Topic: buying mini-veg seeds

[STHLMgreen]

I was out doing shopping last nice and was enticed by the racks of seeds for this season.

Mini courgettes and mini cucmbers caught my eye but I was shocked by the price. Five times the price of most of the seed packets and each contained only six seeds.

I thought that mini veg many cost a bit more, but wow. So, are they that expensive everywhere or do you know of any slightly cheaper place to buy mini-veg? If so I may pick some up next time I'm in the UK.

Thanks!
STHLMgreen

[saddad]

Just grow normal ones and pull them earlier?
 ;D

[manicscousers]

yes, mini carrots, beetroot, leeks, all easy to pick early and, if you plant closer, they're mini-er anyway  ;D

[supersprout]

Just grow normal ones and pull them earlier?
 ;D

That's what I do too dad, varieties with fast-growing habit and/or compact shapes e.g. beetroot Boltardy or Pronto, carrot Paris Market or Parmex, cauliflower All the Year Round.

[Curryandchips]

My 'mini' carrots, the size of my little finger, are just thinnings in June, and are eagerly awaited for every year. Probably cost a small fortune in a supermarket, to me they started off as just stuff to get rid off, then tasted them with aioli, and found them first class. I presume most other very young veg are equally delicious, but I would not pay an enhanced price for 'mini' seed, that is just profiteering in my eyes.

Derek :)

[cornykev]

Saves time, space and money what more do you want.   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[manicscousers]

yes, it's like the last little sweetcorn that doesn't fill out, we use them in stir fries, they're sold as baby sweet corn and are quite expensive  :)

[saddad]

We actually do grow Minipop sweetcorn for stir fries... each plant produces between 12-20 small cobs...
 ;D

[cambourne7]

hi

I have also been told to look out for a thai variaty for mini sweetcorn.

Do you know if you can save the seed for mini sweetcorn like you can for the larger ones?

Cambourne7

[kenkew]

Mini's come to maturity quicker, they are different from picking regular crops early. Something to do with the sugar conversion....personally, if I wanted small veg I'd just pick earlier with most of them. My taste isn't that akquet. ( Can't spell the other acute thing). ???