Tatton celebrates its first majestic pineapple crop
There's been lot's in the news and on the radio recently about Tatton Park's impressive crop of Pineapples... you may have heard about the first crop grown on the estate in over 100 years!
So if you haven't heard and have been wondering what all the fuss is about here's the success story of the glorious, regal fruit....
Tatton Park is the only garden and
property in the country with a traditional working pineapple house, We recently celebrated the revival of the Great British pineapple by welcoming Councillor George
Walton, Mayor of Cheshire East Council, who was presented with the first of hopefully
many pineapple crops from the pinery.
'The King of Fruits'
This highly prized
fruit was greatly valued in the 18th century (around £5,000 in
today’s cash!). Known as ‘The King of Fruits’ it was celebrated when Tatton
re-created a historical scene from the late 1600s when Charles II was presented
with the first pineapple cultivated on English soil by his gardener John Rose -
Councillor George Walton, who also chairs the Tatton Park board, was presented with
Tatton’s pineapple by gardener John Hoxworth who is responsible for the
pineapple house.
Above: Tatton’s pineapple being presented to Councillor George Walton by one of Tatton Park's gardeners John Hoxworth
Above: Charles II presented with the first pineapple cultivated on English soil by his gardener John Rose
It's a big achievement for Tatton's garden team as it has been over 100 years since the last pineapple crop was grown at Tatton - imported
fruit killed their social status - and in time the pinery became
a vinery and then gradually fell into disrepair. Thanks to £2.5m from the
Heritage Lottery Fund, the former Cheshire County Council (now Cheshire East
Council) the National Trust and Cheshire Rural Enterprise Tatton’s six-acre
walled kitchen gardens have been gradually restored to their halcyon days.
The pinery was
officially opened in 2007 by Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Two years on saw
another milestone when the first pineapple was produced after a labour
intensive propagation process, (and some TLC from our garden team). Now five years on, Tatton celebrates its
first fully functioning crop.
'The King of Fruits'
Here's the science bit...
Pineapple cultivation
involves the rotation of three bays for planting, growing and maturing the
fruit. They are grown in the traditional way in a pot on a special mixture of
oak–leaf compost which creates the same levels of heat as tanner’s bark, a
waste product from the tanning industry, originally used when growing pineapple
but now no longer available. The complex process which sees a little slip turn
into a full plant can take up to three years and requires a combination of heat
and humidity for successful germination and growth.
Pineapple cultivation
involves the rotation of three bays for planting, growing and maturing the
fruit. They are grown in the traditional way in a pot on a special mixture of
oak–leaf compost which creates the same levels of heat as tanner’s bark, a
waste product from the tanning industry, originally used when growing pineapple
but now no longer available. The complex process which sees a little slip turn
into a full plant can take up to three years and requires a combination of heat
and humidity for successful germination and growth.
Our head gardener, Simon Tetlow, explains, “from set up, to establishing a full crop it
has taken five years! But it has been well worth the wait, and we hope to soon
be growing as many as 300 pineapples a year, which will supply Tatton’s Garden
Shop and restaurant”
Above: Head Gardener, Simon Tetlow, with the prized fruit.
