press award consisted of over 25 journalists from the following countries:

the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and Ukraine.

The 33rd edition of Plantarium ran from 26 to 29 August 2015 in the Plantarium building at the International Trade Centre Boskoop-Hazerswoude. For further information, please visit www.plantarium.nl.

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2013 as well as 2014 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.

At Chelsea Flower Show teacups became planting containers for succulents.

At Eastfield Garden Centre in Bridlington teacups have been made into a chandelier.

At Summerset Garden Centre in Bury, teacups are used for tiny treats, such as crème brûlée.

At Brunswick Organic Nursery in York, the crafting team fill teacups with wax to create candles perfect for any table.

So the question is, how do your teacups reflect your teams creativity?

Doug Stewart can be contacted at www.waringstewartassociates.co.uk