Seed Saving Circle 2016?

[Jayb]

A few hiccups towards the end of last year but it all worked out well thanks to everyone's support. I know some others are interested in joining in again and I'd love to do another Seed Circle this year. So if we have enough interested people we could start another round  Sign up below if you would like to join in. Taking part and ideas for saving so far;

Elfeda,
Markfield rover, quietly said "Tomato Gazzi Yellow Egg, peas -Lincolnshire, Llanover, Ave Juan... Newick, Champion of England, Sharpes Liberty. CFB Neabel's  Ukrainium."
Penedesenca, Potato onions
Pumpkinlover,
Clumsy,
Silverleaf, Telephone and Champion of England peas, TPS, maybe tomatoes, barley
Martinburo,
Galina, Erfurt winter radish, CFB Breglia's Romano and Jack's Blue and Green, winter squash Todo el An~o, Norli pea
Hector,
Robert_Brenchley,
Debs, Cavolo Nero kale
Earlypea,
Squeezyjohn,
Jayb, Early Blood Turnip, 'erbs
Sparrow,
Ruud,
Sunloving,  Salmon Flowered peas, Alaskan early peas , Load buster broad beans and a purple climbing bean, sweet corn and jelly melon, cinnamon basil, Giant toms
Jeannine,  Winnie the Pooh peppers, Hero of Lockinge, tomatoes, Kajari Melon, Summer Squash, Desi, summer squash Gialla Nostrate,



For those who haven't joined in before some information to help you decide if you would like to join ;
The Seed Circle would/will be in its 7th year  and is open to all A4A members, it's great to have new people join too    The group is all about setting aside a little growing space and time to raise some crops for seeds, keeping the group informed of how the season is going and at the end of the season sharing some growing information and the all-important saved seeds with the group.

Each person decides what 2 or more crops they will grow and save seed from, saving enough seed for every other member to grow a crop the following year. The group could be 10 – 20 + people, although it seems to even out at around 15. Veggies will generally need to be heritage or open pollinated so that they will come true from seed, (potato seeds won't come exactly true).

It's always fun to have new to the group varieties and not the real basic ones which are easy to pick up for 50p in the shops. If anyone is stuck for ideas or starter seeds ask on the thread or pm me, I'm happy to help someone get started if they need seeds. To give you an idea, here's a list of seeds varieties already shared within the groups http://seedsaverscircle.org/seed-circle/a-z-of-varieties-shared-in-the-seed-circles/

I think most of us have found out, some vegetables are easier than others to grow for seed and everything can change with the weather. But generally peas, French beans, tomatoes, perhaps potatoes and some herbs are the easiest. Chillies, Sweet peppers, squash, courgette and lettuce will need isolating from other varieties to keep seed pure.  Parsnips, onions, leeks, beetroot, carrots, celeriac and many Brassicas only go to seed the second year and need isolation from other varieties and so are more time consuming and a little trickier.

Real Seeds gave the idea for the circles. Their site gives some great seed saving tips as well as being a great seed catalogue http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedsavinginfo.html

For anyone interested in the previous years Seed Parcels and what we finally shared they can be found at http://seedsaverscircle.org/seed-circle/

And the previous threads for the Circles;
Seed Circle 2015 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,78706.0.html
Seed Circle 2014 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,77280.0.html
Seed Circle 2013 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,74928.0.html
Seed Circle 2012 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,70816.0.html
Seed Circle 2011 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,64431.0.html
Extra Group 2011 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,68391.0.html
Seed Circle 2010 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,58860.0.html

[Jayb]

[Elfeda]

I love to join in Jayb

[markfield rover]

I am still sowing seed from the 2010 circle and it's romping away a treat, makes you wonder just how old the commercial seeds are!
Would love to join again if that's okay .

[penedesenca]

Can I join please 

[pumkinlover]

I'm in please.

[Jayb]

Welcome Elfeda and Penedesenca  Look forward to getting to know you a bit better, any ideas yet what you might be saving for the group? I've got my heart set on Early Blood Turnips (beetroot) for one and one of the herbs I tried last year but were just too late maturing for seed.

Penedesenca, is your name after those gorgeous chickens?

Markfield rover, it's very ok 
It's amazing what a gift seeds are, they just keep on giving. Your right it does make you wonder how old, particularly when the only info is year packed, not much help.

[Jayb]

I'm in please.

Yayyy 

[penedesenca]

Welcome Elfeda and Penedesenca  Look forward to getting to know you a bit better, any ideas yet what you might be saving for the group? I've got my heart set on Early Blood Turnips (beetroot) for one and one of the herbs I tried last year but were just too late maturing for seed.

Penedesenca, is your name after those gorgeous chickens?

Markfield rover, it's very ok 
It's amazing what a gift seeds are, they just keep on giving. Your right it does make you wonder how old, particularly when the only info is year packed, not much help.

Hi, yes my name is after the chickens. I hatched a load for my Dad a couple of years ago.

In regards to seed, what ever I say now will likely be what doesn't go in  I am hoping for red seeded citron - melon, altmarker - kale and a french climbing bean when I remind myself what I have.

[clumsy]

I would also love to join. This time I'm going for Extreme Hot chillies if there's interest, Plus white marrow and few others.

[Silverleaf]

I want to play again!

Not sure what I'll have yet but I definitely want to join!

[martinburo]

Yes, please.

[galina]

Room for one more?   

[Hector]

I've pm-d as not sure if my varieties add enough to mix...so no worries if not :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

Yes, I'm interested. I hadn't thought of including potatoes, but by then I should have some interesting ones from my TPS experiments.

[Jayb]

Hi, yes my name is after the chickens. I hatched a load for my Dad a couple of years ago.

In regards to seed, what ever I say now will likely be what doesn't go in  I am hoping for red seeded citron - melon, altmarker - kale and a french climbing bean when I remind myself what I have.

The eggs are just amazing. We've only got brown hybrid girls here, they are great chooks, maybe oneday!

Those varieties sound interesting, know what you mean nothing seems to go quite to plan here either!

[Jayb]

I would also love to join. This time I'm going for Extreme Hot chillies if there's interest, Plus white marrow and few others.

You're very welcome. I'm sure hot chillies will be very popular, I'm a bit of a lightweight when it comes to chillies but I love growing the hot ones and sharing with family and friends. White marrow sounds interesting.

[Jayb]

I want to play again!

Not sure what I'll have yet but I definitely want to join!

Excellent, time to play 

[Jayb]

Yes, please.

Nice to have you join again 

[Jayb]

Room for one more?   

Indeed there is 

[Jayb]

I've pm-d as not sure if my varieties add enough to mix...so no worries if not :)

Thanks for the pm, good to have you in the seed Circle