Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Jayb on December 08, 2014, 17:55:43
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HSL seed catalogue online today :icon_cheers:
I spent a happy while this afternoon choosing seeds :happy7: It seems it's beans and peas for me this year, my first choices;
CFB - Carre de Caen, Czechoslovakian
Peas -Stokesley, Cooper's Bean Pea
DFB - Blue Bloom and Shirokostruczkovnia
Anyone else had a chance to look through and decide?
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Just send mine off.
Like the online system.
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Yes I found it easier and a breeze to fill in. Though I miss the old style catalogue, loved getting it in the post and sitting down with a cuppa looking at the lovely choices and the different articles and information. This is much more a seed catalogue, not so much fun and a little impersonal? More like you are buying the seeds and not being part of HSL.
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I'm not a member, unfortunately. :(
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I'm not a member, unfortunately. :(
There are often HSL varieties in the seed circle and also at seed swaps if you can get to one. This seed swap has been and gone, but the Transition Movement usually do one annually, so keep an eye on their website:
http://www.transitionchesterfield.org.uk/content/seed-swap-and-video
Should Father Christmas pick up the hint and you get a membership, you can still get HSL seeds to the end of February, but maybe not your first choices by then.
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HSL seed catalogue online today :icon_cheers:
I spent a happy while this afternoon choosing seeds :happy7: It seems it's beans and peas for me this year, my first choices;
CFB - Carre de Caen, Czechoslovakian
Peas -Stokesley, Cooper's Bean Pea
DFB - Blue Bloom and Shirokostruczkovnia
Anyone else had a chance to look through and decide?
Yes, just done (expertly dodging another job I should really be getting on with) ............
CFB George's
Lettuce Windermere
Squash Shishigatoni
Squash Summer Sun (unfortunately I did not get any handpollinated ones to take this year, very glad they had it in the catalogue again)
Turnip Malsevnepe Brandhaug
Celeriac Tellus
Yes, apart from there not being a 'put in shopping trolley' click button, it felt like ordering from a seed company this year. I also love my 'library' of past catalogues going back to the nineties, but online is easier to access and non members can read descriptions and see pictures as well, which is great.
Now I have really run out of excuses and have to get back to do some real work. :wave:
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I'm not a member, unfortunately. :(
There are often HSL varieties in the seed circle and also at seed swaps if you can get to one. This seed swap has been and gone, but the Transition Movement usually do one annually, so keep an eye on their website:
http://www.transitionchesterfield.org.uk/content/seed-swap-and-video
There are also quite a few HSL and heritage varieties in the Beans and peas swap.
Should Father Christmas pick up the hint and you get a membership, you can still get HSL seeds to the end of February, but maybe not your first choices by then.
Only thing is if you are not already a member of HSL you now have to join Garden Organics to be able to sign up for HSL, makes it a bit pricey? I have signed up to Garden Organics a couple of times but just too costly in the end to keep up with, plus I didn't really feel I was getting much if anything out of it.
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Err did any one notice that they didn't ask for a donation for postage? Maybe not the same online?
Any way my choices were df Vermont cranberry
Cf St Antonio
Sqaush shisigatani
Pea Frueher hernrick
Cauliflower English winter late queen
And something else I have forgotten!
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Shishigatani squash are available at Baker Creek too, or Bobby's seeds, would love to know how they turn out as they sound very Black Futsu-like, and I'm a big fan of those.
(I'm another one who can't/won't join HSL now you have to buy GO membership too - makes the free seeds veeeerrry pricey)
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Shishigatani squash are available at Baker Creek too, or Bobby's seeds, would love to know how they turn out as they sound very Black Futsu-like, and I'm a big fan of those.
(I'm another one who can't/won't join HSL now you have to buy GO membership too - makes the free seeds veeeerrry pricey)
I wasn't aware of that. I dropped long-term HDRA/GO membership after several screw-ups on their part. But kept HSL membership and still grow seeds for them too.
