Seed Sharing Circle 2013

[aj]

Any passing Garden Organic members could do worse than look in the new issue of The Organic Way, where our own aj  mentions the pleasures and benefits of taking part in a seed circle.

It all made a very interesting read!

Kind of you to notice! Thank you. 

[aj]

[Tora]

I would like to join please, if there is a space left. 
I brought some seeds back from Japan last year when I visited my family. I'm hoping to save seeds of varieties that are difficult to get in the UK. It's hard to say which ones I can offer to the circle but I'm thinking black seeded soya beans and bicoloured perilla at the moment. I had good crops with these two last season; black soya beans gave me a good crop (I'd tried T&M soya beans  many times in the past with no germination) and the bicoloured perilla turned out to be really easy and the most fragrant type I've ever grown. Hopefully I can harvest seeds of a few more varieties too.

[green lily]

I think mine might be purple tomatillos but I've never grown them before....I've finally agreed/been offered back surgery so that might just cramp my style a bit. But hopefully something will obligingly bolt on me.- Even the rhubarb is trying to do so at the moment. Its under a compost bin...

[Robert_Brenchley]

Can someone sticky this?

[pumkinlover]

Done- I actually thought Jayb had already done that- maybe the blu-tac dried out a bit , that happens sometimes.

[pumkinlover]

With shaking hands and all possible digits crossed I write that I am hoping to grow for this years seed circle-
Climbing french -Jack Edwards and Bridgwater also lablab Yings.
I have never grown lablab and there are warnings that the beans themselves are toxic unless well cooked. Theres lots of talk about it being  a useful forage plant for deer (that is good to know!) however it is also used like a mange tout but needs to be kept in warmer so greenhouse/ tunnel needed. So that sounds a useful and practical thing to grow if the weather is anything like last few years!
I chopped up a Shark's fin (small one) last night but the seeds were not mature, so I am going to leave the bigger ones until later until I chop another. So hopefully there will be some viable seeds in one which can go in this years circle, and to anyone who was in last years, but not this please let me know and I will send some out to you.
So there is a start- I have a plan. Maybe there will be more as well

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'm hoping to have several varieties of umbellate peas, and other peas and beans, but if we get another season like the last that may yet go wrong again. I don't know what else there's likely to be; it depends entirely on how things go.

[galina]

Have added some 'how to save seeds' information to our 2013 Seed Sharing Circle blog page:
https://sites.google.com/site/seedsharingcircle/seed-parcel/seed-parcel-2013

Please let me know about other online seedsaving ressources that should go there and also if any of the links don't work. 

And if there are any outstanding seedsaving questions, please do ask.  Somebody will know the answer.  Or can look it up for you.

The best seedsaving book for UK conditions is Sue Stickland's ' Back Garden Seed Saving: Keeping Our Vegetable Heritage Alive'

In the USA/worldwide the most highly rated book is: Suzanne Ashworth's 'Seed to Seed' 

[Toshofthe Wuffingas]

Tora san, shiso ga suki desu yo!

[Tora]

Tora san, shiso ga suki desu yo!

Your Japanese is very good! Are you into Japanese cuisine as well? Shiso is something I cannot do without during the summer. I grow some every year.

[Toshofthe Wuffingas]

Arigatou gozaimashita. Nihongo wo sukoshi kakemasu.

I sowed some last year but I suspect the seed was old. I'll try again this year. I usually try akashiso for the colour.

[galina]

Any passing Garden Organic members could do worse than look in the new issue of The Organic Way, where our own aj  mentions the pleasures and benefits of taking part in a seed circle.

It all made a very interesting read!

Love the photo of the six hands coming together in a circle, palm up, and there are seeds on every hand - says it all and artistic at the same time.

[steveg1966]

count me in I have got loads that I could swap including one or two unusual ones.

[gunnerbee]

Hi all  , please could i join the seed circle for 2013, im mostly into tomatoes and have 80 different types to swap etc, but there is a few varieties that ive ran out of and need replacing!! please tell me more how the seed circle is run as things have changed since i was last on here!!! many thanks Sarah 

[Jayb]

Welcome aboard Tora, steveg1966 and gunnerbee 

It's different from a straight seed swap in everyone chooses 2 or more heritage or open pollinated vegetables/fruit/edible herb/flower etc of their choice. Over the season grow your chosen varieties and produce enough seed to share with everyone in the group. eg 5-20 tomato seeds, 10 beans or peas etc per person. The idea is to keep the varieties interesting, not much point in sharing Gardner's Delight as they are readily available and most folk already have a packet or two.

It's great to get updates from everyone on this thread as the season progresses, fun to hear how crops are doing and keep a track of what we can look forward to. Feel free to post pictures and ask any questions you may have.

Once your seeds have ripened and are dry, they can be divided up between the members of the group, some use little plastic zippy bags, or make their own paper ones etc. Seed are then sent to me and once they are all collected in I divide the bags between everyone and send your collection back. We have a Seed Sharing document  https://sites.google.com/site/seedsharingcircle/  where you can add your descriptions on what your sharing, photos are great too so everyone knows what they will be growing, also helps with identifying any off types.

[Jayb]

I think we might be about full for this group?

[goodlife]

I think we might be about full for this group?

Full house!...and may the fun begin 

[gunnerbee]

Awesome sounds good to me! Love the list where do I send mine to as I have some japanese purple!!! All I need for right now is some of The amateur!!! Can't seem to find these humble Seeds anywhere!! Oh and some box car willie and some mortgage lifter!!! Xxx

[goodlife]

Awesome sounds good to me! Love the list where do I send mine to as I have some japanese purple!!! All I need for right now is some of The amateur!!! Can't seem to find these humble Seeds anywhere!! Oh and some box car willie and some mortgage lifter!!! Xxx

Are you referring to Jayb's tomato library link? If so...you need to send her PM as that is separate issue from the seed saving circle.

[galina]

Good to have you onboard Steve, Gunnerbee and Tora 

Awesome sounds good to me! Love the list where do I send mine to as I have some japanese purple!!! All I need for right now is some of The amateur!!! Can't seem to find these humble Seeds anywhere!! Oh and some box car willie and some mortgage lifter!!! Xxx

T and M are stocking these if you are interested in a source:

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-seeds/tomato-seeds/tomato-the-amateur-heritage/4865TM?source=google-prodex&gclid=CLeSz6z4tbYCFUbKtAodmhsAWg

and others too:
http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/Tomato_Seed_Amateur/
http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/item_1371b_tomato_the_amateur__heirloomheritage_variety_seeds
http://www.moreveg.co.uk/shop/article_TOMAM/Tomato-Amateur.html?shop_param=cid%3D1%26aid%3DTOMAM%26
http://www.kingsseeds.com/vegetable_seeds/Tomato%20Amateur/P-14826