It may surprise some readers to know that grapes can be grown in Edinburgh. It certainly came as an eye-opener to this correspondent when I ate some yesterday.
John Ross Maclean – a Spurtle team member – has been growing them under cover in sheltered spots around Drummond Place.
Some clusters are large and sweet. The ones pictured right he correctly predicted, with some understatement, would be 'a little tart'. However, they were later excellent with custard.
Maclean (pictured below through a glasshouse, darkly) has gardened professionally for many years around Broughton, Calton Hill, Trinity and elsewhere.
Closer to home, he has transformed areas of the former scrubland surrounding Drummond Tennis Club into a floral and productive oasis equally popular each summer with adults, children and other wildlife.
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