Topic: Do you know local heirloom varieties of veg?

[markfield rover]

I have grown many varieties of tom and I would put Blaby as average,what I would expect from a better supermarket, in winter.

[PaulaB]

Thanks to the Heritage Seed Library I am growing Northamptinshire Shallot, a pea from Desborough Allotments, another from the Luton area and a Bedfordshire onion.  I am looking forward to seeds from the Blaby tomato for next year from the Seed Circle.  Cambridge Gage was chosen because Cambridge is not too far away from us.  Come to think of it there really isn't very much that is really local and heirloom afaik.

You haven't got a contact email address for the Desborough allotments have you?   I have 2 half plots on the Rothwell allotment.

[pigeonseed]

I have grown many varieties of tom and I would put Blaby as average,what I would expect from a better supermarket, in winter.

Oh! So from what you and saddad say, Blaby's not one of those 'genuine-authentic-back when tomatoes tasted like tomatoes' types then  ;D

I think part of my attraction to heirloom veg is if they look weird and wonderful. Squash and beans are good for that. Tomatoes too - different shapes and colours.

Heritage peas on the other hand... I've seen lists of 'rare' peas. Really, it could just be the same photo of some peas over and over again.

[saddad]

I disagree pigeonseed.... Magnum Bonum are out of this world... for taste. Show perfection for pretty pods. Purple podded types for visuals...  :)

[galina]

You haven't got a contact email address for the Desborough allotments have you?   I have 2 half plots on the Rothwell allotment.
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PaulaB

no I am sorry I have no connection to Desborough allotments.  The pea is from the Heritage Seed Library.  The variety is called 'Harold Idle' after the original donor, who gave them to his allotment neighbour, Robert Page, who in turn grew them for over 50 years on Desborough Allotments (and who knows for how long Harold Idle had been growing them before that).  Robert Page gave a sample to the Heritage Seed Library to keep this old variety in circulation and preserve it from extinction.  

It would be interesting to know whether Harold Idle pea is still grown there now.  If you would like to grow it at Rothwell, pm me.  It is a tall shelling pea that needs support like tall beans.

PS have found an address online:  Desborough Allotments Association
Location Rushton Road, (Allotments At),, Desborough

Perhaps a visit there ?  Why do you want to make contact?

[Digeroo]

I am with Saddad I have rather enjoyed growing heritage peas.  The flowers and pods can be magnificeent and the taste superb.

[galina]

I disagree pigeonseed.... Magnum Bonum are out of this world... for taste. Show perfection for pretty pods. Purple podded types for visuals...  :)

I agree with Saddad and Digeroo.  There may be fairly small differences in certain Victorian shelling peas and it does need a keen eye/palate to tell them apart, but there are differences.  Indeed the  Magnum Bonum mentioned, is magnificent.  With an early start, they will grow to well over 8ft tall and produce large, sweet peas over a very long time into summer.  It is essential to start early to give them the growing time they need.  Many other shelling peas are much shorter and earlier.  The large peas are currently out of fashion it seems.  The frozen peas industry specialises in extra-sweet petit pois from short plants.  
 
But there are so many more types than just shelling peas, there are mangetouts of various colours and sizes and also snap peas of various colours and sizes.  All heirlooms.  I know there is some debate on the date of the introduction of the first fat podded snap peas.  Even so they were around decades ago and add to the great variety we can enjoy today.

HSL is a critical source for many varieties.  There are the very ancient 'raisin' peas, not sweet but some with huge green peas, that dry to a raisin brown and have kept our ancestors warm and fed with pottage soup over winter.  Or the white drying peas, also non-sweet 'soup' peas of more recent years.  I am sure I have missed many heritage types off - this post could get lengthy and boring  :).  Just wanted to say that heritage peas are not all alike.

[saddad]

Lengthy yes, but not boring to everybody...  :-X

[Robert_Brenchley]

The great thing about peas is that you can grow more of their history than almost any other veg. I haven't tried wild-type peas yet, but I grow medieval types like the  Carlin pea, recorded in the early days of Elizabeth I, and probably a lot older than that, umbellate peas like the Salmon Flowered Pea, Victorian types, and so on. There are all sorts of variations, if they take your interest.

[grannyjanny]

Cheshire potatoes ;D ;D ;D.