Yes there are many erstwhile HSL varieties that can be bought elsewhere, including from T and M, Real Seed and others. Neither is Shishigatoni an endangered UK variety as far as I know (I thought it was a Japanese heritage variety). But this squash sounded intriguing and (and always providing we actually get our first choices - never guaranteed), maybe very well adapted to our growing conditions.
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Just reminiscing ..................
got my first ever catalogue out from 21 years ago. Then I had pea Magnum Bonum, turnip Laird's Victory, tomato Snow White Cherry, broad bean Crimson Flowered and lettuce Liller. Apart from the turnip, I still grow all of these varieties. And the turnip has never been re-offered either. This does happen, not everything comes round again.
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I am a member of both, but finding I am getting rather little out of the main membership so was thinking of dropping it. I seem to be on holiday for last year potato day and now there does not seem to be one on the events list.
The gardens are too far to go more then occasionally.
Looks like we have all gone for the same squash.
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We have pruned the number of charities and organisations we are members of but hope to keep with GO just to support the work and research that they do. I suspect that I would have liked it better in the Lawrence Hills days. :glasses9:
Still want to call it HDRA.
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HSL is good cause, but just like many other charities that I have supported in past, they have fallen out of my favour with one single reason; once you show your willingness for support...they want to bleed you dry :BangHead:
I've had long list of good causes that I've given...but the endless begging letters got too much...when these charities start being systematic with their money requests, that's when I'm put off, good cause or not...
Why is it that many charities are not happy anymore with 'one off donations', but are just interested getting you for 'just £ x'amount per month' direct debit deal...I may offer money, cash..there and then, but if its not good enough anymore..it is their loss :BangHead:
Year by year good causes are getting more and more needy...and my support list is getting shorter. I help one 'animal' one and one 'human' anymore... I just prefer to give when I CAN and as long they don't push it, they will stay on my regular 'list'.
Ooo...my inner Meldrew is poking its head up again...must stop now when I still can... :drunken_smilie:
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Reasons for an ongoing commitment are that this is gift aidable, not so easy with one off cash. Also it may also be drawing matched funding from elsewhere.
I do think we need to fight for our seeds, and also less chemicals in foods.
Looks like the EU is at it again, trying to stop us swapping seeds. Our seeds are our right and our heritage and do not belong to the likes of Monsanto.
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Already back. That was quick!!!
Got all my choices and a dwarf French bonus. Looking forward to sowing them.
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Same here :blob7: and the bonus was one of my alternative varieties too :wave:
What did you get other than the squash?
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Broad Beans Bossingham Long pod and Relon
Climbing French Bean Melbourne's Miniature
Climbing French Bean Czechoslovakian
Runner Bean Westmacott
Squash Shishigatani
Dwarf bean Snake
Running out of space at the allotment. Got so many things I want to grow. And the fruit is covering more and more space.
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Back here too, I received David Chappell runner beans as a bonus. Not a variety I've come across before.
I was surprised Czechoslovakian seeds are so pretty as no mention in the description.
Nice list Digeroo, Melbourne's Miniature sound lovely, they were on my short list.
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Broad Beans Bossingham Long pod and Relon
Climbing French Bean Melbourne's Miniature
Climbing French Bean Czechoslovakian
Runner Bean Westmacott
Squash Shishigatani
Dwarf bean Snake
Running out of space at the allotment. Got so many things I want to grow. And the fruit is covering more and more space.
Nice list Digeroo. Snake is a good bean, but needs a little room. The plants are quite strong and grow to 4ft.
Czechoslovakian was a surprise. Got a bean very much like it in a swap years ago from Professor Klapprott in Germany named Lilaspritzer (speckled maroon), which he got from Slovakia. And a few years later from UK donor Frank Hemming Neabel's Ukrainian (which he previously got from Canada from Salt Spring Seeds). I can't tell any difference between them. Now there is a third bean looking exactly the same again from HSL.
http://joogen.bplaced.net/bohbilder/lilaspritzer.jpg
http://www.saltspringseeds.com/products/neabels
This type seems to be widespread in Eastern Europe.
Melbourne's miniature confused me. Why miniature? Beans seem normal sized and tall to boot?
It's great fun comparing our choices. :wave:
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Mine have arrived.
