Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Jayb on March 25, 2010, 19:47:02
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Following on from Digeroo’s post, I thought there is just time to set this up this year if enough people are interested in joining;
Take a look here http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedcircle.htm
Basic idea, each person chooses and grows an open pollinated or Heritage Vegetable, saves the seeds, enough for all the members of the group. I’m happy to grow 2 varieties. Keep in touch through the season and then at harvest time send a sae for the grower to send the seed back to you. It might be an idea to all send back at roughly the same time, so unless you already have biennials started, stick with annuals for this year. But you can start planning ahead for next year
So have a look here and see what you fancy growing http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedsavinginfo.html
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Would love to join please! How many people are you aming for?
Am growing quite a few open pollinated things - will definitely be saving again my climbing pea beans with the ying yang pattern and would be happy to do some climbing peas - Alderman, Telephone or Champion of England. Will also have brassicas (well, fingers crossed) and lettuces to offer. Next year will try carrots :D
So can be quite flexible.
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I'm in as well. I'm doing all the peas I can manage (or have allowed people to send me!), several beans, and cucumbers for the HSL. It would be great to have someone doing brassicas and lettuce as that would broaden the available experience.
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Your both very welcome ;D
Robert, Plot51a is on the ball and read your mind ;D I'm also hoping/planning I can do something with Brassicas, but can't confirm at the moment.
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please may I play ;D,
I have beans,peas,toms and chilli/peppers and other bits and bobs from the HSL/ shades x
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Can i join in, i have some Polish beans seeds from HSL and some other beans (have to check what else i have) and would love to join in
regards
K
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please may I play ;D,
I have beans,peas,toms and chilli/peppers and other bits and bobs from the HSL/ shades x
Yes you can ;D
Nice to have you on board too lottiedolly
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I too have many HSL seeds and think it a good idea to share as much as possible ,would love to join in.
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I would love to join in - mostly for the learning experience! And talking of brassicas my Kale is just going to seed.......
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If it's not too late (or too modest a contribution), I would like to join too. I am growing some OP tomatoes (from RealSeed, funnily enough) and will be saving seed again this year, plus some mange tout peas and, I hope, via the school gardening club some heritage beans and peas (many thanks again, Saddad). They are very interested in sustainability this year and I hope that I can introduce some seed saving info when parts of school do some gardening with us after Easter.
Incidentally, is anyone else in the north of England? It's always handy to find out what other people think works well.
Best regards to all,
Sue
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Happy to have you join ;D
Not too late at all SueK, sounds like you are going to be very busy. Sorry can't help with the up north bit, but someone else will likely along.
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You can count me in,i can maybe do the peppers and the toms.maybe some beans.
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Hi Ruud, haven't heard from you for a while, you got a mention the other day when one of your country folk was on here, how is the weather in Holland at the moment. ;D ;D ;D
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Hi cornykev long time no see.Yes i was busy,busy with the normal busy family life.Now i got some more time to do the things i love and it is sowing time.The weather is nice overhere it is starting to be spring.How are you?I hope everything is okee.
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Hi Am I OK to join in please-would do a couple of courgettes if that's OK?
SueK -not sure how far north you are but I'm in the red rose county?
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Incidentally, is anyone else in the north of England? It's always handy to find out what other people think works well.
Best regards to all,
Sue
Hi sue - another southerner here :D There's a members map - click on the button at the top of the page (alongside Profile, Search etc), or ask away in the Locations and Sites bit of the forum ;)
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Hi ;D
Can I join please, I have numerous heritage tomatoes and beans, will pick one of each to save for the circle if thats OK?
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Very new here on the forum, thanks for having me. I am planning on saving lettuce seed and black winter radish seed this summer and would love to share with a group. Please sign me up too.
Galina
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Yes please :) count me in.
I've mainly chosen beans from HSL , dwarf and tall, this year and they're easy to save and supply.
But I wish people could save more carrots or parsnips - I may give my HSL purple carrots a go if they're worthwhile.
Same for the bulbous rooted chervil because that's expensive to get hold of and needs to be fresh - I'll see if enough germinates (some's up already).
And then there's the HSL's Irish cut and come again spring collard - if it's nice I'll give it a whirl.
Saved from realseeds from last year I already have plenty of mixed grain amaranths, Cherokee trail of tears, 'Magenta Magic' Orach and some fat baby achocha but I don't know if we're sharing this year or planning for next here.
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Nice to have you on board Ruud.
Hi to keepondigin and Greensausage, yes join in. Keepondigin what about a squash and a courgette, rubber bands and tape at the ready ;D
Hello and welcome to A4A Galina,, I hope you enjoy it here as much as I do. You might be interested in this thread if you have not found it already.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,58536.0.html
It would be nice to know a little more about you and what part of the country you are from.
Sounds like you are already one step ahead as you are saving biannual radish seed.
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Welcome to Earlypea too ;D
I'll do a quick count, but probably only space for another one or two :)
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Thanks everyone for the interest shown, the group is currently at 13.
Earlypea we are growing to harvest seed this year to share ready for next season.
I think to stay on track and so we don't duplicate, it would be a good idea to decide on which vegetable varieties are being grown. I agree with Robert’s suggestion to grow as diverse a seed collection as possible. Real seeds has some good basic information on their site as to isolation and there is a host of information on the net.
Also if we stick to 2 varieties to share with every member.
I’m sure many of us will be growing more than two and perhaps we can list these for swaps later on with other circle members.
If everyone is in agreement seeds will be shared out once the last seeds are confirmed harvested and members need to have been active and participating A4A members during this period. Sorry to be rule setting just think it is better up front rather than ill will along the way. If anyone has any other suggestions please post.
If it helps I’m happy to send a SAE to Ruud for his seeds and then send them out with mine, might save a bit on postage.
If anyone is stuck for something to grow I can possibly help out with seeds
Outline so far;
Jayb
Choosing from Cucumber
Onion
Brassica, I’ll see what Plot 51a and 1066 want to do first
I think I’ll also grow something in case of disaster!
Plot51A
Choosing from Pea
Brassica
Lettuce
Robert_Brenchley
Peas
Angel Shades
Choosing from beans
Peas
Toms
Chili/peppers
Lottiedolly
Polish Beans
unnamed bean variety
Markfield Rover
Tomatoes
1066
Kale-?
SueK
Choosing from Tomatoes
Peas
Beans
Ruud
Choosing from beans
Tomatoes
Peppers
Keepondiggin
Courgette x2?
Greensausage
Tomato
Beans
Galina
Lettuce
Black winter radish
Earlypea
Beans
maybe Spring collard
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You can add cucumbers and beans for me. I'll probably experiment with other things as well, and may have toms depending on the blight. I may have more than two varieties for the circle; if I've only got limited quantities of a rare variety it makes sense to offer it to people who are likely to save seed.
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You can add beans especially broad beans,crimson flowering ones.Some other beans,dwarf and pole.Tomatoes ofcourse and i did some experiment with lettuce and that worked out great.I have an other issue what amount of seeds do you need from one spieces to make it worthwhile.I mean if you put in 20 beans and at the end you harvest a hundred beans is this than enough for the circle or do you need more?
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That depends on how many people are in the circle, and how many of them want seed. If you can't produce enough for everyone, I think that's fair enough, you can only do what you can.
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That are clever words robert;you can only do your best.I am also involved in a circle with some american friends.I am growing osu blue fruit for them,it is the only blue tomato almost like a blueberry,very exciting experiment.
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I think keep it realistic, it’s about sharing diversity within the group. That is why I suggested saving just 2 varieties to share with everyone, so it is not too much of a nightmare and is fairly fair. So enough seed for participants to grow, giving a few to try and a few to save for the following season or pass on.
As a suggestion something like beans 10+, lettuce or small seeds a good pinch etc. If you want to send more that’s fine. But who knows it may be a poor season , in which case just share what you have.
I'm planning on saving seed from several varieties, which I’ll be happy to share/swap, but won’t necessarily have enough for everyone. Hope this sounds ok.
There are 13 in the group at the moment, which is great but perhaps room for two more if anyone is interested. I'm happy to close it now, if you all think this is enough?
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Jayb and all seed sharers
maybe we could all send our seeds to you when the time comes, not just Ruud. In individual little packets ready to share and with a Jiffybag SASE. If you were prepared to take on stuffing the envelopes, it would be the least costly option for everybody.
Yes I had already planned on saving seeds of the winter radish, because I found it very useful. It thrived under fleece over winter and we dig up a couple of roots when needed. They can be cooked similar to a turnip or sliced finely or grated raw in salads.
Fingers crossed it works out for everybody, but problems can happen and everybody will understand.
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Looking good.I will be growing toms Blaby Special and at least 15 other heritage inc Chocolate Cherokee so perhaps the tomato growers could compare lists at the end of the season (surely blight free this year) so we do not duplicate and may be help out if the B word has struck.
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maybe we could all send our seeds to you when the time comes, not just Ruud. In individual little packets ready to share and with a Jiffybag SASE. If you were prepared to take on stuffing the envelopes, it would be the least costly option for everybody.
I'd be happy to do that, but I'm not sure it would be cheaper and if a parcel did go missing it would be someones entire lot?
The raddish sound great Galina, I've grew Hilds blauer Herbst und Winter and Long White Icicle, pleased with both. It is a shame I under use them in the kitchen though.
Looking good.I will be growing toms Blaby Special and at least 15 other heritage inc Chocolate Cherokee so perhaps the tomato growers could compare lists at the end of the season (surely blight free this year) so we do not duplicate and may be help out if the B word has struck.
I've been wanting to try Blaby tomatoes for ages
;D I Look forward to swapping some varieties later in the year. I'm hoping I've got a couple of real keepers growing this year....taste will tell
All my outdoors toms were wiped out last year with blight, fairly early on, so I've taken a bit more space in the polytunnel this year to grow them, fingers crossed.
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That are clever words robert;you can only do your best.I am also involved in a circle with some american friends.I am growing osu blue fruit for them,it is the only blue tomato almost like a blueberry,very exciting experiment.
I am also growing OSU blue and i have 3 germinated. i have arranged for the seeds to be shared on another foum i belong to as they also do seed circles. let me know how you get on, i do know that the density of colour is down to the amount of sunlight it receives so lets hope we have a warm sunny summer
kx
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Can I join...fine if I am too late. I want to save Courgettes,
squash blue banana and am trying the bigger Caigua Achocha
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Thanks for organising this ;D ;D ;D
I'm going to have a good old think about what I can save, so I'll get back to you - as I said it looks like some Kale, but I'll sit down in the next couple of days with my seed box and the Real Seed instructions and then get back to you. I'll try and aim for some diversity as well.... :)
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Welcome Hector ;D. Not too late at all.
Just a thought, Keepondigin said she was going to grow a couple of types of courgette, but she has not been back yet to say what. It may be worthwhile getting in touch with her so you don't duplicate. Or keep the courgette for swapping and grow something else for the group. I'd be happy to help out with seed to get you started if I have something to interest you :)
Was the OSU seed from Ruud lottiedolly? They are a stunning looking fruit. I think there will be a few seeds available later in the year and it will be intresting to see what develops with the crosses.
1066 I still haven't decided mine quite yet, but may change from cucumber as Robert is also doing them although varieties are very different. I was thinking of doing either Suyo long or Uzbekski which is similar/ish to Sikkim and I think quite tasty.
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Very kind of you Jayb...I'll pm Keepondigin. Pming you about shade plants later too :)
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Welcome Hector ;D. Not too late at all.
Just a thought, Keepondigin said she was going to grow a couple of types of courgette, but she has not been back yet to say what. It may be worthwhile getting in touch with her so you don't duplicate. Or keep the courgette for swapping and grow something else for the group. I'd be happy to help out with seed to get you started if I have something to interest you :)
Was the OSU seed from Ruud lottiedolly? They are a stunning looking fruit. I think there will be a few seeds available later in the year and it will be intresting to see what develops with the crosses.
1066 I still haven't decided mine quite yet, but may change from cucumber as Robert is also doing them although varieties are very different. I was thinking of doing either Suyo long or Uzbekski which is similar/ish to Sikkim and I think quite tasty.
Probably from Ruud as they were in a tomato swap, i am quite excited to grow them. cannot wait for next years swaps, will hopefully have a wider range of swaps available.
Are you growing sikkim this year, i have only one germinate so far,which normally should be enough but i am trying to get one going for a friend, do they take long
to germinate normally?
regards
K
p.s. thanks for all the toms that you have put into the tomato swaps Ruud, i seem to have had a few of the ones that you have domnated
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Would folks be interested in Florence Fennel - Mantovano if I saved some seed? And I've been wondering about sweet peppers, but that really will depend on how good a summer we have !!
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Just been reading the RealSeeds seeds saving circle info - the bit I like the best is in the what you need section - "tea and some nice biscuits " ;D ;D ;D
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Hi Just to confirm my 2 offerings- the Verde di Milano Courgette and Pattison Orange Patty Pan summer squash.
Have pmd Hector as well so we don't duplicate.
Ordered my seeds from Realseeds tonight...
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Is there still space for a little one?
I've got a circle going on another forum but will be able to save for this circle as well.
Can do beans, cukes, achocha, parsnips, carrots and/or various toms depending on the season's success. Got the carrots and snoops from last season replanted and they should throw up a flower soon. Also got plenty of squash to add to the mix as well.
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ok, I can do any of these...whatevers best for the diversity in the circle...frank feedback welcome :)
White Volunteer Courgette
Early Scallop Patty-pan White
Blue Banana squash
Summer Crookneck squash
Golden sweet mange-tout pea
Caigua Achocha
Miniature white cucumber
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ok, I can do any of these...whatevers best for the diversity in the circle...frank feedback welcome :)
It all looks great to me! Personally speaking, the white volunteer courgette and miniature white cuke look especially great.
WRT my own choice, I shall be saving the following this year, subject to the usual provisos:
Tomatoes - Latah, Galina, Urbikany
Peas - Purple podded, mange tout Swiss Giant
and PROBABLY (still arranging with school!)
French beans - one of Ryders top o' the pole, Blue Coco
I agree with markfield rover that we may welcome some behind the scenes duplication if (ever the pessimist) some things haven't worked out come the autumn.
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Hi lottiedolly, I doubt I’ll grow Sikkim this year as I’m keen to try a few others (as above) although I’m not starting cucumbers for a little bit yet. From what I remember germination should be on a par for cucumbers. I’ll do a germination check with some and get back to you.
1066 I think Florence Fennel sounds good as do Sweet Peppers and I’d be happy to have seed from either. A cup of tea and biscuits works every time for me ;D
;D Yayyyy first two confirmed varieties thanks Keepondiggin,
Hi Aj, you are very welcome and thanks for the idea ;D
I don’t think anyone is growing carrots or parsnips for the circle although anything on your list would fit in very well.
