Family growing its vegetable business
After a trial run last year, Inghams will open at the weekend
A FAMILY-run independent specialist plant nursery based just outside of Kingsclere is gearing up to open for the summer season this weekend.
Ingham’s Plant Nursery, located on the former grounds of Cottismore Garden Centre just off the A339, will be opening to customers this Saturday.
The business specialises in selling vegetable plants and it will be selling 80 different types in 2024, including different herbs, fruits and even 13 different varieties of tomato.
Business owner and director Robert Ingham said: “We know first and foremost that the plants are fantastic quality plants.
“They have been grown all from seed here.
“They aren’t bought in from other suppliers or they haven’t come across from other countries.
“They are all seeded here and all grown in-house.
“We don’t want to go into too many miscellaneous items.
“We are really just focusing on getting good quality vegetable plants.”
Mr Ingham and his family took over the derelict garden centre and greenhouse space in November 2022 with the aim of establishing the premium destination for vegetable plants in the local area.
The family, who are originally from Derbyshire but now live in Newbury, shares a passion for gardening, which is something that was passed down to Mr Ingham by his mother Mary.
Mr Ingham works on the business full-time, while his mother
comes down from Derbyshire to help on the weekends.
Mr Ingham’s wife Victoria helps out doing some of the admin and practical work as well, but she’s often leading parental duties and caring for the couple’s four-yearold daughter Emmie and 10-monthold son Jack.
Last year, the plant nursery opened for a short four-month summer period which was treated as a sort of trial run, allowing the family to smooth over any potential issues or problems.
This Saturday, Ingham’s Plant Nursery opens fully for the 2024 season, with hopes to also open during Christmas as well.
Mr Ingham added: “We are excited for the summer. We will
just be doing this.
“Things have grown well and seeds have come up. We planted 240 seeds in a cell tray and 240 of them come up, which is amazing.
“We are confident in the product so hopefully we can get some people down and sell them some plants.”
The Inghams will perhaps be attending some markets as well, but they will mainly be based at their Kingsclere home.
They are looking forward to welcoming customers and are open to suggestions of what people would like to see them grow next year.
Ingham’s Plant Nursery is open Saturday to Wednesday, 10am to 4pm, closed on Thursdays and open on Fridays, 1pm to 4pm.