Experiments.

[Plot69]

Anyone like experimenting? Silly question, your all gardeners, of course you do.

Here's a few I'm trying.

Last year I saved a load of pea pods that had gone over and threw them in a pot and left them in the shed. A few weeks ago I put two rows in, one row the saved seed and one row from a packet. This week every single saved seed has germinated and is an inch high now. A few of the packet seeds are just breaking the surface. Not sure what the saved seeds will be, I had two varieties last year, a late and and early. Should be interesting.

Last year I grew a few of the large, long chili shaped peppers but the sweet ones. Found one that I must have missed and threw the seeds in a pot. About the same time I planted a packet of chili seeds. I've now got quite a few sweet peppers growing but none of the packet seeds have shown yet.

Also in the greenhouse border I've got loads of tomatoes seeds popping up all over the place. Obviously they must have fell, dried out and got mixed into the border. So I've potted some up. I grew three varieties last year so no ides what they'll turn out like but it should be fun finding out.

I've got rogue potatoes and runner beans sprouting on one of my plots left by the previous owner as well.

From my observations albeit by accident, it appears that these "feral" seeds seem to have a better and earlier germination rate. Maybe unprocessed seed left in the cold all winter to fend for itself and not mollycoddled is hardier, I don't really know. But it's going to be fun and interesting to see what occurs.

Anyone else got anything interesting they're trying?

[Plot69]

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

I had borlotti beans cross with my ying-yang beans last year. I'm growing on the hybrids this year

[cornykev]

I have pulled out about six rogue or suprise potatoes growing in my onions, I expect toms to start sprouting up like they did last year.   ;D ;D ;D

[manicscousers]

we've parsnips and sunflowers growing outside where they weren't planted, also spuds so maybe you're right, plot69..but I've transplanted the sunflowers before the slugs wake up  ;D

[tonybloke]

spuds that over-winter in the ground is where the BLIGHT virus lives!! in spring as they grow the blight then re-infects any nearby crops. Please make sure to dig up and destroy any rogue spuds if there was any blight in your area.
check out the Garden Organic website for further info, rgds, tonybloke
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/factsheets/dc17.php

[Plot69]

I don't let them grow, and I don't grow in the same plot, I always rotate. I was just saying how easily they do grow.

[artichoke]

I agree with plot 69's observations. The self sown parsley, coriander, rocket, spinach, and I am sure there are lots of other things, are always stronger and earlier and more resistant to drought than the ones I sow so carefully.

[Plot69]

And the thing with the "feral" tomatoes that have germinated  in the border is they decided when conditions were right for them to grow, not when I decided they should grow. And they seem to be more short, thick and stockier stemmed than the packet sown ones.

I don't think any of the ones I grew last year were F1, just have to wait and see if they produce tomatoes or courgettes :)

[sawfish]

I've grown a tiny Giant Redwood.

[Plot69]

I've grown a tiny Giant Redwood.

I once had a dwarf lop eared rabbit as big as a rottwieler...  ::)

[PurpleHeather]

I've grown a tiny Giant Redwood.

I once had a dwarf lop eared rabbit as big as a rottwieler...  ::)

Did you feed it on feral potatoes?

[glosterwomble]

People always used to save their own seeds until we were persuaded otherwise (by seed companies) and before F1's became the norm.

I also saved peas last year and they had a much better germination rate than the packet ones, I've also saved french beans and runner beans which I'm yet to plant but excited to see how well they do!

[Plot69]

Did you feed it on feral potatoes?

It used to chase feral cats, bloody great thing it was. Heaven know why it was called a "Dwarf" rabbit.