Hector they all sound good choices. White Volunteer courgette had glowing reports on another thread. Why not fo for your favourites
Great list SueK. Yes I think there will be naturally some duplication of varieties, which I think is a good thing. I also like Robert's ''You can only do what you can.''
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Excellent!!! ;D
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Hi Hector any of those sound good to me- I especially liked the look of the White Volunteer courgette but I'm probably biased as I was considering that one as well ;) lol.
It's really up to you whatever you will enjoy growing
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Ok Miniature White Cucumber and White Volunteer Courgette it is then :) I'll grow the others too...so got a back-up. I am VERY excited about this :)
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Hi - it is exciting isn't it! ;D
The ones I was thinking of are - Sweet Pepper - Sunnybrook, Florence Fennel - Mantovano, and the Kale - Black (can't remember off the top of my head!).
and thinking ahead for next year ::) I'm going to grow extra Aubergines - Long Purple to add to the mix :D, only growing a couple this year so not sure there will be enough seed to go around etc.
Anyway the sun is back out now so off for a potter in the garden :D
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Seeds arrived today-itching to get started but have to wait... :(
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The plan is (famous last words)
Blaby Special tomato
Cherokee Chocolate toms and\or Kew Blue dfb depending what is wanted.
I will be growing many other HSL seeds so hopefully they will be my back-up plan if the above fail.
I guess we will compare lists in early autumn.
Good luck.
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Looks good. Looking forward to Blaby tomato seeds, if possible.
My winter radishes are sorted and I have replanted my seed saving selection of good roots and uniform plants. Not long before they will stretch, grow tall and start flowering hopefully. I have planted them a little deeper, so that the roots don't show, which hopefully will deter mice and other predators.
Must plant the lettuces out. I am growing several varieties, will decide later which is the best for saving seed.
Looking forward to hearing how everybody else is going with their planned seed saving.
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Hi,
I'm new to these forums. Actually, this is the first one I've ever been on.
I have a question regarding runner beans. I've just planted some seeds out in pots. Is this too early? What will happen to them if it is? I am hoping we will not get any more frost.
I live in a moderate climate on Vancouver Island.
Looking forward to your replies. Thanks
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Hi bcbeans and welcome ,may I suggest you try starting a new topic you will get more answers that way,we are still liable to frosts for at least a month here so seeds still in packets,having said that up the plot this morning the canes are going up ready .
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Hi and Welcome to the A4A Bcbeans, if your spring climate is similar to ours in the UK, Runner beans can be started somewhere warm in pots before planting them outside when the weather has improved.
If they are a bit cold they are likely to sulk and maybe rot in the pot. Hope this helps, but as Markfield R suggests starting a new thread/topic here http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/board,1.0.html
with your question may bring more answers. Look for and press the little box marked new topic.
We have a super helpful member in Canada who if they see this will I'm sure will be more help than me
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I've updated the list and unfortunately have to re-post as unable to edit original.
Slightly narrowed down/updated list individuals will be choosing from ;D
Jayb
Pumpkin, either Jarrahdale or Queensland Blue (seeds very kindly sent by another forum member)
Onion, Roscoff Pink or Shimonita bunching
(I’ve also got different varieties of peas, beans, tomatoes and a few other things on the go, harvest permitting)
Plot51A
Pea
Brassica
Lettuce
Robert_Brenchley
Peas
Cucumber
Beans
And possibly tomatoes
Angel Shades
Beans
Peas
Toms
Chili/peppers
Lottiedolly
Polish Beans
+ another bean
Markfield Rover
Tomatoes; Blaby Special and Chocolate Cherokee
And or Kew Blue DFB
+ a back up plan
1066
Florence Fennel- Mantovano
Sweet Pepper - Sunnybrook
Kale – Tuscany? Black
SueK
Tomatoes - Latah, Galina, Urbikany
Peas - Purple podded; mange tout, Swiss Giant
Possibly French beans - one of Ryders top o' the pole, Blue Coco
Ruud
Dwarf and Pole Beans
Crimson Flowering Broad Beans
Tomatoes
Peppers
Lettuce experiment
Keepondiggin
Verdi di Milano Courgette
Orange Patty Pan squash
Greensausage
Tomato
Beans
Galina
Lettuce, to be decided following tasting ;D
Black Winter Radish
Earlypea
Beans
Maybe Spring collard
AJ
Beans,
Cukes,
Achoccha,
Parsnip
Carrot
and/or various toms
Hector
Miniature White Cucumber
White Volunteer Courgette
On paper it is looking great with a good mixture of vegetable types to be shared. It is going to be exciting finding out what the actual varieties are and I'm looking forward to reading about how everyone is getting on.
ps if I've left anything off give a shout
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Morning all
I would just like to say that all of my polish beans are up and looking lush :). I still have not decided on what else to submit as i want to see what starts to grow well, I was hoping for a small greenhouse cucumber but do not seem to be having fun germinating the seeds yet, i might sow some more and give them another try, i am also having problems with my thai aubergines so they look like they are also out of the window :'(, oh well keep trying.
Kx
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That looks like a fabulous list! Thanks for organising this Jayb ;D
And lottiedolly - isn't that just the way of gardening! I'm in a similar position at the moment as the fennel doesn't seem to want to germinate!!
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Twenty-odd pea varieties in so far, let's hope nothing goes wrong!
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first 25 varieties of bean in - and all have at least one up apart from the Hidatsa.....c'mon - you know you wanna.....
parsnip [Tender and True] in and have resprouted their leaves [check]
carrot [chantenay] in and have resprouted their leaves [check]
cukes and achocha - I have dug deep and they have germinated
Tomatoes; about 8 varieties up and growing strong.
We're going well so far :D
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Hi lottie, sorry only just put some cues in to test though not sure if they are from the same batch. Germination after 24hrs in propagator is looking great, will do a count tomorrow but should think 90-95%+. If you need more seeds send a pm. Perhaps I will be growing Sikkim this year after all!
And lottiedolly - isn't that just the way of gardening! I'm in a similar position at the moment as the fennel doesn't seem to want to germinate!!
I agree sometimes no matter what you do, nature decides.
Well what can I say, Robert and his pea-fest, AJ and her bean fiesta? Me, I may be verging on tomato carnival! Anyone else? ;D
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Some good news...these are germinating :)
Miniature White Cucumber
White Volunteer Courgette
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Earlypea
Beans
Maybe Spring collard
Specifically, my HSL beans will be:
Coloured Dwarf French
Ice/Crystal Wax
Gauk
Climbing French
Kew Blue
Major Cook's
For the other items I mentioned, seed saving wouldn't be possible until the following year:
John's Purple Carrot (if it's worth growing, because some of these coloured ones are very finnicky) and
Delaway an Irish, cut and come again, spring collard.
I would also like to add an unusual squash if anyone's interested;
Kamo Kamo - a winter squash cropped in the summer in the immature stage, just like Crooknecks. A Maori, NZ favourite.
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Some good news...these are germinating :)
Miniature White Cucumber
White Volunteer Courgette
Yayyyyy it is all go ;D I better get on and sow some pumpkins!
Super list Earlypea. I looked at Delaway earlier in the year, so will be great to have a review :)
And Kamo Kamo sound very interesting.
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Just googled Kamo Kamo squash. Looks very interesting indeed:
http://www.localharvest.org/kamo-kamo-squash-maori-heirloom-C13741
Ice/Crystal Wax is the only white bean I know (very, very pale green), with a purple tinge when the pods are mature. Very unusual.
Lovely selection!
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I should have Major Cook's in the autumn, but I'll probably be looking for Kew Blue. I've also planted Cosse Violette and Brejo, and I'll definitely be doing Trail of Tears. After that, it depends on space, particularly with dwarf beans. I'm not that keen on them, but they're good space fillers to follow the peas.
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I've been busy sowing beans over the weekend Dwarf and Climbing French some Runner beans too. Some of the varieties are from Galina, thank you ;D they look like real beauties. I've hopefully added a couple of pictures
[attachment=2][attachment=3]
Boston Beauty and Georgian 117 which is similarly marked to Jambo Polish which I'm growing for HSL seed guardian this year, though the Jambo beans are about twice the size with some stripes in dark purple as well as black
I've planted out earlier pea sowings which were a bit overdue and started off the last few varieties I'm growing this year, thanks to Robert and Markfield R. My earliest sowings are just starting to flower (grown in polytunnel)
[attachment=1]
The Shimonita bunching onions are just starting flowering and I'm hoping to start the Pumpkin seeds later today.
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great pics Jayb - and great to hear of your progress :)
Today I cut the Kale flower seeds / stalks off and will start to dry them off properly - was thinking of putting them on a sheet of lining paper on the coffee table (gets the sun) to dry out :) :o ::) :P ;D
edited to add - and then I'm going to try the RealSeed way of drying them out thoroughlly - http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,59605.0.html
1066
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Jayb
these are very good pictures. Colours are just right on the beans seeds.
It will be interesting to compare Jembo Polish to Georgian # 7 as they grow and produce. I have heard much about Jembo on mainly US based lists, there seems to be quite a fan club. Georgian # 7 is a dual use bean, Jembo Polish is usually described as shelling bean. I have noticed that often what we describe as a dual use bean, seems to develop hard pods earlier in warmer climates and gets used as shelling beans only. Runner beans are an example. We love the pods and perhaps harvest the seeds at the end of the season but elsewhere they get used as shelled out 'butterbeans' only. Interesting whether that applies to Jembo Polish too.
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I am growing red orach, does anyone know if it will seed in its 1st year or 2nd?
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I am growing red orach, does anyone know if it will seed in its 1st year or 2nd?
In the first, very quickly in fact - they run to seed just like spinach in 2 or 3 months or less without water.
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Good then add that one for me i shall save a plant for seed saving (I am sure they produce loads of seeds per plant, if not how many plants should i let go to seed). :)
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Beat me to it Earlypea ;D
Your kale is way ahead of mine 1066, I'm still only with flowers which the bees are loving. Yes an intresting post by Robert.
Galina, I'm really looking forward to trying them both (and a few more besides ;D) although I will only be able to sample a few Jambo. I have my patch marked out for them and seeds are sown, just fingers crossed now. Depending on germination I've got about 6 seeds left, if you fancy doing your own comparison?
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Can I ask how you're both protecting your kale from cross pollination - only that's quite tricky on an allotment and I'll be dithering about the best/easiest way next spring for my collards hopefully.
Maybe you don't need to, but here for example, a lot of people leave their last few broccoli stalks to flower for the bees to enjoy :)
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Can I ask how you're both protecting your kale from cross pollination - only that's quite tricky on an allotment and I'll be dithering about the best/easiest way next spring for my collards hopefully.
Maybe you don't need to, but here for example, a lot of people leave their last few broccoli stalks to flower for the bees to enjoy :)
I'm just growing these in the open, but I don't have any close neighbours. To my mind if it does cross I should still get a useable crop. Whereas if I were trying to save cauliflower or calabrese and they crossed it would not produce a plant of much use. I may well be wrong ;D
I had set aside some cauli, which I was going cage and use blow flies, but I changed my mind at the last min (already have more seed than I can realistically use) and have been cropping them instead ;D Yum
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EarlyPea - Pretty much as Jayb really.
Next year (this winter) I'm going to grow a couple in the garden, think they will look good as well!
Forgot to mention most peoples PSB and other calabresse have only started to come into production, so I've hopefully avoided it on that front as well :)
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Depending on germination I've got about 6 seeds left, if you fancy doing your own comparison?
Thanks Jayb, very kind offer. As these are your guardian seeds, I hope you don't mind that I'll say no to your kind offer. A lot can happen and you might be glad for the spares. When you have harvested lots of seed, I'll come knocking on your door if I may ;).
Thank you.
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Our seed circle winter radish has lots of flowers and some pods have set - looking good even if the radishes have developed into 8ft monster plants :-)
Lettuce looking good too but not flowering yet.
How is everybody else going?
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So far so good ,I think there are two of us growing Kew Blue so I have also popped in some DFB 'Mr Brookes Blue-Green ,not a clue what they are like ,but that's me living on the edge!!
The Blaby Special toms are on the allotment and in the greenhouse and in the garden so fingers crossed.
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Too late for me to join in? I've just places a modest order with realseeds.
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Sounding good guys
Lol, Galina having tried to walk past some I’ve got flowering, monsters is about right, but very pretty ones!
Markfield R, I’ve not grown Mr Brookes Blue so will be interested to hear what you think of them.
I’ve planted out both Jarrahdale and Queensland blue, so far they look to be enjoying the move.
Shimonita onions are now mostly drying in paper bags. My Roscoff’s have some beautiful flower spikes although not quite open yet. I’ve noticed some grey mould on one of my beds of Autumn onions so fingers crossed it doesn’t travel to them.
Detailista, I think a little late to fully join in the swap this season as people growing for this group and may not have enough to go around more people. But I’d be happy to swap some seeds with you later on. You are very welcome to join in this thread and post what you are growing and your progress, it is always great to hear how crops are doing.
I’m hoping this will continue on through to next year with information being shared as well as seeds. It would be nice to see other people joining in too.
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Hi, I have never got involved with this because of the distance but.... I am growing some squash varieties this year which are pretty rare and although I don't do it often anymore I am growing them with a view to bagging and propagating for pure seed, if all goes well I would like these squash seeds to spread a bit.
I posted some to the UK earlier this year after I offered one or two to the forum, I only had a couple of spare so couldn't share them much. The person who I sent them too no longer posts so I have no idea of she ever planted them, so unlikey I would get seeds back from that source which was the arrangment.
They are, Grammas, Japs, and Mayoral Blue.. all three came from Australia, the Mayoral Blue is of particular interest as it was grown in quite a specific area of NSW by the mayor for 40 years. I have had Japs in the past from Australia and did share a few with someone who was an expat from Australia but never heard back.
I gave a few to Tatiana too but she may not grow them this year.
Maybe your circle could use them if I manage to save them to my satisfaction.
XX Jeannine
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I don't think distance should be a barrier, just needs a bit more managing?
Again I don’t know if it is feasible but if we go ahead again next year and you wanted to join I’d be happy to collect your share and send it on and also send your seeds out with mine. Not really thought this through so might be obvious flaws.
On the squash side I’m no connoisseur and I have to say I’m not the biggest fan of eating them but do love growing different types. If you don’t have many takers I’d love the opportunity to grow some of your rare’s and if successful pass them on.
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I actually don't know how your circle is arranged so I will read all the posts and get an idea, will let you know, but the squash are there if anyone wants them..subject to them making it as I am sure all seeds are XX Jeannine
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I remember reading your post about those special Ausie squash, and they do sound amazing but as a novice grower I wouldn't feel confident to do them justice!
