Pitch Owner: Ron and Kenny, Rathbone Flowers
Pitch Patter: Keep your ears peeled next time you’re there
Stall established: 1972
Speciality: Lilies, gerberas, carnations, gladioli, amaryllis, chrysanthemums

We have been established for nearly 40 years. We are a father and son partnership. Kenny has been working here since he was a baby. We sell cut flowers including lilies, gerberas, carnations, gladioli, amaryllis and chrysanthemums. The flowers are imported directly from Holland. We get up at 3 am and arrive at Columbia road at 4 am. We also have a flower shop called Rathbone Flowers in Canning Town.’

Pitch Owner: George
Pitch Patter: ‘Good morning, gardeners. What a lovely day! If it’s raining it’s just an illusion’, ‘Mind the gap’ , ‘Eyes down looking’ , ‘Help yourself, pay for them of course’, ‘Why have you come?’, ‘Pick out what you like or what you don’t like’
Stall established: 1949
Speciality: Seasonal bedding and perennial plants, such as felicia, scaviola and bidens.

George has been on the market since 1949, and his stock is seasonal. From March to July onwards he sells bedding and perennial plants. From July to August he sells pot plants such as felicia, scaviola and bidens. From August to March he sells bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, bluebells, lilies and irises.

Pitch Owner: Carl Grover Son of Mr and Mrs Grover
Pitch Patter: You lucky people
Stall established: 1972
Speciality: Finest cut flowers

I try to have the best flowers in the market and take great pride and effort in my display. I have a list as long as my arm of celebrity clients. One of my earliest memories was coming to the market at Christmas time with my mum and dad - we had a stall outside the school gate. At the end of the day we had filled our Quality Street sweet tin with coins - we were awestruck! Christmas was good that year! The only other street flower market in Europe is in Barcelona, so aren’t we lucky?’

Pitch Owner: Shane and Yvonne, A.E. Harnett & Sons
Pitch Patter: Keep your ears peeled next time you’re there
Stall established: TBC
Speciality: British home-grown bedding and pot plants

We sell bedding and pot plants. We grow the plants ourselves at a nursery in Essex, and have been in the plant-growing business for 80 years – it was our grandfather’s business. We were 'Grower of the year' finalists in 1997.’

Pitch Owner: Mr and Mrs S Grover Husband and Wife team
Pitch Patter: Keep your ears peeled next time you’re there
Stall established: 1973
Speciality: Fern Leaf Dill, Rosemary, Purple sage, Sweet Basil, Coriander, Lemon Thyme.

I have been trading for 35 years on Columbia Road. I sell herbs including Fern Leaf Dill, Rosemary, Purple sage, Sweet Basil, Coriander, Lemon Thyme. My father worked in the Romford markets and he came from a family of fruit sellers.

Pitch Owner: Dennis, Saffron Flowers
Pitch Patter: Keep your ears peeled next time you’re there
Stall established: 1973
Speciality: Calla lilies, grand prix roses, avalanche roses, protea roses, amaryllis, hippeastrum, shamrock, chrysanthemum, brassicas.

I have been coming to the market for 35 years. The flowers that I sell are exotic. They are top Dutch quality. We sell calla lilies, grand prix roses, avalanche roses, protea roses, amaryllis, hippeastrum, shamrock, chrysanthemum and brassicas.

Pitch Owner: Colin
Pitch Patter: Listen out for it next time you’re there
Stall established: 1986
Speciality: General

Colin, who is Dennis’s right-hand man, has worked on the market for 22 years and counting. Dennis, who was Colin’s best man, describes him as ‘a good worker and cheap to run’.

Pitch Owner: David Williams
Pitch Patter: David insists he is quiet market trader
Stall established: 1972
Speciality: British-grown shrubs, perennials, alpines and grasses

I have a nursery based in Upminster. I sell shrubs, perennials and alpines and specialise in grasses, and they are all British grown. It’s been a family-run business since 1972.’