Watermelons flourish in Oxfordshire in climate-resilient seed project

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 06:19 · Archive

Watermelons and aubergines are thriving outdoors in Oxfordshire as part of a national programme developing fruit and vegetable varieties suited to the UK's changing weather.

Watermelons and aubergines are thriving outdoors in Oxfordshire during the hot, dry summer of 2026 as part of a national programme focused on developing fruit and vegetable varieties suited to the UK's changing weather.

Tim Mitchell, who runs a wildlife-friendly kitchen garden at Asthall Manor near Burford, said growing watermelons outdoors in the UK is 'a bittersweet thing' because it reflects climate change. However, he praised being able to grow such crops without depending on heated tunnels or other artificial means. 'It's food – we should grow everything we can eat,' he said.

The project sows a variety of seeds together to encourage cross-pollination and adaptation, with the aim of developing crops suited to regional conditions. Mr Mitchell said this approach could help Oxfordshire and other regions produce their own climate-resilient varieties. The work is supported by the Crowd Breeding Network, part of The Gaia Foundation's Seed Sovereignty Programme.

Rowan Phillimore, co-director of The Gaia Foundation, said genetically diverse seeds grown in a biodiverse environment by multiple people make the food system more adaptable to extreme stress such as droughts, floods or collapse of global supply chains.

Watermelons flourish in Oxfordshire in climate-resilient seed project — Image: Oxfordshire Guardian

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How it is being reported

Watermelons flourish in Oxfordshire as growers adapt to changeTim Mitchell, who runs a wildlife-friendly kitchen garden at Asthall Manor near Burford, has grown aubergines and watermelons in Oxfordshire.Oxfordshire Guardian · 9 Oct, 05:00
Watermelons flourish in Oxfordshire as growers adapt to changeTim Mitchell, who runs a wildlife-friendly kitchen garden at Asthall Manor near Burford, has grown aubergines and watermelons in Oxfordshire.Oxford Mail · 9 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Tim Mitchell · Asthall Manor · Oxfordshire · The Gaia Foundation · Crowd Breeding Network · Rowan Phillimore

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