Anyway back to why I'm posting on here, at this rate I think I will be drummed out of the seed saving circle! My Kale seed saving attempt was a disaster! and the peppers I had earmarked for saving are struggling up on the plot.
On the upside - I have had some wonderful lettuce, which hasn't bolted in this heat so I'm planning on letting a couple of them develop. And the peas, well totally miserable this year except the bluawshokker (sp?), so will let some of them set seed.
Kale for next year (seeds) will be grown in the garden, and the only other person in the vicinity who is growing any is a neighbour and I gave her the seeds, so cross pollination shouldn't be a problem.
Oh and the early sowing of Fennel is doing ok, so hopeful there.
Time will tell
Maybe I should drum myself out!!!
1066 :)
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Noooooo, don't go, I think we all have setbacks one way or another. I'm intrested to know what happened with the kale? I've got some ripening at the moment, well I hope I have!
Don't worry if what your saving changes, peas, lettuce, its all good, I'm thinking of it as a great way to learn and share at the same time :)
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She marches back in ;D ;D ;D
Yes it is a real learning curve. And I'm sitting back watching what is doing well with this dry spell and what isn't (and trying to make a note so I remember for next year!)
Well I think with the Kale I picked the stalky bit with the flower heads on too early - and they simply hadn't ripened up enough. So will try again this year, and let the flower heads stay on for longer.
Also have a white cucmber at home that I'm hoping for a bit of success. No other cucurbits in the area expect 1 melon that a neighbour is growing, and hopefully that is far enough away and over walls etc, so cross polination shouldn't be a problem. She says..........
1066 :)
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;D
Your cucumber should be fine, as far as I'm aware melon and Cucumbers don't cross. You may need to think of doing a little pollinating I read a post yesterday about the very same I'll go and see if I can find it.
this might be of help http://vric.ucdavis.edu/pdf/fruitsetproblems.pdf
Yes they do take ages to ripen, I'm still waiting for mine. I'll see if I can get a picture later on :)
Look for Galina's post and link, its more about isolating and hand pollination but it may be something you want to have a practice at. If not just follow the pollinating bit :)
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,61321.0.html
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Don't give up! I'm having my share of problems as well. Peas which I planted early, through a thick layer of mulch, are fine. The ones that weren't mulched aren't doing so well. More recently planted ones haven't grown properly at all. Never mind, I should have plenty of seed from the ones I'm most interested in.
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1066,
yes indeed. This happens. I grow perennial collards and have promised seeds to a gardening friend. They sprouted beautifully in early spring, I cut - we ate, more sprouts developed, I cut more for the kitchen. About 4 weeks ago I decided to stop cutting and let the sprouts go to flower and seed. However, in this drought and heat all the shoots (bar very few) have died instead of flowering. I have a few seeds to honor the promise, but that is about all. At least the plants look good to go another year. If something like that has happened with your kale, it would not surprise me.
Keep the faith and something will work out and if not, this will have been a great learning curve. Some years it is easy, others not. Glad you are back.
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Know how you feel 1066,the plants I am growing for the circle know it, so I am trying to ignore their 'prima donna' ways.
We will end up with something, repeat.................
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Well, my Chantenay carrots; Chioggia Beetroot and Tender and True parsnips are in full flow; plenty of seed for the two group I am in plus loads to share for the lottie neighbours....beans not so good as I had Aminopyralid manure kindly delivered by my local farmer; so alot didn't make it; but hey ho, that's life....
It's also why I don't put all eggs into one basket...... :-\
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Anyway back to why I'm posting on here, at this rate I think I will be drummed out of the seed saving circle!
I'm relieved you posted that - been meaning to revive this thread for a couple of weeks at least and say something along the same lines ;)
As a fairly new grower I think I overpromised too and as markfield rover posted the ones I picked to offer have been afflicted by more problems than any others.
My two heritage bush beans germinated fine but tried a different compost which rapidly dried out in the sudden heat wave under cover and they all perished. Luckily I'd kept half the seeds back and the latest ones are doing fine, but there won't be an abundance of seed from 5 plants each.
My HSL purple were the only carrots that failed to germinate, badly timed to coincide sudden hot and dry weather - left with 4 specimens. Stupidly sowed the whole lot of them. ::)
I may have put my Major Cook and Kew Blue out a little too late - hoping they'll get to pods in the end, but it's still touch and go right now.
My kamo kamo squashes are growing well, although I'm wondering if the early one is diseased or upset by being set out in the cold because it looks nothing like the later one, which has generous flat leaves compared to sticky up small ones on the former - well, I planted two just in case in different places. We'll see....
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hanging head down and praying that plants pick up soon. I think this is a bad year but will keep trying. will have some seeds to share even if it is just enough to give to people so they can sow a couple of plants next year and be able to save the seeds and build up from that.
Kx
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Oh I'm pleased I posted now!! And thanks for the support :) It's also good to catch up in terms of how we are all doing. I'm sure we will all manage to save something.
I put my thinking cap on yesterday (and yes I did dust it off ::) ) and remembered I have the aubergines (Long Purple) that were given to me by Ceres up at the plot, and Tomato Auntie Madge and Black Cherry that came from Saddad (in the garden)- which would be appropriate to share around us A4A bods :)
So, hopefully there will be a few pinches of somethings to distribute
So I think I should change that marching tune to something more positive and upbeat - maybe a bit of samba (appropriate for the heat!). So come on everyone - Samba Samba 8) ;D
1066 :)
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Yes, this seed circle has been wonderful for focussing (sp?) the mind, hasn't it? The gales hit our garden yesterday and I was out with the string and scissors hitting all the plants I needed for seed saving, terrified that everything would snap off. The container with the mange tout in was thrown over, but, for the most part, they've survived fine - that would have been very galling, given that there are pods on there growing nicely.
Jayb, do we have any advice on bagging tomatoes? The Backgarden Seedsaving book recommends bagging to be absolutely sure, and as I'm growing a lot (for me!) more varieties this year I have done this, however I'm a bit concerned that I might need to do a bit more to ensure pollination even though tomatoes are self-fertile - but they are all outside and not in a perfectly still environment, to put it mildly!
Apologies if anyone feels I'm hijacking the thread!
Best regards to all,
Sue
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;D its all go and nothing stays the same. It is good to hear how others are fairing, it does seem we are all having ups and downs. I don't know how I'm still smiling as blight has struck!
So stick with it 1066 and go with which ever you think or like best, or go for broke and have a go at them all. Switching to samba is good ;D
Aj, I don't know what to say, I've been reading the different threads on Aminopyralid contaminated manure, awful. It seems by trying your best you get whammed out of the blue. I very much enjoyed reading your blog earlier in the year and al you were growing. I hope you have not lost any of your bean varieties altogether. If you are looking for any replacemnts let us know and if I have some spare I can send some on to you.
LOL, Markfield and her Prima Donna plants, gosh I know that feeling, they do know ;D
I am wondering earlypea if your two squashes look very dissimilar if perhaps you will have to wait until the fruits mature a bit to make sure they are true to type. I’d try and hand pollinate a fruit from each and then you should have it covered. Please jump in squash people f I'm talking nonsense.
I'm sure they will pick up lottie, you could always try them with a little feed and a good drink, might give them a boost. Humming a Samba might cheer them up ;D
Sue, I’ve always found a reduction in fruit set when I bag blossom, but the redeeming feature is most tomatoes contain quite a few seed. I’m still looking for the best material to use as bags, last year I used some made from fleece, which were not great but did seem to work. This year I’ve been experimenting on some types with glue and although I think it is working it won’t be until I grow them out next year to know it was successful (that’s if I get anything to harvest this year). I try and give mine a little tap each once a day, don’t know if it helps but my granny showed me that many years ago and it reminds me of her.
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Jayb,
you said "I’d try and hand pollinate a fruit from each and then you should have it covered. Please jump in squash people f I'm talking nonsense. "
If there is any doubt, it is recommended to 'self' both plants. Ie isolate/handpollinate a female and a male flower from the same plant. Although there is not much inbreeding depression in squashes, it is normally recommended to use a male and a female from a different plant, but if purity is in doubt, 'selfing' is the way to go.
It would be easy if you could let a fruit on each plant develop, before making the decision to selfpollinate or pollinate with another plant, however in typical UK weather we don't have long enough and the handpollinated squash would not have enough time to mature on the vine. Hence the recommendation to self pollinate.
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I get lost with written word sometimes and can't see what I write and link it to what I mean. I knew it wasen't quite right, just not able to see as my mind fills in the spaces. So thank you for your much clearer advice ;D
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I get lost with written word sometimes and can't see what I write and link it to what I mean. I knew it wasen't quite right, just not able to see as my mind fills in the spaces. So thank you for your much clearer advice ;D
I am just the same. I know what I mean, but nobody else apparently does :-) And sometimes the right word just vanishes from my vocabulary only to return after the 'send' button has been pressed :-). I thought what you meant to say was 'self-pollinate'.
Please do jump in when my writing is a bit obscure as well.
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Thought I'd post a couple more pictures,
Roscoff onion flower. Onions have worked well as my Shimonita onions are pretty much harvested, and Roscoffs are starting to flower.
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A baby Jarrahdale
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Not very exciting, Kale seed pods ripen, they seem to take ages
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Parcel, part of the celery family.
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A few more,
Recently podded Golden Sweet peas
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Pea pods starting to dry on the vine
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Root parcley
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Brightstone dwarf french bean
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Just dropped in for an update and also wondering how others are doing?
The Roscoff onions I been growing have been beautiful in flower, another week or so until I pick them and hang them to dry. Shimonita onions are all harvested and dried yayyy. I’ve grown Buan this year which have done quite well, hoping if they taste good etc I’ll grow some for seed next year.
Pumpkins, can’t say much other than I think they are looking good, well last time I saw them they were!
Beans, some have done wonderfully, others not so good and seemed to have struggled a bit this year. Many I’m yet to sample, like Blue Greasy Grits which have been very vigorous growers and I feared they would not get around to flowering but they are a mass of flowers now. Typically Jembo Polish, which I’m growing for HSL are hardly setting at all.
A slow process but finally ripe are Kale and Di Chioggia beetroot. Parcel and Root parsley still have a way to go yet.
Peas have had a good year although the heat may have prematurely ended some flowering.
Tomatoes, well I lost some plants to blight early on and have had a bit of a struggle on and off since. But taking that into account I’m ok with how they are doing. An exciting time tasting new to me varieties for the first time, others I’m still waiting on. Impressed with Green Doctor and Green Doctors Frosted, not a Heritage but a very tasty cherry. A definite for me next year. Just need to stop eating them all to save a few seed!
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Here's my list updated: (got a head injury so confined to quarters ::) this would account for any babbling)
Coloured Dwarf French
Ice/Crystal Wax - YES, drying well and a very attractive one, bicoloured peach and white flowers, dainty leaves, productive and icy/white as promised - tasty.
Gauk - YES, drying well, but not worthwhile in my opinion. Good in immature state but hellish stringy quickly and don't colour up until they're drying. Look very similar to dwarf borlotti but colour up later.
Climbing French
Kew Blue - YES, podding up now. Attractive foliage and beans (almost a transclucent quality), but flavour not as good as Cosse Violette in my opinion.
Major Cook's - Only starting to get beans now - weather permitting, may get there.
Squash
Kamo Kamo - winter squash - NO didn't make it down the at the right time to do it :-X
Next Year's...
John's Purple Carrot NO Only one left after poor germination, drought and badger problems.
Delaway an Irish, cut and come again, spring collard - yet to sow, tis a spring thing.
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Earlypea, hope your injury gets better fast and you are not in too much pain.
Update here:
The winter radish pods have been harvested and are drying off in the conservatory. When fully dry, I'll break them up, sieve out the seeds with a colander, then winnow the seeds to get rid of chaff.
Lettuce Lau Pointed Leaf (grown in the greenhouse, hence early seed), seed harvested and dried, needs cleaning.
Lettuce Austrian Greenleaf has just started producing seeds, picking seedheads into a big paper bag for further drying on a daily basis.
Other lettuces are not yet producing seeds.
How is everybody else doing?
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>:( >:( >:(hmm....I lost my labels from my mangetout peas....so now I'm not able to tell them apart ::)...loads and loads of peas ready to be hung up to dry ::)..so those are going to be strickly for consumption later..
I've all ready sorted some tomato seeds and I have 20 varieties in bags and another 30 odd still wating for same treatment later on..
Beans are coming treat....plenty of small young pods hanging on..
Some of the successful polination attempts with squashes are looking promising..
Sweetcorn is still in 'flowering' stage..so time will tell...
I've got some more peas coming on later on...hopefully..I've never done late sowings outdoors..so...but they have germinated..enough survived underground..all netted against feathered friends..had some rain and sun shine.. ;D ;D..odds so far has been good ;D ;D
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Well......not as good as I'd hoped. Have had success saving peas previous years - this year they've sort of vanished!! Was hoping to save some brassica seed but have has a total rubbish year growing them so thats out too. More success on the bean and tomato front though.
Climbing French Beans
Mr Fearns Purple Flowered (HSL). Lovely bean, will grow again, pods for seed coming along nicely.
Mountaineers White Half Runner (HSL) Not quite so keen on this one but should have a supply of seed
Cosse Violette. Grew a few plants from some previously saved seed that was getting rather old- growing all for seed for fresh supply
Dwarf French Beans
Cupidon
Tomatoes
Clear Pink Early a big hit for me this year, also Japanese Black Trifele. Will def. be saving these - also Striped Roman, extraordinary looking, curiosity value. Jury still out on most of my other varieties.
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Hi folks, my update is as follows
My polish french beans are growing in their pods nicely, i never know when to pick beans that i am trying to save seeds from so any advice will be greatly received.
My red orach has flowers and the seeds are starting to dry out so i shall be hopefully cutting them and putting the seeds into paper bags to finish off drying.
I am also saving some blue osu tomato seeds and can at least give some to any members who want to give them a try, they do look rather fab in a mixed tomato and basil salad i made for a family party and were a talking point (you need a lot of sunlight to get them blue though).
I am also letting my swiss chard bright lights go to seed so will have that available. I am trying for more stuff, but do not want to commit myself until i am sure.
Jayb, how are we going to do this, are we going to put a definative list together, send it to you for posting and then see who wants what.
Kxx
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Hi folks, my update is as follows
My polish french beans are growing in their pods nicely, i never know when to pick beans that i am trying to save seeds from so any advice will be greatly received.
lottiedolly
The pods should be completely leathery at least and crisp papery dry at best. Leave them to dry indoors a little more and only shell when they are fully dry. Then after shelling, the beans inside need some more drying. HTH
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Thanks galina, i shall keep them on the plant for a lot longer. ;D
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well ....
my Fennel Montavano has finally started to flower, chose the best looking one, and boy was it tricky not to pick the best, need to double check / ask for advice on how best to save these.
