Topic: Seed Sharing Circle 2013

[Jayb]

Choy Sum Red Stem - Brassica rapa – chinensis 
and
Ethiopian Kale/Highland Kale - Brassica carinata
harvested, seed dried and winnowed. Just a note - some of the Highland Kale plants were slightly different from one another in leaf colour (slightly red) otherwise they seemed the same.

[Jayb]

I've grown Dib Daub and Early Russian cucumber this year. Dib Daub look pretty (not tasted though) Early Russian have done really well and produce a good crop, nice tasty fruits. A possibility?

[Jayb]

I picked a few more Glass Gem at the weekend,

[Jayb]

I’ve been through the thread and this is where we are at the moment – ish! Exciting stuff  and look forward to more updates. As soon as we know how many are in I’ll pm my address and information on what to do. Yayyyyy  can’t wait 

Robert B, Robinson Peas, harvested. Possible some other Peas /Umbellate peas or Rat-tailed Radishes or lettuces or Beans depending on harvest?

Goodlife, Hangdown Broad Beans (I think done?) and depending on harvest -Cherokee White Corn , possibly Peas and Tomatoes?

Galina; Ready;  Lettuce Mescher,  Ester Hess Yellow Cherry, also hoping for some of these Melothria scabra, aka mouse melon or Mexican Sour gherkin 'Striped Custard Marrow' ,Mr Yeoman's White seeded Cherokee Trail of Tear beans, Grandma Nellie's Yellow Mushroom beans, Black Valentine, 'Norli'

Markfield rover, in the bag; Pineberries and Sweet Cicerly. Possibly something from Runner beans from Turkey, CFB  Birds Egg,  Tomatoes - Tibet Appel , Homosa, Bijskij-zeltyi,  Stump of the World and Lemon Tree.  Pea Latvian?

Jayb, Highland/Ethiopian Kale and Yu Choy Sum - Red Stem both harvested and dried. Glass Gem Corn harvesting now, needs drying etc. Looks reasonable for Monstrance bean and Suess Becker Bean, plus a few other things.

Nigel B, Goji Berry and Cardoon seeds.

SueK, Yabloki Na Snegu tomato and Sibirskiy Skorospelyi (Siberian Early).

Ian Pearson,  Ready; red field peas 'Biskopens Graaert, parsnip, salsify, and Cheltenham Greentop beetroot. Possibles Painted Mountain corn, skirrit.

Pumpkinlover,  Shark’s Fin? Or Toyah Wilcox, maybe both!

Aj, "Avon Resistor parsnips, De Chioggia beetroot and Flat Leaf Parsley. Plus a bean or two and some toms".


Hoping to hear from

Toshofthe Wuffingas,
Ruud,
Digeroo,
Green lily,
Paulie,
Debs,
Elsie,
Tora,
Steveg1966,
Gunnerbee,

[galina]

In addition to Mescher and Ester Hess, Melothria Scabra is fruiting nicely.  Will wait to the last moment before harvesting and seed drying for best seed maturity. 

I have isolated/handpollinated 3 fruits of 'Striped Custard Marrow' a tulip flower shaped courgette, which is white as a young fruit but later develops green stripes as a sign of maturity.  2 are fully mature and have been taken in to 'cure' and mature the seeds further in the warmth of the conservatory, 1 has only just started on the green stripes outdoors and probably won't be ready in time for the seed circle.  As usual, the seed count with squashes is very variable, but I hope that these two fruits will at least give everybody a couple of seeds.  Fingers crossed - I am not cutting them open yet, to allow the seeds to ripen further post harvest.  Last year just about all squashes were seedless due to the weather   

I have harvested Mr Yeoman's White seeded Cherokee Trail of Tear beans, a white seeded mutation of the more common black ones.   

I think I have enough of Grandma Nellie's Yellow Mushroom beans, which are climbing and Black Valentine which are dwarf.  Will know when final numbers are out.

At least one pea variety - from memory I have enough for everybody of 'Norli' a very early dwarf mangetout variety from Switzerland.

Salad Burnett is still not flowering, I didn't realise that it flowers in it's second year.  Well at least I hope it will and give us seeds for the circle next year, if there is one.

I was hoping to save seeds from Black Opal cherry tomato, but need to research further whether this one is OP or hybrid.  Maybe save seeds and grow next year, then decide.  Should be obvious next year whether this delicious tomato is OP.

Are people interested in cherry tomatoes?  Had a bit of a cherry grow-out this year and could offer 'Old Red Cherry'  and an Amish variety 'Millie Yoder's Little Grape' if people like. 

The picture of glass gem corn and Ethiopian kale on the seed circle page look super.  Yes, it is getting exciting.  Thank you to everybody for putting a bit of their garden aside and taking time to grow seeds for the circle.   

[Jayb]

Wow who's been busy!!!!   

