Question for you all. I am growing Phrik key nuu this year. But I am a bit mystified at its appearance. Which is very unexpectedly pretty.
The leaves are variegated and now that fruits are developing they are yellow with green patches too. Did not expect this from the photos. How are others people going with this variety?
I grew Phrik Key Nuu last year. It made a small variegated plant but didn’t ever produce any peppers as I think I was rather late to get it going. Interestingly I’m growing it again this year but, from the same batch of seeds, it has produced a plant which isn’t variegated. Your variegated peppers sound interestingly unusual. I’ll have to see if I can grow it for a third time next year to see what emerges.
Is this the same as Fish Pepper? It looks like it?
Does Fish produce the same yellow and green fruit? I have a plant of Fish growing this year. I must look at it more closely. My peppers are probably well behind yours.
I’ve grown cosmos Apricotta my favourite cosmos to date , almost luminous , I have plenty of seed if anyone is interested?
Hi, the seeds were sourced directly from Frank Morton's company in 2019. Packet labelled 'Wild Garden Mix'. The seeds I shared with Galina were from plants grown from this mix. I've no way of knowing what the exact cultivars in this mix are named, or even if they were all ever released. From the selections I made from this mix, If I recall correctly, what I did was name the seed packets 'Flashy Troutback-like' and 'Flashy Butteroak-like' or something to that effect. Those two look extremely similar, if not identical, to the cultivars released by Morton with those names.
As far as I'm aware, Morton selected Flashy Troutback from Forellenschluss for a more uniform population.
There was another 'Trout' adjacent selection from that mix. I cannot remember off the top of my head which one I shared with Galina but it'll be in my notes somewhere. One had greener, slightly thicker and more savoyed leaves. The other was distinctly more yellow and had smooth, flat leaves. Slight but noticable differences.
As I understand it, Morton’s Secret Mix are all varieties he is/was still breeding from rather than a mix of his offered and finished varieties.
Morton's Secret Mixes are indeed as you describe them JanG, though I haven't yet grown any. What I had purchased was 'Wild Garden Mix', since delisted. It's a mix of everything, released and unreleased.
https://web.archive.org/web/20200814000742/https://www.wildgardenseed.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_75&products_id=112
I'm sorry to read that the tomatoes weren't as sweet as you had hoped. Do you think it may be down to our cold wet summer? These past two seasons have been very different, and in 2022 I grew them in a polytunnel with restricted water. I'll germ. test the Blue Ambrosia and send you some more seeds this winter.
A query , my friend has grown sunflowers from germinated seed under a bird feeder, which she transplanted to the allotment,the resulting plants have about five heads each a different colour. I have never seen this before , is it common? Thank you for reading.
The Pink Ambrosia marches on and on producing. Beautifully productive.
Canadian looks like an interesting addition. The seeds and unusual blush flower colour are identical Kahnawake Mohawk, a Canadian variety that I grew this year.
As I understand it, Morton’s Secret Mix are all varieties he is/was still breeding from rather than a mix of his offered and finished varieties.
I had a bit of a disaster with squashes this year. I tried again to add Todo el Año to the circle, but voles severed the plants at ground level with half mature hand pollinated squashes on. I also handpollinated a big favourite, Sibley. This has a very pleasing flavour and stores well too. One of those fruits was destroyed possibly by slugs. Fortunately the other one with pure seed did well. Currently post harvest curing on a growbag tray indoors to mature the seeds for the circle. Fingers crossed it contains many seeds when I cut it open.
My first seeds were bought from the Abundant Life Seed Foundation. Fortunately this squash is making a bit of a comeback. I have noticed that RealSeeds is offering it. It has excellent flavour and grows well (beasties permitting).
A description of its origins is here:
https://www.siskiyouseeds.com/products/winter-squash-sibley#:~:text=The%20Sibley%20Squash%2C%20which%20is,vigorous%2012%2D15%20foot%20vines.
I have just rechecked the Real Seeds page and they refer to an even older secret mix, to which they themselves appear to have added too. https://www.realseeds.co.uk/lettuce.html
That's a great summary of the Morton mixes. Thanks Galina. Indeed there are plenty of unknowns. In particular it's unclear, as you say, whether Real Seeds added their own varieties or some other Morton varieties in 2014 and 2015. It would be rather surprising, perhaps, to carry on calling it Mortons Secret Mix if they added non-Morton varieties?