Also some success with Lettuce Sylvesta - which I tried for the 1st time this year, a lovely bright green butterhead, which did well in the drought we've had in the SE, so again selected for its viability (and taste). I have some lovely varieties from Baker Creek and France to try out next year.
As some of you know the Kale was a disaster, so looking at next year for that one!
Peas - are non existant
Beans, have largely been great. The dwarf varieties - Polka, Purple Teepee and Ying Yang are all drying on the plants (not sure if anyone would like any of these?)
Climbers are a mixed bag - the Gigandes have finally started producing more, and have lots more flowers on. Plus I'm going to follow Galina's tip for over-wintering one of them
Oh and then the tommies - Black Cherry and Auntie Madge, are gradually ripening, so again if people would like some of these then I'm happy to share
Phew! Still a major learning curve going on in this corner of the SE :)
1066 :)
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Beans here have struggled,I grew Kew Blue and Mr Brooks Blue there are not many seeds but I could add a couple as 'bonus beans' to what other seeds I have in good numbers,which at long last this year is toms- Blaby Special looking good as is 'Believe It Or Not' plus other weird and wonderfuls ,the furry ones are new to me this year.
So are we picking our best two or so varieties and then if there are no duplicates these are what we send to each other ?
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I forgot something - the Sunnybrook Peppers. Well confession time. I grew these up at the plot - and NADA, I mean miserable looking plants, only a few fruit and they were tiny, and worthless. Getting the picture ?!
Meanwhile, the Napia Pointy Peppers growing in pots in the garden have been splendid, lovely fruit, sturdy looking plants, tasty etc. BUT they've been grown alongside the chilli plants
So as per my mantra "next year" I'll only be growing the Napia, both in the garden and on the plot, and maybe with some isolation cages
ok confessional over now
1066 :)
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I forgot something - the Sunnybrook Peppers. Well confession time. I grew these up at the plot - and NADA, I mean miserable looking plants, only a few fruit and they were tiny, and worthless. Getting the picture ?!
Meanwhile, the Napia Pointy Peppers growing in pots in the garden have been splendid, lovely fruit, sturdy looking plants, tasty etc. BUT they've been grown alongside the chilli plants
So as per my mantra "next year" I'll only be growing the Napia, both in the garden and on the plot, and maybe with some isolation cages
Rescue suggestion: Peppers are said to self-pollinate and to outcross by 40%, which means 60% of yours may not have crossed. You have a sweet pepper and a hot pepper. Hot is a dominant gene, so anything that grows into a hot pepper from this year's seeds could be the the genuine hot chili pepper or a cross. However sweet is recessive, which means that anything resulting from this year's seeds that is a sweet pepper can only be Napia Pointy, genuine and not crossed. Does this help?
If their shapes are very different, you might be able to spot crosses and sort out which is the genuine hot pepper and which is the crossed hot pepper by close observation. Perhaps take photos or take very good descriptive notes this year. So all is not lost, but it is easier to start with fresh seed next year, if you can.
Besides it is not too late to make blossombags for individual branches with flowerbuds on, from net curtain material for pure seeds this year. Any unopened flowerbuds now would still ripen. 3 by 2 inch little sacks (just cut 6x2 inch pieces of net curtain material, fold and handsew two corners), place over the tip of a branch with flowerbuds, close open end with garden twine or a rubber band and only take off when the flowers inside have withered and started making tiny peppers. To aid self pollination, you can gently shake the flowers, once they have opened inside the blossombag.
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Galina, yes that does help - lots :)
I think I will try a combination of fresh seed next year, and pop out to 1 of the many charity shops here and buy some net curtain material for bags. The immediate problem is that most of the new flowers seem to have been pollinated, I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on them
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[attachment=2]
Thanks again for your help!
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I wonder is that why none of my chillies seem very hot?? I grew the chillies and the peppers side by side in Pots and none of the chillies are hot, they'res a small bit hotter than the sweet peppers but thats it! :(
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I wonder is that why none of my chillies seem very hot?? I grew the chillies and the peppers side by side in Pots and none of the chillies are hot, they'res a small bit hotter than the sweet peppers but thats it! :(
Possible cross pollination is not the reason your chillis are not very hot.
If you started with seeds from a hot variety (chilli), you will get hot peppers, even if the flower was pollinated with pollen from a sweet pepper plant. If you use seed from a hot pepper plant that may have been crossed with a sweet pepper next year, you will still get a hot pepper, because 'hot' is dominant.
The reasons why your hot peppers are not as hot as you expected, are different. It could be that the variety is only mildly hot anyway, or it could be that environmental conditions may make it taste milder. Green chilis are often milder than red ones too. It would have made no difference, had you grown them separated from each other.
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Hello one and all,
Well news here is mixed - isn't it everywhere?! :). This is what I definitely hope to offer at the end of the day.
Peas - Swiss Giant pods are between leathery and paper-like, some are drying off inside already, I'll probably bring more in later today.
Purple Podded aren't flowering yet due to a slightly late start (and decision making) - I'll keep you posted.
Tomatoes
Latah has been a bit of a mixed bag this year - the bagged fruit are going fairly slowly and it might be a struggle to get them ripened before blight attacks. We only moved here in late 2008 so it has been a learning experience on where the best bits of the garden are, if that doesn't sound too daft. In view of this, I have bagged some Grushovka flowers (inside) to see how these go and I will do the same with another bush variety outside just in case.
Galina on the other hand are ripening very well and I expect to prep the first batch of seeds in a week or so.
This has been a real learning experience, but I wouldn't have missed it!
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Galina on the other hand are ripening very well and I expect to prep the first batch of seeds in a week or so.
They are a superb tomato variety! ;D ;D ;D
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Mix of success here; I lost a fair amount of heritage beans due to Aminopyralid, and am not using any of these for seed saving or swapping; as i don't want anyone to get dodgy beans from me.
However;
Tender and True Parsnips; got a bag, a bucket and a shoebox all drying out.
Chantenay Carrot - got 4 head dried and loads more to come
Bleu de Solaise Leek; got about 10 heads all flowered and will be left on hoping for a dryish autumn
Rose De Roscoff Onion; didn't enjoy this summer so will try again next year
Rossa Di Milano Onion - the stems got ravaged by bugs and the flowers didn't get to flower properly - really upset about this but I've saved the bulbs and will replant somewhere else and grow under fleece next year.
I've got more to come, but those are the main ones with any actual news.
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Mix of success here; I lost a fair amount of heritage beans due to Aminopyralid, and am not using any of these for seed saving or swapping; as i don't want anyone to get dodgy beans from me.
However;Tender and True Parsnips; got a bag, a bucket and a shoebox all drying out.
Chantenay Carrot - got 4 head dried and loads more to come
Bleu de Solaise Leek; got about 10 heads all flowered and will be left on hoping for a dryish autumn
I've got more to come, but those are the main ones with any actual news.
Sounds good AJ. Sorry to hear about the beans. Do you think there may even still be Aminopylarid residues in seeds? Your other seeds sound very good. I love Chantenay Carrots and they do good on my clay soil as well.
I have just packed up 15 envelopes of Lettuce seed for the Circle - yes I know I only need 14, but one is for spares. Lots more to do, but it doesn't look very nice outside, so I took the 'desk' option.
Lettuce variety is 'Austrian Greenleaf'. A very early, looseleaf lettuce with frilly leaves. Gets fairly large before bolting. The best lettuce for really early indoors sowings to be transplanted under cloche outside. Occasionally self-seeds in the garden.
Looks like there will be enough seeds of lettuces Lau Pointed Leaf and Bologna for the circle as well and perhaps a small pinch of Carnival. And the winter radish too.
Do we send all our prepared seed envelopes to one central distributor, together with a large padded envelope and enough postage to receive our share from the Circle? Or do we send out 14 envelopes to all the participants?
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Sounds good AJ. Sorry to hear about the beans. Do you think there may even still be Aminopylarid residues in seeds? Your other seeds sound very good. I love Chantenay Carrots and they do good on my clay soil as well.
Do we send all our prepared seed envelopes to one central distributor, together with a large padded envelope and enough postage to receive our share from the Circle? Or do we send out 14 envelopes to all the participants?
I am not sure about the beans, I'm going to grow them out next year and see what happens....
In my other circle, i am collecting them all along with 2 large letter stamps and will distribute when they are mostly in......I think that's a better bet than everyone sending 14 envelopes out everywhere...and cheaper!
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So intresting reading how everyones crops have fared and the different experiences and tips. Really useful one for me re; colander and raddish seeds , thanks Galina. My top tip, best not to winow seeds in gusty wind without an old sheet to catch mistakes!
Well the original idea was for each person to save seeds from two varieties and then share these with each member of the group. From the super updates it looks like many have grown 2+. If people would like to share more than two that is great, though there is no obligation or expectation. With some extra varieties there may not be enough for everyone so perhaps we can have a swapping/spares list. I know I've got quite a few different varieties of tomatoes, peas and beans saved.
I think it might be best to do one list rather than several post which may detract from the original idea, so if you have anything you want to spare/swap, pm me your list, say if they are spare or for swapping and roughly how many portions. I’ll put together a list together and then folks can pm each other if they fancy anything. Ps if anyone else would like to organise this list......pleeeeease say
I hope there is something of interest for everyone, so far what I have set aside for the group;
Shimonita bunching onions are all harvested and ready to go, I love them, they look a little more like a leek than spring onion, really thick and lovely onion taste.
Queensland Blue Squash, in the Greenhouse maturing! Not tasted yet but looks handsome!
I also have enough of the following for everyone which I’m happy to share
Winterkefe mangetout peas, tall growing tasty and fairly early.
Di Chioggia beetroot, particularly good grated raw (these were not netted and to the best of my knowledge no crops nearby, no close neighbours)
Parcel – leaf celery, I really like this herb, lovely in soups and omelettes.
Mexican Honey tomatoes, red cherries really sweet and scrummy, don’t know much about them other than Mexican in origin according to Tatiana’s tomato site.
If there is anything anyone does not want either pm me or include a note when you send your seeds in.
I agree with the sugestions that it will be better for the seeds to be 'processed' centrally. I think if everyone sends their seeds to me as soon as they are ready, I’ll sort them into individual parcels. I would hope to have it all done and posted out in November but to be more realistic aim for the 1st week in December.
So what to do ; when your 2 (or more) varieties of seeds are good and dry, divide each variety into 15. Label them in individual zippy bags, remember to keep one for yourself. Send your seeds to me along with a medium sized addressed padded envelope, or very strong envelope. Postage cost wise, we have some beans and peas, it may be packet size rather than a large letter, but until the parcels are put together ? Perhaps if everyone puts in a selection of stamps to cover postage and any unused will be returned. If anyone has other ideas how to simplify it let us know.
Ruud I know you can’t do stamps so just send yours to me, I’ll post it back with your selection. I may even have a couple of tomatoes to interest you!
I think it is possible we may have lost a member or two along the way; I’ll try and contact the people who haven’t given an update so we have a better idea. It may be someone else is able to step in to take their place if we have a space free?!
If you haven't posted for a while now is the time ;D
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great to read all the updates.
I'll update you all properly tomorrow (at work at the mo), but basically I will have enough for everyone of scrummy lettuce, florence fennel, black cherry tomato ;D Still waiting on a few other bits and a dry autumn.....
And guess what - there's loads planned for next year (including the kale and peppers originally planned for this year ::) ).
My new mantra is "next year......" actually that mantra isn't that new ! :D
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I know I have plenty of Blaby Special tom seeds for everyone also Green Grape really outstanding this year
I also have a few Mr Brookes Blue dfb I will see if I have enough to make it worthwhile for people unless a few are better than none I will send anyway.Will also check Kew Blue.
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Been having a bit of a think, and if there are for e.g. varieties of toms that need a greenhouse, count me out. I wouldn't want to waste some precious seeds ;)
Also been honing my technique for getting lettuce seed - have decided the best method so far is a chopping board with a piece of white paper on it, and a liberal use of a rolling pin ...... :D
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Hi everyone,here a update from the other side of the pond.I am still collecting and drying seeds.I have till now the following vegetables to share;white beetroot albino,doesnot look nice on a plate but the flavour makes everything right so sweet.Beans i have a purple all use polebean it is a cross who just made it special.I have an american drybean called dogbean great for making a stew.Than i have a lot of new toms but that will be my surprise,i promise there are some tasty ones.Then there are some veggies i have to wait for to get enough seed from.Wenn i have everything i will send it too jayb.
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JayB...I'd suggest a label or 2 with home addresses on it, plus put both real name and A4A name on the envelope so that the seeds donated/given back don't get confused...
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I grew Green Grape for the first time this year yummm! I liked it very much, but I did slightly prefer Green Doctor, I thought a little more depth, but perhaps its my sweet tooth ;D
Sounds like good advice Aj, thank you. I'm hoping to have a large zippy bag ready for everyone and everytime I receive a parcel deal seeds into them. Thats the thought at the moment ::) But having Self addressed envelopes and both names etc will defo be a help.
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Yayyyyyy, I've started to pack my first seeds for the group. I now have 14 zippy bags complete with labels for Winterkefe ;D
I've grabed a nice box too and have 15 large zippy bags waiting to be filled, soooooooooooo exciting ;D
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Just reporting in on my promised seeds
HSL beans
Coloured Dwarf French
Ice/Crystal Wax - heaps of at final airing stage
Gauk - heaps of at final airing stage
Climbing French
Kew Blue - final airing, not too many though - around 15 seeds each
Major Cook's - Still on the plot, first few papery pods just bought home, a couple more weeks needed outside I reckon. Likely similar quantities to Kew Blue unless they turn to mush.
Anyone for mouse melons?
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Yayyyyyy, I've started to pack my first seeds for the group. I now have 14 zippy bags complete with labels for Winterkefe ;D
I've grabed a nice box too and have 15 large zippy bags waiting to be filled, soooooooooooo exciting ;D
Thank you for doing the collating JayB. You have a good system going there. Rather than ziplock little seed baggies, I use paper ones that I make myself. Paper lets the seeds inside breathe a bit, just in case they weren't absolutely bone dry when I packed them.
Glad you found the colander method useful. Depending on the amount of seed pods, you can crush them by putting them (fully dry) in a muck bucket and treading before using the colander.
Yes a rolling pin is a useful tool for seed saving too. I use my rolling pin for leek seed. Lettuce I handpick, mulch with my hands when fully dry,sieve and then winnow (with care) - however, there are some weird vegetables germinating in the grass where I have been winnowing on a windy day!
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I haven't dared winow outdoors - just too many potential things to go wrong for me :) And after all my efforts (and failures) I couldn't cope with something going wrong at the last hurdle!!
Still drying beans, and waiting for the fennel......