Squash shisigatani
Pea fhueher Heinrich
Dwarf French Vermont cranberry
Climbing French San Antonio and Ryder's top of the pole
Cauliflower English winter /late queen
Celeriac tellus (bonus)
So me a happy bunny :blob7:
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Wow, Shisigatani squash have been popular with A4Aers.
San Antonio and Ryder's top of the pole both sound delish varieties.
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I had Ryder's last year but something went amiss!
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Grew Ryders top of the pole last year choice so have seeds. Got some kind of disease looked as if leaves had been burned but responded well to a dousing in stinging nettle tea. Very productive nice green tasting beans. Good for baked beans as well. Fast grower hence the top of the pole.
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I had Ryder's last year but something went amiss!
Did they not do well?
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Czechoslovakian was a surprise. Got a bean very much like it in a swap years ago from Professor Klapprott in Germany named Lilaspritzer (speckled maroon), which he got from Slovakia. And a few years later from UK donor Frank Hemming Neabel's Ukrainian (which he previously got from Canada from Salt Spring Seeds). I can't tell any difference between them. Now there is a third bean looking exactly the same again from HSL.
http://joogen.bplaced.net/bohbilder/lilaspritzer.jpg
http://www.saltspringseeds.com/products/neabels
This type seems to be widespread in Eastern Europe.
Melbourne's miniature confused me. Why miniature? Beans seem normal sized and tall to boot?
It's great fun comparing our choices. :wave:
The seeds of Czechoslovakian do look very similar to Jacobs Creek, though obviously not the same variety. Thanks for the info and links. Have you grown your two together to compare? I've another similarish type - Slovenien a climber, though the seed shape and pattern are a bit different. I wonder how many similar beans there are?
Why miniature?
Perhaps the seeds are very small?
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The seeds of Czechoslovakian do look very similar to Jacobs Creek, though obviously not the same variety. Thanks for the info and links. Have you grown your two together to compare? I've another similarish type - Slovenien a climber, though the seed shape and pattern are a bit different. I wonder how many similar beans there are?
Why miniature?
Perhaps the seeds are very small?
That makes sense if the seeds are small.
Not familiar with Jacob's Creek beans. They are similar to Trout/Jacob's Cattle but quite a bit larger, which makes them a very useful sized shelling bean.
There are many places where one type originated and gained local appreciation. Same with tomatoes. The original mutation to 'black' (non antho) tomatoes happened on the Crimean peninsula and spread from there.
It is really great that we are now able to enjoy so many types from so many corners of the globe. Very addictive, but many beans are just so pretty, they are also a visual joy, like gems or toys for grown-ups.
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I had Ryder's last year but something went amiss!
Did they not do well?
It was probably my fault!
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Wow, Shisigatani squash have been popular with A4Aers.
Am sticking it on my wishlist for 2016 - being compiled already! Can't justify buying more seeds at the moment and it means I can see how they grow for you lot in the meantime - what a cunning plan! :icon_cheers:
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If they do well we may be able to produce some seeds.
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I like a nice tall bean.
4 ft is very large for a dwarf. Presume they need staking. I like Hungarian Wax and they are pretty large plants, I call them a bush variety. They are great beans, but very difficult to save seeds, since every slug in the neighboured hood homes in on them.
My all time favourites from HSL are Mrs Lewis PP and Hungarian Wax and Ryders Top of the Pole.
I did like the climbing peas Purple podded and Latvian Xmas mostly for the flowers and wind protection, but the voles are rampant. No more kestrals. (But don't get me started about Red Kites) Seed saving for peas is becoming very difficult.
Still trying to find a good climbing flat bean dare (I say it) like you buy in the supermarkets.
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I like a nice tall bean.
Still trying to find a good climbing flat bean dare (I say it) like you buy in the supermarkets.
Algarve or Hunter might fit that description.
http://www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/Vegetable+Seeds/All+Vegetable+Seeds/Bean+Climbing+French+Seeds+-+Algarve_195595.htm
http://www.unwins.co.uk/french-bean-climbing-hunter-seeds-pid1132.html
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When did the kestrels disappear? Ours have gone as well.
