Selfridges' Summer Vegetable Patch

This summer lovers of fruit and veg have a new arrival in their produce basket. Selfridges is working with traditional produce growers to introduce the cucumelon to the UK.

The cucumelon is commonly called the Pepino (solanum muricatum) and is a native of South America. The plant is grown in Peru and Chile but attempts to export overseas have been unsuccessful as the pepino is sensitive to handling and does not travel well. Now Selfridges’ expert growers will grow the pepino under cover in continental Europe.

Strangely the cucumelon may taste between a cross between a melon and a cucumber (the clue’s in the name) but is actually a member of the potato family and grows like a tomato, but looks rather like an oversized white pear with stripes.

The cucumelon can be eaten in a fruit salad, or served chilled on a bed of ice, and is an excellent ingredient in summer cocktails. Available from late summer from £5 each.

Snow white snow cherry tomatoes

We’ve not had a white Christmas for many a year, but what about making this a white summer?

Selfridges is working with traditional produce growers Secretts Farm to reintroduce heritage strains for fruit and vegetables this summer. One of the first to hit the baskets will be the Snow white cherry tomato.

The Snow white cherry tom has been planted especially for Selfridges by Secretts in a top secret location near Guildford.

The appeal of this new tomato which hasn’t been sold in the UK before, is not just in the ghostly colour, the ivory cherry tomatoes are very sweet without being sugary. They add an extra dimension to a classic summer tomato salad and the mini size, crunchiness and sweetness mean they are ideal for snacking. Available from £3.50.

The perfect summer radish

The radish is a salad vegetable too often passed over in the race for leaves and other greenery. This summer Selfridges hope to bring a little colour to salad bowls with the introduction of a heritage radish.

The variety has been chosen for its typical peppery flavour and crisp texture.

Proper English Broad beans

Did you know that the broad bean is the father of all beans? The term bean originally referred to the bean of the broad bean, before it became a catchall for legumes and pulses.

This summer Selfridges has looked again at the original bean and has planted a bed a heritage variety packed full of beany flavour.

The beans, best picked young to keep that special tenderness, are climbing up twiggy supports in Selfridges secret English vegetable plot and will be ready for podding in mid summer.