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Just reporting in on my promised seeds
HSL beans
Coloured Dwarf French
Ice/Crystal Wax - heaps of at final airing stage
Gauk - heaps of at final airing stage
Climbing French
Kew Blue - final airing, not too many though - around 15 seeds each
Major Cook's - Still on the plot, first few papery pods just bought home, a couple more weeks needed outside I reckon. Likely similar quantities to Kew Blue unless they turn to mush.
Anyone for mouse melons?
Lovely selections of beans, 15 seeds sounds fine. Its more than ample for people to have some to grow and if they like them, enough to save seed ;D
I looked this year for my Mexican gerkin seeds but couldn't find them anywhere so a couple Mouse melon would be lovely thank you :)
Galina, I was being a little lazy with my envelopes :o But sensible advice, I lost some corriander seed a couple of years ago which I hadn't fully dried, a lovely mouldy package, started from the middle and by the time I noticed too late!
I'll keep the muck bucket in mind for next time. I improvised with an old pillow-case I filled and used with a combined action of stomping and whacking, seemed to work but glad no one was about to see me!
I haven't dared winow outdoors - just too many potential things to go wrong for me :) And after all my efforts (and failures) I couldn't cope with something going wrong at the last hurdle!!
I think it needs a bit of practice and some skill, I'm defo not there yet ;D
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I really believe I'm sitting at the back of this class, trying to keep up with everyone else, sometimes I'm there and I get it, other times I'm lagging right behind, standing around by myself pondering "well what was all that about" and "what does that mean for me"
Joining this seed saving circle has been a great experience for me - focused my attention on what and how to grow - and taken it to another level. But my oh my do I have a few more levels to go to!!
There am I busy harvesting and saving my Lettuce Sylvesta , some French Beans - Ying Yang , Black Cherry Tomato and some Little Gem Squash (avoided the imploding pox) and waiting for the Florence Fennel - 'Mantovano. And yes waiting .... and waiting..... Watching the flower heads develop.... then wondering about the wet weather and drying them out.....Anyway so I started to look up about saving seed from Florence Fennel, and yup guess what it's a "Biennial" so won't set seed until next year. Slaps forehead emoticon inserted here please. So read Florence Fennel and Kale for NEXT YEAR's seed saving
Sorry for the length of this, but blimey there's times I've been and will no doubt continue to be confused.......
1066 :)
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I think I will join you 1066, others on here know far more than me but we have to start somewhere in the case of my 'Blue Kew' one bean at a time! Tomatoes have come up trumps this year so fingers crossed.
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Awww 1066, don't be thinking you are lagging behind, I think you have been doing a tremendous job :)
I mean wow, look at what you have learnt and achieved over the season and when things have not been going too well you've changed to accommodate the situation. Good on you I say and thank you for sharing it with us all.
Sorry I didn't click about the fennel and I'm sorry you have felt on your own at times, this is about sharing experiences as much as it seeds.
For me it is lots of learning, somethings I think I know, but it may not be the best way. Others I'm totally out of depth and am glad for any tips and hints. To top of the learning curve there is the weather, pests, mould, slugs, mice, gosh the list goes on, perhaps the real benifit of a circle is helping each other, and spreading the load so we all have something to share. To me it is not so much what you know but what you do with that knowledge and in my book you are doing great.
Good news is you know what you are growing for next year ;D
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So it's me and Markfield Rover at the back of the class, at least I'll have someone to swap notes with :D
Don't worry Jayb, it has been a great experience, just thought I'd off-load a little! And the support on here and A4A is fabytastic!
Good news is you know what you are growing for next year ;D
::) ::) ::) ;D
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No back of the class here! We are where we are and none of us can do all we wish to do. Next year ..... is really a big motto. It means that we will try again and with a lot of learning under our belt will succeed a little better. There often is no best way just ways that work and why they work. It is actually not that easy to grow seeds in this country reliably with late frosts, cold, droughts, beasties, deluges and that is long before the human error factor plays its part.
As Jayb said, it is about sharing seeds and even more about sharing experiences. This is a great group :)
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I have learnt that preparing tom seeds using the jam jar fermenting method works for me and is a lot cleaner.
Well 1066 I think we can be the milk monitors now!
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Well 1066 I think we can be the milk monitors now!
Oooooo PROMOTION 8) :D
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well here I am after a kick up the backside by Jayb ;D
I've been tooooooooo embarrassed to post ....usually giving bags of beans away..this year growing them for the SSC .. rubbish.. only eaten them once, and grew 5 different varieties :-[ :( will try in a different spot next year.. maybe too dry at top end of lottie
tomatoes on the other hand, outside and in absolutely fantastic,also the chillies.. so will have seeds from these if that's ok??
can I also be a milk monitor?!! :D/ shades x
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Oooooooh, and I thought it was a gentle nudge ;D
Nice to see you back.
It is bizare how different the weather has been for different areas this year, here, although it started to dry out early-ish with the grass starting to go a little brown, it then turned fairly wet and has been most of mid late summer/autumn!
Ahhhhh no beans for you to eat :( , one of my favourites.
Tomatoes and chillies I'm sure will be super ;D
Hmmm, not sure about milk monitor, you have stiff competition ;D and I don't know we can cope with the 3 of you in the back row together ;D
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I will be sending the following toms:-
Fablonelistnyj a very tasty yellow flat cherry
Blaby Special traditional red
plus
Delaway cabbage.
Hope this sounds suitable.
The Mr Brooks Blue dfb I only have a few as this season was very poor which means next years will be brilliant!
If you think us three milk monitors are a handful now wait until the end of term Nativity.
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I will be sending the following toms:-
Fablonelistnyj a very tasty yellow flat cherry
Blaby Special traditional red
plus
Delaway cabbage.
Hope this sounds suitable.
The Mr Brooks Blue dfb I only have a few as this season was very poor which means next years will be brilliant!
If you think us three milk monitors are a handful now wait until the end of term Nativity.
Looking forward to it very much. Fab tomato (you get an award for being able to spell its proper name) I always wanted to grow but there is always so much else that catches my desirous eye from the HSL catalogue and it has never happened.
I have just packeted my second batch of lettuce seeds:
Oakleaf lettuce Carnival.
My seeds were from the Heritage Seed Library several years ago now. It is called Carnival because there are all shades of colours represented. This year mine were mostly muted pastel colours on green. Very attractive. The base colour was a red over green, which looked like a shiny light brown. Others have described this as a red lettuce or even as a lettuce with dark green leaves and various colours overlaying that. It is very dependent on environmental conditions which colour tones come to the fore and if you squint a bit - it looks different again ....... This is a fun lettuce, looseleaf, with oakleaf type leaves and on occasion it will self seed. Hasn't been in the catalogue for a bit. A sample of this lettuce has been given by HSL to the Seed Ambassadors Project, been taken to the USA and may be more widely grown there than here at the moment. Fairly large and productive. Hope you will like this lettuce.
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It is actually not that easy to grow seeds in this country reliably with late frosts, cold, droughts, beasties, deluges and that is long before the human error factor plays its part.
That could have been written for me, Galina, (especially the human error bit) and I'm so glad you did! Due to the list of above factors (but mainly the human error) I will be sending the following tomatoes next week, both originally from RealSeed and suitable for outdoor growing:
Urbikany - bush, late summer variety (here in Yorkshire)
Galina (!) - vine, potato-leaf yellow cherry
There is no easy way to say this, but I got the mange tout seeds all the way into the kitchen to finish drying, and the final results look so variable that I've clearly messed up somewhere along the way. :'( So I hope that the above will suffice and it's try again next year.
I will be sending the following toms:-
Fablonelistnyj a very tasty yellow flat cherry
Blaby Special traditional red
Markfield Rover, I looked these up and you are obviously at the cutting edge of tomato growing! :) I'm looking forward to sharing the Blaby Special with my mother-in-law, who is in the East Midlands.
Best regards,
Sue
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Hi guys, sorry have not been on for yonks but have been on hols. I will be checking to see what seeds have dried and what still needs to be harvested before i can give a definative on what i will have available for everyone. Hopefully somthing that will be a little different (fingers crossed)
i will check back soon
Kxx
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SueK
It was my mother- in- law who first saw the article in the Leicester Mercury(2005 ish) about the Blaby toms- and as a girl had seen them going to Covent Garden in the 40's.I have actually just eaten one and it was not the flavour that made it rare . Hope you both enjoy them.
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If you think us three milk monitors are a handful now wait until the end of term Nativity.
;D ooooo!! Now I have some spare tea towels, bound to have an old sheet, but not sure where we'll get the donkey from :P :D
The varieties people have all sound fantastic :) well done all :)
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I second Fablonelistnyj Markfield, you very kindly gave me some seed earlier in the year, 'tis a nice cherry. I lost my Blaby plant to blight so I have another year to wait to try them.
I had hoped to get some Delaway cabbage from ISS this year, now I don’t need to ;D I can’t find out much about them, ‘a cut and come again cabbage’ though I’m not quite sure what this means? Are they more similar to a cabbage or a kale?
Galina, super description and detail. Carnival sounds absolutely gorgeous and I can’t wait to grow them.
Nice choices of tomatoes Suek. Bad luck with the mange tout seeds. I know I found my later sowings of peas hard to get dry and lost some which just rotted in the wet, some started to sprout in the pod. What do you mean when you say they look variable?
Can’t wait for the Nativity, have you got a date in mind? Gosh you milk monitors are really trying for top of the class ;D
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It was my mother- in- law who first saw the article in the Leicester Mercury(2005 ish) about the Blaby toms- and as a girl had seen them going to Covent Garden in the 40's.I have actually just eaten one and it was not the flavour that made it rare . Hope you both enjoy them.
Very much looking forward to growing and tasting Blaby tomatoes. I found this article a few years ago, but unfortunately at the time I was too late for seeds:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2006/03/03/blaby_tomato_feature.shtml
Interesting reading. The survival and distribution of this variety outside of a seedbank was in the hands of just one person. What if he hadn't been there.....
This is what I packeted for the group today:
Cilician Parsley
This is a mediaeval parsley variety from Cilicia, Armenia, now Turkey. I have called it a flatleaf parsley, but the leaves are actually a unique maidenhair fern shape. Absolutely winterhardy and easy to grow. I sow seeds in warmth early in the year, about the same growing conditions as sowing tomato seeds, and they come up quite fast. Later in the year, they sprout very readily indoors or in the greenhouse before transplanting into the garden.
Here is a url from Practically Edible, who describe this parsley much better than I can:
http://www.practicallyedible.com/edible.nsf/pages/cilicianparsley#ixzz12FTUMFt5
Wills Woys Weaver, the writer, seedsaver and gourmet cook, is credited with bringing this parsley to greater attention and extols its virtues, even ponders whether it is actually a different species from our usual parsley varieties.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/416745/
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Look what I just found:
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Bid-revive-town-s-special-tomato-bears-fruit/article-2529432-detail/article.html
There is a now even a Blaby Special tomato festival!
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Galina the parsely sounds fascinating! I loved the description of the sausages, dipped in cumin etc and then the parsely puree :)
looking forward to trying it !
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Bad luck with the mange tout seeds. I know I found my later sowings of peas hard to get dry and lost some which just rotted in the wet, some started to sprout in the pod. What do you mean when you say they look variable?
Well, some are still green rather than the brown which I would expect and some are wrinkly rather than smooth, with the result that the number of seeds which look right to me isn't really enough to pass round the group, we're talking just a few each.
Galina, I have to agree that your parsley sounds very enigmatic - that article is a great piece of writing (she says in her best English). The dynasty bowl alone ought to be one of the 100 objects from history from Radio 4 with that description. :) And how interesting that it is (or was) only available to gardeners.
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Suek, if some peas are very green and wrinkly when they should be brown and smooth, it may be they were harvested a bit too early for seed. Why not try a germination test using some damp kitchen paper you could always use any that sprout as pea shoots! You may find they germinate strongly enough to use some for a crop next year although keeping properties may be reduced.
I have to agree Galina, your parsley sounds fascinating and I can't wait to grow some next season.
I haven't processed my Queensland Blue yet, I thought I would give them a little longer. I'm hoping to move them from the greenhouse into the house today. I also need to harvest my Sharkfins before I lose them.
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Jayb - (or someone else) - how many members are there to this circle in the end? Just processing some of my early beans and wondering how many bags. Thanks...
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Jayb - (or someone else) - how many members are there to this circle in the end? Just processing some of my early beans and wondering how many bags. Thanks...
I am preparing 15 packets. There are 15 people in the circle, this means 14 people need seed. But just in case somebody's parcel gets lost in the post, I send JayB an extra packet, which makes 15 packets.
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I've been making up 14 packets + one for me. I've pm'ed a few who have not updated for a while and hope to hear from them soon, it would be fantastic to finish with the original cast. Although no pressure on anyone who is not remaining involved.
Suek has pm'ed me say hers are in the post and I'll leave a note here when they arrive.
Everyone can PM's me for my address when you are ready and if you could let me know they are on the way that will help me keep track :)
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Last two lettuce seed varieties packed up:
Lettuce Lau Pointed Leaf
Variety comes from Malaysia, also eaten in China, where apparently it gets lightly cooked. The leaves are arranged around the stem looking a bit like a star. It is a looseleaf variety and I pull each dark green leaf separately and use them like a cos lettuce. The leaves are thick but not as long as most cos lettuces. The stem can also be eaten. As the name indicates, the leaves are pointed. This variety lasts fairly well into summer before bolting.
Lettuce Bologna
Large lettuce with long, green, scalloped crisp leaves, similar to cos, but leaves are wider, crisper and more scalloped. Lasts well into summer before going to seed.
This is a follow on lettuce from the early spring lettuces. Origin is Italy.
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Good timing! As it happens I've been counting and bagging this weekend ::)
will pm you Jayb - and a monster thank you for organising this seed fest ;D
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I am sending Polish climbing French Beans from HSL, they are prolific and taste lovely, red orach which is a plant that was used in victorian ornamental vegetable gardens, the height is approx 3' and you treat the leaves the same as spinach when cooking. I have some blue osu tomato seeds and if anyone is interested from our group, I have brought back from my garden in jamaica lime seeds, the tree i have grows extraordinarily large limes and if anyone has a heated greenhouse or conservatory, i will be happy to send them a few seeds to try.
Kx
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Thanks 1066 ;D
I love your descriptions Galina, I hope it is ok as I've copied them to use in starting a list of all the varieties we will all be receiving. I thought it might be useful to have the varieties all in one place and thought I could copy it back here when everything is confirmed.
I particularly enjoyed reading your colourful descriptions and how you have found the different varieties. I think it would be most useful to the group if others are able to do a description too. Googling is fine, but there is not always much about some of these varieties. Or perhaps any tips on the ease growing them for seed or the actual process of saving seeds of the varieties you have grown this year.
ps no worries if you aren't able to, I'll do my best to pick out key points if it is something I've not grown before.
