Allotments 4 All

It definitely sounds as though you were right in the first place, and were sent the wrong variety.

Can you take it up again with T & M, with more evidence to offer this time?  It's a pity you can't actually include taste in your evidence and that both varieties are ever-bearing, which further removes an area of possible evidence. But hopefully good Customer Service will take your word for the taste.

Back in the late summer of 2023 I ordered T&M's new strawberry, 'Just Add Cream', which were delivered and potted on in May of last year. https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/strawberry-just-add-creamtrade/t72197pTM

They soon began to bloom, with large magenta double flowers and upright habit. The looked nothing like the description nor photographs, instead bearing a striking resemblance to 'Summer Breeze Cherry'.
https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/strawberry-summer-breeze-cherry-everbearerall-season/wkf7884TM

Puzzled, I sent a query to T&M with a photo. They assured me that their horticultural advisor confirmed they were 'Just Add Cream'. I wasn't 100% convinced but dropped the matter. As long as they tasted good I was happy.

The fruit came and were a disappointment. Advertised as having a wild strawberry aroma, these were the blandest of all of the varieties I grow. I chalked this up to small, young plants and a bad season. Unfortunately the same is true for this year's crop.

The T&M webpage still shows plants that look nothing like the ones that were delivered to me. The ones exhibited at Chelsea are the same as T&M's marketing photos. https://www.pumpkinbeth.com/2017/05/chelsea-flower-show-plant-year-2017/#Strawberry_%E2%80%98Just_Add_Cream

Additionally, a licensee on the continent has images of the same plants being propagated.
https://in-vitro.pl/en/rosliny/just-add-cream/

Any ideas about this curious situation? Has anyone here grown this variety?

Oh and it's early days yet but I hope to gather seed from:

Lettuce
Gigant
Goldforellen
Wiener Maidivi
Gustav's Salad
Northern Queen
Loos Tennis Ball

Tomato
Jazz
Orange Jazz
Pinky
Chianti Rose
Primabella

Physalis
Schönbrunner Gold

Cucumber
Shintokiwa

Squash
Honeynut
Gelber Englischer Custard
Duobao (Chinese C. maxima for summer squash, like a vining Zapallito)

Chamomile
Bodegold

Opium poppy
Sokol

Cress
Wrinkled Crinkled Crumpled

Unnamed Leaf Radish (Looks identical to https://www.rareseeds.com/radish-china-jade)

Brassica hybrids and turnips (if they go to seed) e.g. Kizuna https://vitalseeds.co.uk/product/asian-greens-kizuna-mix-organic/

Pea
Jeyes (shelling)
Edula (snap) https://dreschflegel-shop.de/knackerbse-edula

Various French and Runner beans

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I do have many other peas that need renewing but it's getting a bit late now and the weather is unfavourable. What are your thoughts for sowing now in the hopes for a modest seed crop? - just enough to perhaps double the amount sown. Risky?

Thank you for organising this again Jan and count me in please :)


The Chinese Pink Celery I included last year appears to have crossed with a plant of Chinese White Celery, or accidentally mixed. I was sure they flowered at different times and the white seedhead was discarded but must have been mistaken.

Anyway, it's quite fortuitious as the seedlings are a mixture of vivid pink, pure white, pale pink, and pinky green. Selection options!

I routinely use "UCI KoolGrip Thermal Latex Grip Gloves" and I'm able to touch nettles with these without fear, though admittedly I haven't tested them in a nettle patch with the nettles fighting back.

Amazing that they're able get through two layers of gloves?!

I'd recommend this tool https://www.axminstertools.com/japanese-gardener-s-sickle-202310
I have one similar but with a longer handle, unfortunately can't find one for sale right now, but they tend to be razor sharp and you can just slash away with no resistance and use a branch in your other hand to keep the nettles from falling towards you.:)

What do you use to stop being stung when pulling out nettles, Ive just tried thick gardening gloves with butyl gloves underneath and my hands are still stinging!

The soil is really good! Lots of nettles - which (apparently) are a good sign of fertile soil 🤞
It has some mares tail(horsetail?), which I'm digging out.
Still a little wary of a late frost, as temperatures have fluctuated but I'm hardening off and starting to plant beginning with brassicas netted from pigeons and in a raised bed

Thanks JanG I have been doing bits but determined to get things sorted.
Handyman came and did a wonderful job and he carried all my tomato pots out and i have spent today filling these with soil and getting them back into the greenhouse. I have over done it but seing physio tomorrow. So doing all the big things before then :) 5 tomatoes planted out the rest are really behind. Tomorrow peppers and chillis pots to fill and plants to transplant.
Just ordered more strawberry plants and sown more tomatoes so i have back up.

galina thanks will be resting thursday x

What an achievement.  Take a rest today! 

Congratulations! It must feel wonderful to be able to do things that you haven't been able to.

It does sound like a rather sudden burst of activity. Take care.