Just harvesting Rose Family Beans, aka Racoon, aka Coon bean seeds. This is one of the prettiest, but also one of the oddest beans I know. My original seed batch came from John Yeoman, who got them from the USA. This is his description.
Interesting, I haven’t grow them or grew them , they were directly from HSL swap but I’ll give them a go next year to compare notes .That’s interesting. Do you mean that you and someone else swapped seeds which had come directly from HSL? It would be good to know whether your friend had grown them on and saved seed or whether they were HSL seeds.
I have plenty of Babbington Leeks, I have found they are happy under an old Damson tree I have, out of the way and just doing their own thing!Yes, I think Babington leeks are quite tough once they get going, except perhaps for a certain amount of susceptibility to very cold temperatures if that was what threatened Galina’s. Mine grow in a bed where other alliums have succumbed to white rot but these seem to shrug it off. They did take about three years to build up strength though. I kept thinking in those three years that they had disappeared for good.
I got the seeds from our local Seed Swap and the seeds were from the HSL given to the organiser. Hope this helps.Interesting, I haven’t grow them or grew them , they were directly from HSL swap but I’ll give them a go next year to compare notes .That’s interesting. Do you mean that you and someone else swapped seeds which had come directly from HSL? It would be good to know whether your friend had grown them on and saved seed or whether they were HSL seeds.
Here are some French beans I'd like to contribute to the Circle.
Climbing:
Myrtle Allen
A quite early small podded, productive white seeded bean. I received it from a Polish donor who cites his original source as Remy Orlowski. Unfortunately her Sample Seed Catalogue no longer seems to be available online so I haven’t been able to find any other information about the origin of this variety.
Is this a misunderstanding?
The roots are not meant to be blood red, just the leaves. Looking at Chiltern Seed's website. If CH S are now retailing this variety, there is no need for HSL to maintain this variety, and this may well be why they gave packets to a seed swap.
Here is the CH S description. https://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/item_1714c_bulls_blood_or_beetroot_leaf_blood_red_seeds
This also shines some light on the subject. Roots are described as "pale red/pink in colour, with clear zoning."
http://sfnottingham.blogspot.com/2018/02/beetroot-selected-cultivars-long-blood.html
Here are some French beans I'd like to contribute to the Circle.
Climbing:
Myrtle Allen
A quite early small podded, productive white seeded bean. I received it from a Polish donor who cites his original source as Remy Orlowski. Unfortunately her Sample Seed Catalogue no longer seems to be available online so I haven’t been able to find any other information about the origin of this variety.
Had a quick search on how to use the wayback machine for old cached copies of pages. Not that there is any meaningful information here, but this was the old catalog entry.
https://web.archive.org/web/20210410212122/http://www.sampleseeds.com/?page_id=3725
Remy writes: Myrtle Allen bnMyrA
This a small white seeds variety that I can find no info for! It was early to mature so this would be a good one for the north.
.
Shimonita, same family as Welsh Onion, but with a much fatter stem. This sounds a wonderfully useful addition to the garden.Is Shimonita perennial like Welsh onion?
Lettuce is called Rossia.
Sorry, you had pointed this out elsewhere and I forgot to correct it. I know very well that it's Rossia but spellcheck thought it knew better and I forgot to spellcheck spellcheck!
Lettuce is called Rossia.
I will let you know my list for the seedcircle in the weekendThanks Ruud. Looking forward to hearing what you’ve got up your sleeve!
Just one slight comment, Jang. The tomato is called "Betimes Macbeth", (not bedtimes). Fingers crossed for Sibley, which I am going to open later today.Oh dear, another one. Sorry Galina. As someone who taught Macbeth to teenagers year in, year out, I am very fond of the name ‘Betimes Macbeth’ and have wanted to grow it for some time. And from what you said previously it is indeed betimes. I’ll try to make sure I control the spellcheck in the Airtable base.
https://www.urbanharvest.sg/products/maple-pea-shoots-dou-miao-microgreens-organic
Dou Miau information.