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So intresting reading how everyones crops have fared and the different experiences and tips. Really useful one for me re; colander and raddish seeds , thanks Galina. My top tip, best not to winow seeds in gusty wind without an old sheet to catch mistakes!
Well the original idea was for each person to save seeds from two varieties and then share these with each member of the group. From the super updates it looks like many have grown 2+. If people would like to share more than two that is great, though there is no obligation or expectation. With some extra varieties there may not be enough for everyone so perhaps we can have a swapping/spares list. I know I've got quite a few different varieties of tomatoes, peas and beans saved.
I think it might be best to do one list rather than several post which may detract from the original idea, so if you have anything you want to spare/swap, pm me your list, say if they are spare or for swapping and roughly how many portions. I’ll put together a list together and then folks can pm each other if they fancy anything. Ps if anyone else would like to organise this list......pleeeeease say
I hope there is something of interest for everyone, so far what I have set aside for the group;
Shimonita bunching onions are all harvested and ready to go, I love them, they look a little more like a leek than spring onion, really thick and lovely onion taste.
Queensland Blue Squash, in the Greenhouse maturing! Not tasted yet but looks handsome!
I also have enough of the following for everyone which I’m happy to share
Winterkefe mangetout peas, tall growing tasty and fairly early.
Di Chioggia beetroot, particularly good grated raw (these were not netted and to the best of my knowledge no crops nearby, no close neighbours)
Parcel – leaf celery, I really like this herb, lovely in soups and omelettes.
Mexican Honey tomatoes, red cherries really sweet and scrummy, don’t know much about them other than Mexican in origin according to Tatiana’s tomato site.
If there is anything anyone does not want either pm me or include a note when you send your seeds in.
I agree with the sugestions that it will be better for the seeds to be 'processed' centrally. I think if everyone sends their seeds to me as soon as they are ready, I’ll sort them into individual parcels. I would hope to have it all done and posted out in November but to be more realistic aim for the 1st week in December.
So what to do ; when your 2 (or more) varieties of seeds are good and dry, divide each variety into 15. Label them in individual zippy bags, remember to keep one for yourself. Send your seeds to me along with a medium sized addressed padded envelope, or very strong envelope. Postage cost wise, we have some beans and peas, it may be packet size rather than a large letter, but until the parcels are put together ? Perhaps if everyone puts in a selection of stamps to cover postage and any unused will be returned. If anyone has other ideas how to simplify it let us know.
Ruud I know you can’t do stamps so just send yours to me, I’ll post it back with your selection. I may even have a couple of tomatoes to interest you!
I think it is possible we may have lost a member or two along the way; I’ll try and contact the people who haven’t given an update so we have a better idea. It may be someone else is able to step in to take their place if we have a space free?!
If you haven't posted for a while now is the time ;D
Oh i am going to be so blonde, what do you mean by individual zippy bags? :-[
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Yayyyy, they sound lovely Lottie.
I'm sorely tempted by your lime seeds not sure I would have room for another citrus :'(
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Not at all Lottie, I should have explained better. Zippy bags are the polythene ones that have the magic little seal which can be reused, they are fairly cheep to buy the small ones. But they are not always the best things to use with seeds as pointed out by Galina, they do not allow seeds to breath. So any envelope, homemade is fine, which safely holds individual portions will be great.
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If anyone is looking for inspiration to make their own seed packets have a look at this lovely blog http://hayefield.com/2008/08/07/origami-for-seed-savers/
and another variation here, thank you ICPS Seed Bank for this guide http://www.carnivorousplants.org/seedbank/Envelope.htm
There are lots of sites offering templates which can be printed and cut out. These envelopes will need a bit of glue though
http://theseedsite.co.uk/envelope.html
http://www.angelfire.com/art2/flowox43055/template/seedtemplate.html
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I'm still interested, but I haven't been well all summer, and as a result haven't got anything like what I'd hoped. How many seeds do you want to a packet?
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I'm still interested, but I haven't been well all summer, and as a result haven't got anything like what I'd hoped. How many seeds do you want to a packet?
Robert, I am sure that just a few seeds per person, so we can sow and then save seed for next year will be suitable.
I had a bad year on one crop on another seed circle i am a member of and i know that even if just 5 beans are sent per person, they should get at least 3-4 to germinate and from that you can then save seed for a proper crop.
I am sure everyone will agree, do not worry, even if it is just a couple of seeds, that will be perfect (and remember you normally only get a couple of seeds if it is a tom, or a pepper or a squash.
I look forward to seeing what you can put up and i do hope that you are feeling much better now.
Kxx
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Hi Robert, I'm sorry to hear you have been having a difficult summer and very much hope you are feeling much better :)
I think the minimum is enough seed for folk to grow the crop out, numbers depending on whether they are inbreeders or outbreeders, to be able to save seed themselves. How many seeds will depend on the crop.
Don't worry if you don't have enough, things happen and I'm sure we will work something out.
I read this earlier which seemed apt, Quote from Saddad in seed swap '' Naturally... part of the work of the HSL is to get the heritage varieties out there and growing... ''
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I'm still interested, but I haven't been well all summer, and as a result haven't got anything like what I'd hoped. How many seeds do you want to a packet?
Sorry to hear you were unwell and hope you feel stronger now.
Don't worry, you are not the only one with difficulties. I wanted to handpollinate Todo el Año squash. It did great and fruited well, but I never had a matched male and a female flower in place when I needed them - on three plants. They all set when I was away and afterwards no match, guess they were pollinated by other maxima squash. I nearly proposed to save seed for the circle because it is a good variety and hasn't been in the RealSeeds catalogue for years. Maybe it will work out next year. And then my failure with the collards where the flowers just shrivelled and died. It happens even without illness.
We like to grow whatever you have and small portions are no issue.
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Descriptions are good - I'll do some if I didn't already.
Another question- I have one bean I was offering, Gauk a bush one from HSL, which I find disappointing. I chose it as it was in the coloured bean category, but it only colours up at the final drying stage. It's a nice tasting slicing green bean, but is hellish stringy quickly and all over not just the edges. Its main benefit seems to be that it can tolerate some cold so it might be good for people in other areas.
Should I include it and let people make up their own minds about it? After all, their growing conditions might have different results and they might have a different opinion in the end. Or shall I leave it out, considering I personally wouldn't bother with it again or recommend it.
If I didn't put them in the circle I could offer them up in the swaps forum for people with a particular need for cold tolerant beans :)
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YEAH YEAH YEAH - I want that one!!!
All my beans are left until dry so that one would suit me down to the ground. Don't you dare leave it out!!!
That one is originally from Sweden so no wonder it is a little more hardy.....
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Fair enough, I'll include them :)
Just thought it might make more sense distributing them to people who have the appropriate environment for them.
I know they're from Sweden. I'm quoting cold resistance from the HSL cataglogue. I've no personal experience of their abilities to withstand that, my problem was quite the opposite, drought and heat-wave as has normally been the case early summer for me.
I'm intrigued though AJ, why do you want these so badly? They're not very productive, not a great young bean and not even a great shelling bean - borlotti are fatter, tastier and earlier? Do you just have a collecting fetish? ;)
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When we send in the seeds, can we send in little descriptions with them so we know what it is, any special growing instructions, the good and bad points etc, basically anything that we think we should like to know about the plant.
What do you think, will that be too much of a pain for people to do?
Kx
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Fair enough, I'll include them :)
Just thought it might make more sense distributing them to people who have the appropriate environment for them.
I know they're from Sweden. I'm quoting cold resistance from the HSL cataglogue. I've no personal experience of their abilities to withstand that, my problem was quite the opposite, drought and heat-wave as has normally been the case early summer for me.
I'm intrigued though AJ, why do you want these so badly? They're not very productive, not a great young bean and not even a great shelling bean - borlotti are fatter, tastier and earlier? Do you just have a collecting fetish? ;)
I'm working with a few others to increase the beans available in the UK and am definitely looking for hardier beans!!!
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When we send in the seeds, can we send in little descriptions with them so we know what it is, any special growing instructions, the good and bad points etc, basically anything that we think we should like to know about the plant.
What do you think, will that be too much of a pain for people to do?
Kx
Rather than sending the same information 15 times or writing a lot of text on the seed packets, I thought JayB had suggested to put such information on here. Hopefully this thread will still be on this site long after the seed packets have disintegrated. Having the information here also allows for additional questions and replies will be seen by all.
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When we send in the seeds, can we send in little descriptions with them so we know what it is, any special growing instructions, the good and bad points etc, basically anything that we think we should like to know about the plant.
What do you think, will that be too much of a pain for people to do?
Kx
Rather than sending the same information 15 times or writing a lot of text on the seed packets, I thought JayB had suggested to put such information on here. Hopefully this thread will still be on this site long after the seed packets have disintegrated. Having the information here also allows for additional questions and replies will be seen by all.
Oh I totally agree, it is just that you have to troll through all the pages and if anyone could write out what they were supplying and photocopy it a few times (if they have access to a copier, i thought it would help, plus I personally would keep the information on file in my gardening folder for future reference.
Kx
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Fair enough, I'll include them :)
I'm intrigued though AJ, why do you want these so badly? They're not very productive, not a great young bean and not even a great shelling bean - borlotti are fatter, tastier and earlier? Do you just have a collecting fetish? ;)
Different varieties do differently on different soil and in different climate. My seed friend from Colorado has sent seed for several different bean varieties over the years. All did very well for her. Here they can be anything from an exceptional variety, to a variety that needs a year to acclimatise before it becomes a good variety and she has sent two varieties that will never be really happy here outside a greenhouse, because we don't get the heat they like. She has exactly the same results from the beans I have sent her. We have learned from that process that every vegetable (not just beans) needs to be grown at least twice to see how adaptable it is to different conditions in a new place, the second time preferably from seeds grown in the new location. And that there is not much rhyme or reason why a very early bean at her place is too late for here and vice versa. Please include the bean, it is bound to be rubbish here or alternatively do spectacularly well :)
Second thought - I swapped bean and pea seeds with a gardening friend from Scotland, near Glasgow. Peas, no problem, but the beans were really struggling at her place - all beans. I wonder how yours would do for her and others in marginal bean growing areas? Quite a large part of the UK could do with hardier beans.
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I've pm'ed a few who have not updated for a while and hope to hear from them soon, it would be fantastic to finish with the original cast. Although no pressure on anyone who is not remaining involved.
Could I be on the waiting list, pretty please? Not trying to oust anybody. Hope that's ok.
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I love your descriptions Galina, I hope it is ok as I've copied them to use in starting a list of all the varieties we will all be receiving. I thought it might be useful to have the varieties all in one place and thought I could copy it back here when everything is confirmed.
I particularly enjoyed reading your colourful descriptions and how you have found the different varieties. I think it would be most useful to the group if others are able to do a description too. Googling is fine, but there is not always much about some of these varieties. Or perhaps any tips on the ease growing them for seed or the actual process of saving seeds of the varieties you have grown this year.
ps no worries if you aren't able to, I'll do my best to pick out key points if it is something I've not grown before.
Once all the varieties are in and confirmed, if everyone has posted a description of the varieties they have grown I'll copy them. If someone is not able to supply a description I'll do my best to write one. If I'm stuck, I'm sure some one will be able to help. I'll then post the descriptions back here and if anyone wants to print it off, they can :)
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Hi and welcome to the site martinburo :) it's a fab site with loads of info and helpful folk, you maybe interested in introducing yourself, have a look here :)
Thanks for the interest in our seed saving circle, which is almost at the end now :'( So probably not the best time to join as you will have missed out on much of the fun. But I'll be starting another seed circle off in the new year, so keep a watch for a new thread for those who are intrested in re-joining/joining Yayyyyyyy can't wait ;D
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you maybe interested in introducing yourself, have a look here
Do you mean on this thread? I couldn't find an introduce yourself area.
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Ooops meant to do a link, here you go http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,58536.280.html
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Thank you Suek, seeds received in the week and have been sorted into everyones envelopes ;D
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I've got a few peas which I harvested before I got sick, plus whatever's in my seed tins (I haven't checked). So there'll be some interesting things anyway. Thanks for the encouragement; I'm quite unwell at the moment, can't be sure it's going to get better, and it's pretty difficult.
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I've got a few peas which I harvested before I got sick, plus whatever's in my seed tins (I haven't checked). So there'll be some interesting things anyway. Thanks for the encouragement; I'm quite unwell at the moment, can't be sure it's going to get better, and it's pretty difficult.
I am really sorry to hear that you are so poorly, i do hope that you start to feel better soon.
Kx
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I've got a few peas which I harvested before I got sick, plus whatever's in my seed tins (I haven't checked). So there'll be some interesting things anyway. Thanks for the encouragement; I'm quite unwell at the moment, can't be sure it's going to get better, and it's pretty difficult.
Please don't put yourself under any pressure over this - it's not your fault. It's ok. It is far more important that you get better however long that takes. Healing well-wishes are going out to you.
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sorry to hear you have been unwell Robert, as Galina says, bigger priorities than us and some seeds :)
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Hi guys, mine have gone in the post this morning, so hopefully Jayb you should have it tomorrow.
Kxx
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I've got a few peas which I harvested before I got sick, plus whatever's in my seed tins (I haven't checked). So there'll be some interesting things anyway. Thanks for the encouragement; I'm quite unwell at the moment, can't be sure it's going to get better, and it's pretty difficult.
Robert - the attitude I take is once you are in, you are in. So if your seeds don't work out then they just don't work out - no need to stress....it all works out in the end. One year you will have seed to give and others will receive.
All's well that ends well.
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I signed up really early to this - but have been silent for ages, sorry folks. Like some others, haven't had a very good seed saving year - brassicas, forget them, & didn't even manage lettuces most of which frazzled. But I had quite a good bean year so am sending 2 climbing french beans which originally came from HSL - Mountaineers White Half Runner, and Mr Fearn's Purple Flowered - very pretty bean, purple flowers. green bean, nice texture and taste. Also sending some British Green Tiger tomato seeds - the famous M&S tomato, found it prolific when it finally got round to producing fruit, interesting coloration, rather thick skin. Hope others may be interested in growing some.
Should be in the post in the next couple of days Jayb.
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I signed up really early to this - but have been silent for ages, sorry folks. Like some others, haven't had a very good seed saving year - brassicas, forget them, & didn't even manage lettuces most of which frazzled. But I had quite a good bean year so am sending 2 climbing french beans which originally came from HSL - Mountaineers White Half Runner, and Mr Fearn's Purple Flowered - very pretty bean, purple flowers. green bean, nice texture and taste. Also sending some British Green Tiger tomato seeds - the famous M&S tomato, found it prolific when it finally got round to producing fruit, interesting coloration, rather thick skin. Hope others may be interested in growing some.