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The Kestral disappeared when the Red Kites appeared. They used to sit on the bean canes and eat voles. Lots of other birds disappearing as well. Voles/mice are becoming rampant.
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The Kestral disappeared when the Red Kites appeared. About two year ago. They used to sit on the bean canes and eat voles. Lots of other birds disappearing as well. Voles/mice are becoming rampant.
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I like a nice tall bean.
Still trying to find a good climbing flat bean dare (I say it) like you buy in the supermarkets.
Algarve or Hunter might fit that description.
http://www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/Vegetable+Seeds/All+Vegetable+Seeds/Bean+Climbing+French+Seeds+-+Algarve_195595.htm
http://www.unwins.co.uk/french-bean-climbing-hunter-seeds-pid1132.html
and bean Helda of course from Duchy Organic
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-seeds/pea-and-bean-seeds/climbing-bean-helda-duchy-originals-organic-seeds/gwd4740TM
McCaslan from the seed circle last year is similar too, but not quite as long as the supermarket beans.
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I like a nice tall bean.
4 ft is very large for a dwarf. Presume they need staking.
ooops, just spotted that and what it refers back to. No sorry 4 is a typo. Large yes - up to three foot - and don't need staking unless in a windy location. 4 would definitely be a half-tall bean and need staking.
My bad :BangHead:
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We lost our kestrels a while ago, and we have no red kites. I've heard they're doing badly nationally, so I doubt whether it's got anything to do with the kites. They wouldn't be able to catch kestrels, and they feed differently, so I wouldn't expect one to influence the other much if at all.
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just returning to the HSL catalogue online. Am I meant to get notification to look at a website? I normally get the catalogue but no notification or anything. Don't want to miss the boat (or the seeds)
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just returning to the HSL catalogue online. Am I meant to get notification to look at a website? I normally get the catalogue but no notification or anything. Don't want to miss the boat (or the seeds)
You should get an email with a url to get you to the online catalogue. As I understand some people who don't have an email address got a paper list of what is available. If you have neither, something went wrong. Hope you get to choose soon. :wave:
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I got an email. I just clicked on the . Do make sure your record is up to date.
I started very very late my first year, and still managed to get all my choices.
I always find my pot luck does the best. Persume because they have plenty they are varieties which do well.
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Back here too, I received David Chappell runner beans as a bonus. Not a variety I've come across before.
I was surprised Czechoslovakian seeds are so pretty as no mention in the description.
Nice list Digeroo, Melbourne's Miniature sound lovely, they were on my short list.
So, that is what one of my beans is, Czechoslovakian. I keep forgetting what they all look like. Lost track of the ones I've had, though I still have Cherokee Trail of Tears (it was at this time of year I met supersprout all those years ago..... and had saved some seed for her...)
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Got the old paper version before Christmas but just not inspired by it this year...
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Am veeeeeery late to the party, but I'm in thanks to someone v kind.
I have 3 days to get my choices to HSL and have gone the whole hog and signed up to be a seed guardian too. That should fill up any spare corners on the plot! :)
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Great Sparrow! Hope you get your first choices even at this late stage. What did you go for?
And what are you guarding? :wave:
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First choices:
Dobbies Purple beet
DFB Vermont Cranberry
DFB Hopi Black
Shetland Kale (which I am sure I won't get!)
Squash Shishigatani (which I know I possibly will get because I called and asked whether they had any left)
Chop Suey Greens
saving:
possibly trifetti peper and a DFB of some kind (ie can't remember!)
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First choices:
Dobbies Purple beet
DFB Vermont Cranberry
DFB Hopi Black
Shetland Kale (which I am sure I won't get!)
Squash Shishigatani (which I know I possibly will get because I called and asked whether they had any left)
Chop Suey Greens
saving:
possibly trifetti peper and a DFB of some kind (ie can't remember!)
Sounds good! Another who fell for the charms of Shishigatoni squash - it had better be good for all of us :tongue3:
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If it's anything like the black futsu tastiness I will be delighted.