TOMATO fans are urged to make their way to Link Nurseries at Powick for its coffee morning and sale next Friday, September 12.

Black Krim, Ildi, Harzfeuer, Charlotte and Vanessa are just a few of the tasty and colourful toms that have been cultivated at the nursery, which provides horticultural occupational therapy for adults recovering from serious mental illness.

Black Krim tomatoes were brought back from Russia by soldiers returning from the Crimean War. Now there are believed to be over 30 varieties of black tomato originating from these heritage seeds.

Ildi is an orange grape-sized tomato whose plants can produce 80 to 100 tasty fruit on one truss, and Harzfeuer was originally an German tomato, thought to be lost until it was found that one elderly lady has saved the seeds, and it now forms the basis of the F1 hybrid varieties.

At the Friends of Link Nurseries' coffee morning, you can taste and learn more about these and the other 25 varieties being grown this year by clients, staff and volunteers.

The residents tomato expert will give a talk on growing tomatoes by organic principles, how to deal with pests and diseases and how to keep the blackbirds at bay.

The event is from 10am to noon at the nursery off Hospital Lane, and entry is free.