Should be in the post in the next couple of days Jayb.
That is a lovely selection, looking forward to trying them next year
K :)
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plot51a,
agree with lottiedolly, sounds pretty good to me.
How tall did the mountaineer white 'half runner' beans get? I had never heard of the British Green Tiger tomatoes, but googled and found this:
http://fuggles.wordpress.com/2008/12/13/british-green-tiger-tomatoes/
and this
http://www.daughterofthesoil.com/greentiger.html
Interesting! I think that Tom Wagner's Green Zebra tomato might have been one of the parents.
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My packet also has gone off to you Jayb. The extra seeds in the pink baggie are for you.
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How tall did the mountaineer white 'half runner' beans get?
About 5' - 6'. There's no explanation from HSL how the name came about, only the origin - From Germany to South Carolina and back to UK, will put the all the info I have in for circulation :)
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You are a star Robert, to still be thinking of us when feeling as you do :)
I've got some peas for you too and hopefully when you get the seed parcel back, it will bring a little cheer to the winter.
Those beans sound super Plot51a, I'm really interested to try the white 1/2 runners as I grew some pink ones (aka Red Peanut’) this year. Very pretty, nice little green beans eaten young, maturing to a red pod with pink seeds. Seeds are quite small but they really early to crop. Mine were up to about 4'. I'll add some in if you are interested in trying them.
The Green Tigers did well here too, thank you ;D I loved them, though you are right the skin is tough, the flesh is dense too, but a good flavour plus nicely sweet, and I'm finding them quite good as a storing tomato. I like them best cooked, grilled or roasted, very tasty. I grew several similar/same varieties this year to compare and nearly all had the same skin and flesh. I hope to get it all written down at some point.
I'm not sure that Green Zebra is in the breeding, or not as a direct parent. It would certainly be interesting to know if it is. Its not that clear on where it was bred/evolved.
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Lottie Dolly, seeds arrived today ;D
They looked fab, rather than you send more tomatoes I rearranged the packets of OSU Blue tomatoes and added one to each envelope. I don't need any and I thought they looked more than enough to go around :)
Thanks for the descriptions you sent, is there any chance you can forward that on to me so I don't have to type it out and I'll add it to the others then. Cheers.
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crikey, I have really lost the plot here now, ::) I am still drying tomato and chilli seeds, am I too late to send seeds in?/ shades x
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I'm sure that's fine Shades :) not planning on sowing my tomatoes just yet.
Mine are still airing too. I can still work outside happily now so I'll wait a bit until I've got more time.
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Lottie Dolly, seeds arrived today ;D
They looked fab, rather than you send more tomatoes I rearranged the packets of OSU Blue tomatoes and added one to each envelope. I don't need any and I thought they looked more than enough to go around :)
Thanks for the descriptions you sent, is there any chance you can forward that on to me so I don't have to type it out and I'll add it to the others then. Cheers.
So pleased you have received the envelope, i always cross my fingers that it gets there ok. I have sent you a pm with regards to the descriptions.
I bet you are starting to get quite a stock of seeds there now ;D
Kxx
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No plenty of time for seeds to come in ;D I was hoping to post out at the beginning of December, but not hard and fast.
Galina, seeds arrived today. Thank you so much for your superb seed envelopes (they are so cute, I love them) and sorting each selection, makes it ultra easy for me to add them to everyones envelope, much appreciated.
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Received from Ruud yesterday, a super selection of beans, tomatoes and other veggies, plus a very interesting looking mystery bean and an unnamed pole bean ;D
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Gonna try and pull my finger out this weekend and get mine bagged up and sent to you.....
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Me too ...... all bagged up but just not sent ::) Must get to a Post Office.
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Posted ;D ;D ;D
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Winging their way.
Excited- anyone ?
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Winging their way.
Excited- anyone ?
You betcha ....
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Don't get too excited because I've run out of labels and then I'm notoriously bad at getting down the PO ::) I'll try and hurry up though
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Winging their way.
Excited- anyone ?
MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ;D
Two more packages Yayyyyy.
1066's parcel arrived Saturday,
Markfield rover's came today,
Both full of lovely goodies and the envelopes are really taking shape now ;D
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In the post - at last!
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WhooooooooooHoooooooooooooooooooooo ;D ;D ;D Is that excited enough??!! Mind you I don't know why I'm getting excited now as I won't see the contents for at least 6 to 8 weeks as I'm going away. But what a lovely surprise to come home to ;)
Thanks all - looking forward to next years growing season big style !
Memo to self I must remember to post the descriptions up here!!
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New arrival today, seeds from Plot51A ;D
Both beans are new to me varieties, so I'm excited to have them to grow next year :)
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Could you PM me your address, JayB?
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Could you PM me your address, JayB?
How are you feeling Robert, i do hope that you are feeling a little better.
Kx
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In the post :D
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How are you feeling Robert, i do hope that you are feeling a little better.
Kx
Well enough not to have to retire to bed every time I eat anything, but not well enough to cope with the allotment. Thanks for asking.
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Seeds are really rolling in now, I’m still hopeful to send out everyone’s seed parcels at the beginning of December if possible. Although there are a couple of members who have not been about for a while, so if you are reading this get in touch.
I’m wondering if we need a cut off date for seeds to be sent in by, say 4th December as I can’t send any parcels back until all the seeds are in.
Any ideas?
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Some of my later beans aren't even dry yet - I checked last weekend and they will just go mouldy if packeted up now..... :o
And my leek seeds are still drying under the stairs... :'(
In my circle I asked for 2 stamps so that I could send out 2 batches.....the first will go soon and the second probably Feb time. That's my cut off date.......End of Jan.
Plus once it reaches 25mm depth it has to go as a parcel so keeping it to 25mm the large letter stamp will do.
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aj - your post has made me wonder whether I was supposed to send stamps - was I? oops! :(
I think some seeds will take longer than others, can't expect them all to be ready by December. Tricky - for me it would be good to get most of them in December because I'll be away until spring. Can we send more stamps (?) for a later batch too or paypal or something.
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Leeks bagged up - they aren't completely out of their flower heads so I've just chopped the ends off and bagged them - they can be sown that way anyway - they still grow.
Next step - parsnips....
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Ooops, not trying to rush anyone, I'm only just drying my last lot of beans too :)
If anyone wants their seeds sooner than the last ones in let me know and I'll post them on, no probs.
Lovely selection of beans arrived today from Earlypea ;D
Lol stamps would have been good ;D
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Parsnips bagged.
And Dwarf Bean - Black Turtle.
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aj, looking forward to the Black Turtle beans - a friend of mine makes the most delicious soup....... ;)
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I've started a list and descriptions of the varieties we have received so far. If anyone has info or pictures they want to add that will be great. I've not used google docs before but I think everyone should be able to see the list ??? https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1NE_FA8mzqaFtVFsQ46lRLTPCYJAjkiHD3u9R34pQKDE anyone wanting to join in and add/edit I can add you on but I'll need an email address for you to do that. It seems simple enough, though a little slow. If you prefer, pm info you would like added :)
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Now officially excited. It's like our own little HSL catalogue :D
Top banana with knobs on. 8)
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oh my god, how fantastic, i am now going to have to rip up my planting plans for next year to incorporate all these wonderful veg.
Thank you Emma :-* for arranging this and thankyou everybody for your generosity in supplying the seeds, we are all going to have such fun growing these next year.
;D ;D ;D
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This is quite something! WOW!
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;D ;D ;D
Very happy it seems to work :o 8)
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My oh my, I don't know what to say! Thank you, jayb, for your wonderful organising skills! Can't wait for next year!
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Thank you, wouldn't be able to do it with out everyone else and still lots more to do to the list.
Yayyyy, Mr postie just delivered a super 'pea' parcel from Robert B, thanks :)
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Thanks Jayb ,our very own Santa.
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Thanks Jayb ,our very own Santa.
Maybe we should think about doing a secret santa next year???????
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Jayb you are a real star, thank you so much for organising all this. The document is looking really good - can't wait for the seeds whoooo hooooo......
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Thanks Jayb ,our very own Santa.
Maybe we should think about doing a secret santa next year? ? ? ? ? ? ?
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Wow that is what you call a list,almost proffesional.People giant fennel is not poisinous otherwise i should be dead. ;D ;D ;D.Have used it a lot in the kitchen.
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Wow that is what you call a list,almost proffesional.People giant fennel is not poisinous otherwise i should be dead. ;D ;D ;D.Have used it a lot in the kitchen.
Oh thanks, you had me wondering Ruud ... :)
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Wow that is what you call a list,almost proffesional.People giant fennel is not poisinous otherwise i should be dead. ;D ;D ;D.Have used it a lot in the kitchen.
Could you add some more information about the fennel, e.g. how tall is it and is it a fennel for the bulb or for the leaves as i have heard that fennel does either or and not both (I am probably wrong but that is why i am on this forum as i do want to learn) :)
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Carruthers' Purple Podded Pea
http://daughterofthesoil.blogspot.com/2008/01/heritage-vegetable-review-pea.html
Salmon-Flowered Pea
http://www.daughterofthesoil.com/salmonflowered.html
Serpette Guilotteau is about five feet tall (on my plot anyway), with smooth seeds, white flowers and abundant sickle-shaped pods. Robinsons' Purple Podded is around the same height, and an abundant cropper. The peas aren't sweet like modern green-podded varieties, but it's ideal for savouries.
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Lottiedolly,this fennel is growing up to more then 7 feet high.You are using the leaves and you can use the seeds for pickling.
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Hi lottiedolly, it would be great if we had another SS, I loved the Secret Santa last year ;D
Sorry Ruud, my Google skills are letting me down, so now looking forward to adding G. fennel to my grow list for next season ;D
Another lovely parcel arrived yesterday form aj, lovely selection, thank you.
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The list looks truly amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all you growers and organisers :)
Next year is going to be soooooooo much fun!
Did I say thank you ;)
1066 :)
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Well here are my rather hurried descriptions -
Ying Yang Beans –
Dwarf French Bean that I got in a swap from A4A. I enjoyed eating it as a shelled bean, quite meaty in texture. Also known as Orca Bean
Lettuce Sylvesta – Originally came from Nicky’s Seeds. It is a Butterhead type and is medium to large in size. I found it excellent in summer as it didn’t bolt like most other lettuce during dry hot spells. Sow April onwards
Little Gem Rolet Squash – (pepo family)
A classic squash that is very popular in S Africa. It is roughly a cricket ball in size and is dark green coloured. It is a small plant that can be a heavy cropper. These are a perfect size for 1 serving. Best eaten late summer to early autumn. Although I have saved them until March, when they do get a bit stringier and drier.
Cooking instructions - Pierce the skin several times and place in a pan of boiling water for approx 20 to 30 mins. Cut the top off (like a soft boiled egg) and scoop the seeds out. Put some butter and black pepper on it and eat with a teaspoon! It has a summer squash stringy texture.
Black Cherry Tomato – Indeterminate/Cordon type. It has, as it’s name suggests black to dark red skin. A sawp originally from Saddad.
Jayb, shall I edit the document with these descriptions?
Thanks and shanti om ;)
1066 :)
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Yes please 1066, I'll need your email address to add you on to edit though :)
Here's the link for the sees list again, so it doesn't get too lost, https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1NE_FA8mzqaFtVFsQ46lRLTPCYJAjkiHD3u9R34pQKDE
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Bleu De Solaise Leek
"Originally from Real Seeds: An old French winter variety - long leeks with blue-grey leaves. Hardy and very cold-resistant, it turns darker after frost.
In a comparative trial against 'Musselburgh', it was noticeably more vigorous, growing faster & bigger, although the two varieties share a common ancestry.
A good one for standing overwinter even in atrocious weather."
Tender and True Parsnip
From allotment.org.uk: An excellent variety with long roots, suitable for exhibition and a fine flavour. Smooth skinned and with a good resistance to canker
And what else......hang on....
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Black Turtle Beans - Dwarf
Just a fine black bean, grows well and a good cropper. Great for black bean soup and a nice matt finish to this beautiful little bean.
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Cheers aj, I'll add them to the list ;D
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Right just about ready to go, although I've not heard back from Angel Shades, can't pm her as her box is full. But I'd prefer not to wait any longer to send everyones parcels out, pre Christmas treat ;D
We still haven't heard back from a couple of people and I can only assume after this time they are no longer intrested :o I thought I would divide their seeds and share between everyone. Speak up sharpish if you have another idea.
I'll hold 1 spare selection and Shades (hopefully she will be in touch soon) for a short time. But I wondered if these aren't needed we could divide them up and offer them as starter packs for those interested in Heritage/open pollinated varieties. What do you think?
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Can you ask a Mod to email Shades, and if no response in say - 48 hours - just divvy them up....or pop them on ebay and donate the £ to charity or something?
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oh crikey, I'm here, sorry if I'm messing things up :-[ ,
didn't know my in box was full,the weather here has been awful and the royal mail only started up again today, and we have had no heating,just getting from a to b is still a nightmere here, so if I have to jump ship I understand , unfortunately it can't be helped/ shades x
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Hi Shades, you’re not messing anything up :) although I admit and it would be lovely to send these parcels out as soon as possible, its surprising how much space they take up. Yep and I’m dying to open my parcel too. If you have your hands full at the mo, no pressure, I’ll go ahead and send these out and you send yours when you are ready. Or if you think you'll post in the next day or so I'll hold fire. I leave it up to you :) just ddn't want them caught in Christmas post.
Sounds like you have it pretty bad with you and no heating :o have you got a fire or something?
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Parcels are ready to go, last bit of selotape and trip planned to PO tomorrow morning :P
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great jayb,i am looking forward to recieve a christmas package from the green claus. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Woo Hoo
Still exciting!!!
Can't wait..... 8)
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Hi Jayb lovely present to receive before xmas, looking forward to receiving my seeds.
If you are sending out the packages before all of the seeds are in, do you need another sae to be sent to you as i only sent you one envelope?
kindest regards
Kxxxx
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Very exciting!
So grateful to you, JayB, for organising this swap. Do you have a 'green Santa' outfi for the trip to the post officet?
And also - Happy Birthday!
xx
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOO YOU
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LOL, no green santa suit ;D
But how sad am I, I even sealed my seeds in an envelope so I can open them when I've heard the first ones arrived ;D
Thanks Lottie, I'm not sure, I'll message when I have some more to send out.
Thank you both, I had a really relaxed super birthday ;D
Thank you for the kind words but I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone for making it so fantastic, roll on next year ;D
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Thank-you Jayb and all in the seedy circle the parcel is here , now should I put it under the tree and keep it for Christmas? As I know I will probably act like an over excited four year old when opening.
Merry Christmas all.
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Mine arrived as well, thanks. I looked in the wrong place and put a thanks post on the swop board.