I can't find any reference to Black Opal being a hybrid, nothing on the breeders site http://www.gourmetgenetics.com/tomato/opal.html , or RHS http://mygarden.rhs.org.uk/blogs/graham_rice/archive/2012/10/28/tomato-black-opal-new-black-cherry-tomato-from-dobies-and-suttons.aspx,  seed packet, suttons or dobies selling the plants, or sites in America. But I'm sure I have read previously it is a F1, but no trace now so maybe not? Rossela is another from the same stable, T&M lists it as an F1 http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-seeds/tomato-seeds/tomato-rosella/tt38814TM , Kings http://www.kingsseeds.com/vegetable_seeds/Tomato%20Rosella/P-14865 doesn't?

I can send you some Black Opal from Fothergil's to grow alongside as a comparison?

[SueK]

Further to jayb's post, the Yabloki na Snegu tomato is "in progress" but looking good.  I'll also be offering another bush variety Sibirskiy Skorospelyi (Siberian Early).  We enjoyed both of these in a family taste test at the weekend, although, if I'm honest, our regular home-grown favourite Latah just had the edge! 

Unfortunately, the Leningrad Early plants which I had I decided not to continue with as there seemed to be quite a lot of variation between them.

[Nigel B]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39243143@N03/9635800063/


Goji Berries! I managed to get...........oh I dunno. Enough! :)


And after much Umm-ing and arr-ing, my daughter and I managed to extract some fine,  healthy-looking Cardoon seeds.

If I can spot something, anything else, I'll add them.

[Jeannine]

JayB I was interested in this tomato but not if it was a hybrid and I found the same thing when I looked a little while ago..nothing. I sent an email off to Dobies yesterday, they have acknowledged the receipt of the e mail saying they will answer me within 3 days. I will let you know what they say when I hear.

XX Jeannine

[Jayb]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39243143@N03/9635800063/


Goji Berries! I managed to get...........oh I dunno. Enough! :)


And after much Umm-ing and arr-ing, my daughter and I managed to extract some fine,  healthy-looking Cardoon seeds.

If I can spot something, anything else, I'll add them.

Wow, lovely lot of berries. I didn't have success before when I grew a plant, looking forward to trying again. 

[Jayb]

JayB I was interested in this tomato but not if it was a hybrid and I found the same thing when I looked a little while ago..nothing. I sent an email off to Dobies yesterday, they have acknowledged the receipt of the e mail saying they will answer me within 3 days. I will let you know what they say when I hear.

XX Jeannine

Good thinking Jeannine. Depending on the outcome I've plenty of seeds I can send.

[aj]

I'm still in; I have Avon Resistor Parsnip and De Chioggia Beetroot; plus who knows what beans and tomatoes...still saving at the moment. Will update once I have a tray of dried and saved seeds to split.

What's the cut off date JayB?

[goodlife]

Right...little update..Hangdown broadbeans=done, Peas=yep,,don't know which variety yet, lettuce=yep..again unsure what variety to choose, Cuban black tomato=done, white Cherokee corn...hmm..we'll see about that later on, maybe some beans of some sort, maybe some cucumber, maybe some peppers...lots of 'maybe's' 
So many things are still waiting to ripen up...oh, another 'maybe'...I've got some HUGE 'pumpkin seed' pumpkins..couple that were hand pollinated so hopefully there is plenty of seeds inside..but those are to fully ripen off yet

The list of seeds to come from everybody is looking VERY promising indeed

[markfield rover]

Right I have tomatoes - Homosa & Bijskij zeltyi.       Stump of the world -is fermenting .
Tibet-Appel  is  just turning if  there is time  I shall add these.  CFB  Birds Egg , are drying well.
Sweet Cicely are ready. Sorry that pineberry and Latvian peas are non runners. When I have the seeds done ,dusted and for sure I shall post a brief description.
Getting excited now!

[Jeannine]

Jay B, I have had a e mail fro Ian Preate of Dobies confirming that Black Opal is NOT a hybrid  that is good news so I think I will look for them now. XX Jeannine

[Jayb]

Yes good news  I'm saving seeds from them and I can send some to you, I don't have your new address though.

[galina]

I can send you some Black Opal from Fothergil's to grow alongside as a comparison?

Yes please, that would be nice and useful

[Jeannine]

JayB thank you, I will have  a few please, I will PM my addy. How early did you find them I have heard conflicting stories about that too. XX Jeannine

[galina]

I can send you some Black Opal from Fothergil's to grow alongside as a comparison?

Yes please, that would be nice and useful

Scratch that - I hadn't yet read Jeannine's post before replying to your earlier seed offer. 

So they are OP    Brill!  Would therefore like to stick seeds into this year's seed parcel for everybody.  Had one plant from JayB    and one that I subsequently took as cutting from the first plant.  Both are fruiting.  JayB, would you like to do a combined seedsave on this one like last year on the Black Icicle? 

I had one early fruiting truss in the greenhouse, then nothing for a while, then lots of them late August/September and still going.  The trusses are very large.

The plant from the rooted sideshoot was fruiting much later- late September and still going.  So far resisting blight outdoors well.

[Jayb]

JayB, would you like to do a combined seedsave on this one like last year on the Black Icicle? 

Be happy to    I've got one batch drying (I've already offered some in the swap) and I've just put some more Black Opal to ferment to make sure I have plenty to share.