Kent

Wiz Clift makes her final stop on her tour of gardens focusing on their edible delights.

She joins Frances Smith for a fossick through her garden and poly-tunnels in search of the ingredients for the perfect Springtime Sunday lunch.

The fact that we can enjoy exotic salads all year round is thanks to the likes of Frances Smith in Kent. For 20 years she’s supplied top London restaurants with an ever-changing supply of intriguing leaves, vegetables and herbs.

From the first UK sightings of Lollo Rosso and Rocket through the 1980s fad for miniature corn cobs and carrots to the current trends in Chinese mustards and coloured salad onions, Frances has been pushing her client chefs ever forward, persuading them to try new varieties and experiment with un-dreamt of combinations.

Producer: Alasdair Cross

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2003.