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Got mine today as a birthday present :D it's very exciting and of course, unwrapped - how could you wait?
Thanks a million for all the organising and packaging and so on Jayb.
(I will put up info on my beans when I can remember my google password ::) must be my incredible age)
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This is exciting ;D ;D ;D
Wow, is it under the Tree :o ;D Not sure I can wait that long!
earlpea birthday, today?
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WOO HOO WOO HOO WOO HOO
Mine's here.
Now - do I open it now or wait......... :o
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I lasted 5 minutes.
Opened - and OMG - what a fantastic haul!!!
Thanks everyone - and JayB for organising it. :P ;D :-*
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And here too. Absolutely brilliant! I succumbed and opened the packet. It is just thrilling. Thank you JayB, thank you everybody - Thank you so much.
Don't worry Earlypea - when Jayb said she was getting ready to send, I used a few generic descriptions from the HSL catalogue and copied them into our list. Scrap them and replace with your own, they were just place holders before we got the real thing.
Happy Birthday to you also and many happy returns.
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Sulking in the corner kicking the wall........still waiting for mine :'(
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5 arrived, Yayyyy.
It won't be long lottie, they were all posted at the same time ;D
Thanks galina, much appreciated. I've still some bits to finish and add, but it is getting there. Here's the link again https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1NE_FA8mzqaFtVFsQ46lRLTPCYJAjkiHD3u9R34pQKDE
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBYkHlj5sHM/TQpaiDgerWI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/Sat4eIAwD5E/s1600/PC160682_0211.jpg (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBYkHlj5sHM/TQpaiDgerWI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/Sat4eIAwD5E/s1600/PC160682_0211.jpg)
Piccies of my haul :D
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Just to say that mine got here too, late yesterday - thank you so much to Jayb for organising and everyone for their work over the year. It's the perfect antidote to the conditions outside. And - I never quite believed it when people said that French beans were pleasing to look at, but I could admire these packets - and your pic too, aj - all day! :)
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Talking of bean seeds.....I was wondering.
My Major Cook's Bean left to dry in two different places are decidedly different colours. One lot were dried in a room with a very large south facing window and I hadn't realised how hot it was getting. The white parts of the bean are sepia and the coloured bits are less intense too. Do you think they are slightly sun damaged and will have a shorter life?
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That happens with loads of speckled or striped beans; I now pop mine straight into a tray in the airing cupboard - to remove the excess moisture. I've germinated loads that have been dried in the sun [before I realised what was causing it!]
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Talking of bean seeds.....I was wondering.
My Major Cook's Bean left to dry in two different places are decidedly different colours. One lot were dried in a room with a very large south facing window and I hadn't realised how hot it was getting. The white parts of the bean are sepia and the coloured bits are less intense too. Do you think they are slightly sun damaged and will have a shorter life?
Bean seed coats change colour dramatically during storage. Their bright colours dull down, beige becomes brown. It is a natural process. It happens inside a closed box, inside a drawer that never had any sun on it.
The best photos are taken from newly dried seeds.
Another interesting aspect to seeds is how different they look in different locations. A seed I usually describe as beige, was described as mid-brown by somebody else and as vibrant conch shell pink by a third. We were all talking about the same bean from the same source. Different minerals in soil and different environmental conditions do influence bean seed coats.
Size varies as well, in wetter areas bean seeds are larger, my seed friend from very dry Colorado in the USA sends me seeds that are slightly bigger than half the size they will be here. Incidentally her seeds keep their vibrant colours for longer, mine dull down much faster. I always keep at least one original typical seed in the packet and compare my saved seeds with that.
It is an interesting subject.
I think heat is more damaging than light. If the light faded them a bit I would not worry, if they had stayed above 40C for any length of time because of the sun, they could be. but I daresay that nobody here will wait for many years before trying out our lovely haul of new varieties. I would not worry unduly.
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And - I never quite believed it when people said that French beans were pleasing to look at, but I could admire these packets - and your pic too, aj - all day! :)
As my kids put it when they were little "Mummy is playing with her seeds again!" ;D
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Still waiting for mine to arrive...... :'(
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...and its here!! ;D ;D ;D
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Yayyyy Suek and Plot51a, was chuckling as I read ;D
Love the piccie aj, I'm sure its just what lottie wanted to see ;D
And - I never quite believed it when people said that French beans were pleasing to look at, but I could admire these packets - and your pic too, aj - all day! :)
As my kids put it when they were little "Mummy is playing with her seeds again!" ;D
I find the colours, patterns and different sizes simply gorgeous, almost like shiny beads, but I think more like handling little jewels and bonus they are yummy too ;D
Sounds like you are well and truly hooked suek
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When i came home last night from my works do there was a package on the floor, i held off until this morning, i am sitting here squealing with pleasure and surrounded by seeds, my husband is shaking his head and probably wondering about my mental state to get so excited by seeds.
I would like to say a massive thank you to Jayb for arranging the parcel and another massive thankyou to every member of the circle, This year i have decided that i will be making notes of whom i have the seeds from when i plant them so i know who to mentally thank as they grow. Your generosity in sharing these seeds is so appreciated.
i agree with everyones comments about the beans, i think that it is one of the reasons that i have become a bit of a bean addict because of the variety. I also have been a failure in growing peas in the past but i will give them a try again this year, a special thank you to Robert for his donations especially as we know that you have had problems this year and i hope that you will be feeling better soon and have a better year next year.
I have to say we must do this again next year.
big hugs to you all ;D ;D ;D :-* :-* :-*
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.......but I daresay that nobody here will wait for many years before trying out our lovely haul of new varieties. I would not worry unduly.
Unfortunately, I might have to wait one year or more though because plans have changed and I'll be away so it is a slight concern here.
Well, I hope no-one is put off from sowing the Major Cook's Bean because of their subdued appearance. A little batch dried out of sunlight are without a doubt my most appealing specimens of all, very sweet-shop, humbug.
Also interested in why some are a blocky shape or with a blocky, stunted end rather than a smooth oval. I have a theory that it's because they developed in extremely dry conditions and then the beans swelled in exceptionally wet conditions but the pods developed first and there wasn't enough room so they all jammed up together. Is there another explanation? That for some reason has especially affected the smallest bean seed, the Ice/Crystal wax.
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I certainly am not put off growing any beans!
With regards the shape - not all beans are oval. Some are blocky [these are my faves in all honesty], some oval, some nearly spherical....it depends on the bean type.
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With regards the shape - not all beans are oval. Some are blocky [these are my faves in all honesty], some oval, some nearly spherical....it depends on the bean type.
The original ice wax were distinctly oval from the HSL though that's why I wondered - growing conditions I imagine?
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Nothing yet on the other side of the pond,but that will be,i am sure santa knows the way. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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With regards the shape - not all beans are oval. Some are blocky [these are my faves in all honesty], some oval, some nearly spherical....it depends on the bean type.
Here is another observation I have never found a good reason for: Why do some bean varieties develop normal sized pods, but have gaps inside. This especially applies to late pods. Others also have fewer seeds inside a pod, but they also produce shorter pods - no gaps. Maybe the seed development and the pod development are entirely separate events controlled by different environmental triggers. And sometimes Ice/Crystal Wax seeds appear squeezed and othertimes they don't.
As AJ said, some beans do it all the time. The Americans have a term for bean seeds that are always squeezed inside the pod and appear angular, they call them 'cutshorts'.
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Have opened my packet now, its wonderful. My favourite bean (by appearance) has to be Jacob's Cattle, so pretty.
I had intended to be more restrained in my tomato growing next year - think that's out the window too.
My thanks to everyone involved, especially Jayb for all the hard work put into this Circle. I'd like to give special thanks to those who put such encouraging posts on the board - I was very seriously considering dropping out as I failed to achieve most of what I'd optimistically hoped for. I'm so glad I stuck with it.
Am learning such a lot, and looking forward to growing lots of exciting things. Thank you again.
Anne
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The package arrived today what a great surprise,dutch postmen are working on sundays due to the weather i suppose.What a great variety of veggies.Some toms were also new for me.The great variety of beans and peas are also great to try next season.Want to start right now,but wenn i look outside i see half a meter of snow.Emma thanks of organising this round robin,just a perfect christmas present.Have a nice christmas everybody and a green new year. ;D
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Lol lottie, I can just picture the shaking head while you woooohooo ;D
Aj. I think perhaps (although pod size also varies on a number of factors) pod size is set in genes ie it has a maximum. Although beans are predominately self pollinating this is variable to conditions hence empty spaces but pod extremes have already been (no pun) decided. Also, I’ve not looked this up either yet, are beans able to reabsorb embryo seeds if conditions are not favourable to safe guard the remainder being viable?
I’m so glad you didn’t drop out Plot51a you have been a star. I’m still stunned that a little from everyone has given such a super selection Wow yes its been lots of learning, but fun.
Yayyyyyyyyyy Ruud, top marks for your mailmen. Hope the snow is easing. Glad you enjoyed the selection. Can you give us any clues as to the mystery bean? The seeds look really interesting.
A really big thanks to everyone taking part and making it a super experience. I’ve loved taking part, sharing ideas along the way, picking up tips and yes the fantastic bag of seeds at the end. So many lovely things to grow next year ;D
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So Emma, are we doing it again next year? please!!!!!! :-* :-* ;D
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So Emma, are we doing it again next year? please!!!!!! :-* :-* ;D
Pretty please ....... :)
Has everybody received their envelope for this year? I know one member is away, but is anybody else STILL waiting?
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We could take turns in organizing, I am willing for next year.
Still have not opened parcel... waiting for a quiet moment ,also have some of those salted caramels from M&S only so that I have an empty box for the seeds.
Merry Christmas all.
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Very sadly I won't be around to do this next year so I guess there's a vacancy.
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So Emma, are we doing it again next year? please!!!!!! :-* :-* ;D
;D yes
I'll start a new thread very shortly, this cold weather has really knocked me and I'm finding stuff harder to do than usual :)
Yes I'm holding on to one packet whilst they are on hols (I’m not envious at all ;D) I also have one packet marked for Angel Shades and one kept for spare in case of loss. So potentially 2 spare after the final one has been sent. I hope we can do something with them then.
Thanks for your kind offer markfield, but I really enjoyed setting this up and was looking forward to arranging it again this year.
Sorry you won't be joining us next year, would you be able to grow something from afar?!
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Jayb ,thanks for this year and so pleased you want to continue next year,it is a treat for us.
Are sweet peas out of the question?
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it is a treat for us.
And me ;D
Are sweet peas out of the question?
I think they would be delightful in the mix
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Just in case anyone misses it during the Christmas festivities, I've started a new thread for a 2011 circle. Samlouise has kindly made it a sticky :)
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She's back !!!!! :D :D :D And just had to pop in and check on progress ;)
And looking at the comments and the photos........................... Yaaaaaay. Have to wait a little longer as going away again for a week or 2, then I'll be back to work (hopefully...)
This has been so much fun, learn't loads, and chuffed to bits I joined in. The trials and tribulations of growing for seed have been a real experience, and as the fennel and the Kale are still growing I'm pleased to hear we'll be doing it all again next year ;D
Happy Green New Year my fellow seed savers
1066 :D
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;D Glad to see you back briefly!
Happy Green New Year my fellow seed savers
1066 :D
From me too ;D
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A bump for Jeannine ;D
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Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ;D ;D ;D ;D
The postman just knocked :o And I've got my mits on the best parcel I've ever seen - oo err :D
Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo exciting
Thank you everyone, its going to take a while for me to look at them all, check them out, and I'll try and not get any drool on them !!
Looking at the amount I think I need to put my name down for another plot, oh and give up work, I'll need all the time I can get to cherish these lovelies
Thanks again
1066 (deliriously happy)
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;D ;D ;D
Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyy spring sooooooooooooooooooooooon ;D
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I am so jealous that I'm not participating. Didn't know enough about it but will look into it more and get involved next year hopefully ... specially now as I've got loads of room!
Hope everyone enjoys!
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Just grow out a few things for seed, and you're well away.
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Ruud, I have been sorting my seeds and would love to have information about tomatoes Silach and Falcon. Are they determinate, indeterminate. Their origin etc.
And also please tell us more about the beans. Ruud's mystery bean? What is it like, where did it come from? And Google was not help at all for Sweet Australian Purple bean either. I have posted this request for more information both here and on the new seed circle site.
Looking forward to growing everybody's seeds, roll on spring!
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I was going to ask the same thing, so thanks Galina :)
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Hi galina and 1066,I have red you want some information about some veggies who are put in by me in the seedcircle.First the tomatoes,silach is from russia,red determinate very early red tomato.Falcon is a commercial tomato from turkey,red indeterminate tomato needs staking.Sweet australian is a very big round purple frenchbean,climber,great crop stays stringless,but it is better to pick them earlier. My mystery bean is a mystery it is probebly a cross between a purple and a green pole bean,picked young it is great to eat as a snapbean,older you can grow it for his beans.Some mature ones look like runnerbeans and some are more like a hugh frenchbean.I hope you have the information you want and if there are questions to answer just ask me and i will try to answer them.
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Hi galina and 1066,I have red you want some information about some veggies who are put in by me in the seedcircle.First the tomatoes,silach is from russia,red determinate very early red tomato.Falcon is a commercial tomato from turkey,red indeterminate tomato needs staking.Sweet australian is a very big round purple frenchbean,climber,great crop stays stringless,but it is better to pick them earlier. My mystery bean is a mystery it is probebly a cross between a purple and a green pole bean,picked young it is great to eat as a snapbean,older you can grow it for his beans.Some mature ones look like runnerbeans and some are more like a hugh frenchbean.I hope you have the information you want and if there are questions to answer just ask me and i will try to answer them.
Thank you Ruud, all very informative. I am really looking forward to spring now. Have updated our little catalogue with the information.
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thanks Ruud, really looking forward to trying them all - particularly your mystery bean :)
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Thanks for the extra information Ruud, I'm really looking forward to trying Sweet Australian and (snap 1066) your mystery bean :)
Thanks Galina, you are a star ;D
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Yay, the first seedlings have made an appearance. And the winner is - Urbikany tomato.
Started the propagator on the 11th in the evening and this morning tiny seedlings have popped up.
;D
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Ah Galina, you have made my day ! ;D
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I'm hoping to sow a few Bleu De Solaise leeks and Shimonita bunching onions this afternoon. I'd like to try a few in the polytunnel, I think if I get them started in modules now I can easily transplant when they are strong enough :)
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Have grown 'Ruud's Pole Beans', which were called RPB because Ruud had misplaced the original name. I wonder what others who have grown them think, but mine look very similar to Cherokee Trail of Tears.
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I didn't have room to grow them this this year, hoping to try them next. Be interesting to find out what they are :)
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I didn't have room for them either, hopefully someone else will who grew them this year will chip in.