Maple peas, also known as pea sprouts, pea shoots, or dou miao, are a local favorite in Singapore! They have long, pale stems with tender leaves, and taste best stir fried. Pea shoots can also be enjoyed raw in pastas, sandwiches, as garnishes or in salads.
Sweet and delicate tasting, pea shoots pack a powerful nutrient punch, containing vitamin A, C as well as a myriad of other antioxidants and phyto-nutrients. Maple peas also have a high protein and fibre content.
Peas have to be soaked for 8-12 hours before sowing. Maple pea shoots grow fast and can be harvested in just one week's time, making them perfect for beginner gardeners or those who want to enjoy their delicacy fast. Easy to grow, and tastes fresher than any store bought pea shoots!
eoq
I also know the Mrs Lei aka Mrs Lee pale pink flowered pea is said to be best for pea shoots (its pods are really lovely!) and that one does not have the maple type seeds. So maple seeds do not automatically equate to peas being used as pea shoots. Other maple seeded peas, like HSL's Latvian Soup and Latvian Christmas peas are simply non-sweet soup or stew peas. And neither is that Victorian oddity, the Parsley Pea, which is most suited to pea shoots because of its leaf shape.
Selma Zebra: "JC Metze developed this bean from a family bean in the 40-50s and sold the patent to Parks seed which listed the bean in the 70s". The bean was since delisted and lost for decades until some seed was donated to the Seed Savers Exchange.
Seed from Thompson & Morgan. This is a delicious bean pod. I've read mixed reviews where people say that they need to be picked very young otherwise they are tough, but that was not my experience. I've eaten them when bumpy with beans inside and they have still been tender, full of beany flavour and with a great texture to chomp into.
Basque Pepper: "The “Espelette” chili pepper (Piment d'Espelette in French, Ezpeletako biperra in Basque) is a culinary icon of Basque Country with a production area limited to 10 villages nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains. The pepper is the first, and currently the only spice in France to carry the European Union’s “PDO” (protected designation of origin) label which both protects its name and regulates its process of production". Peppers not grown in this area are given the common name of Basque Pepper.
Seeds from Real Seeds. This is a very fruity, sweet hot pepper, very low on the scoville scale at just 4,000. Prolific and early, I was picking ripe peppers by late July.
This is the Zelma Zesta description also stating that Selma Zebra is a different bean.
I am Rodger Winn, better known as Rodger on the forum here. I am the grower of this bean for Southern Exposure Seeds. My wifes family is the devbeloper of this bean. My wifes Great Uncle Mr JC Metze developed this bean from a family bean in the 40-50s and sold the patent to Parks seed. Those that are members of Seed Savers Exchange can view pictures of this bean on the online catolog. Everyone else I will try to post a picture in the next couple of days. This is not the Selma Zebra, This is Zelma Zesta as Mr JC had it written when he gave me the seed but it was probably Selma Zesta listed in the Parks catolog. I was not able to find it listed in Parks since they did not retain all catologs and Mr Jc Metze told me it was in the 60s early 70s that it was listed. The bean is best used when pods are pencil size. It is very productive and produces reliably in the summer months here in South Carolina, a time when lots of other common beans fail. So it is a good varity for warmer areas good green bean flavor and very productive, can be tough and stringy if not picked when pods are young about pencil thickness and lenght. Rodger
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2002122/zelma-zesta-selma-zesta-pole-beans
I have avoided coming to this conclusion myself, as I have no proof. We really can only report on what seems proven and that is that S Zebra was bred from another very old Swiss variety and Z Zesta was 'developed' in the USA. Whether there is a connection or whether this is a fluke of a coincidence, we may never now.
I haven't come across the Swiss history for Selma Zebra which you have given here. That certainly helps separate the two varieties from one another. Can you elaborate on it at all?
Thank you so much Galina and JanG for your advice!
Galina, I remembered reading about the toothpick trick somewhere... turns out it was in one of your posts from the link JanG shared. Haha! I love that forum and I must have read through it several times. It's such a shame it's not that active anymore (and I'm a few years late...).
I'll pot on the seedlings over the next few days, choosing a majority of the darkest stems and just a few greens because I'm curious! (The fact I don't have enough room for the hundreds of seedlings accumulating all over the place is a problem for another day... :toothy10:)