Seed Sharing Circle 2014?

[Silverleaf]

I'm really excited for this!!

[Silverleaf]

[markfield rover]

Silverleaf do have Jeyes pea in your collection? I notice you have a bean or two.... I am growing this but it has yet to survive bugs, beasties and their greatest threat me!  If you don't have any I do have a few spare if you would like some.

[Silverleaf]

Silverleaf do have Jeyes pea in your collection? I notice you have a bean or two.... I am growing this but it has yet to survive bugs, beasties and their greatest threat me!  If you don't have any I do have a few spare if you would like some.

Actually I hadn't heard of that one, but I do love any old varieties so I'd love to try it, thank you! :)

[markfield rover]

They were from HSL , so if you PM me I will pop them in the post.

[sparrow]

My alberto's are possibly the slowest growing things ever. I have just put them in my culticave on the plot as the sun's now too high to come into the flat.

Is there anything I can do to encourage speedier growth? They have about 5 sets of true leaves, 4inches high and are in 4inch pots. They germinated about 10th March.

[Jayb]

I have a few Alberto's Locoto plants sown around the same time. They might be a bit ahead of yours but not much at around 7'' high. The main stem has divided into two and the first small flower buds can be seen, they were grown under lights before going out in a poly-tunnel. They do seem slow growing at first and then all of a sudden they take off. I'm sure with the extra light they will have, your's will put on good growth very soon, especially if we get some sunshine!

[sparrow]

Thanks Jayb, that's really helpful. :)

[Jayb]

Gilfeather is now a mass of developing pods 
Even on the most developed pods the seeds inside are still very immature. They will be some time before they start to ripen.

[Jayb]

Early Blood Beetroot won't be long before flowering.

[galina]

Early Blood Beetroot won't be long before flowering.

Beetroot in flower has a lovely perfume 

[Jayb]

Mmmm, yes gorgeous 

[goodlife]

Update for here too..

Sugar beet is in full flower...I didn't really know what to expect with the height...but the shoots are at my head height!...and I'm 5ft 9!
Gilfeather is in full bloom too and last few days when sun has been out...there's been 'zillions' of bees doing their thing..
Tomato flowers have some net bags over too...

It is all going 'strong'...so far...

Oh..nearly forgot...not so 'strong'...sparrows found their way into GH....and have given really good 'go at' for my precious Swedish and Norwegian peas!.. I thought they were safe there..and was just about to move them outdoors and under nets...
Fingers crossed that the plants will put some new growth and I get at least few pods for another 'go' for next year..

[sparrow]

Would it be ok if I swapped the kent blues for something else when I've had a look later in the season? The plants really aren't doing as well as I had hoped, mostly I think because I put them in with my garlic as a rookie mistake. I'll get enough seed for me, but probably not enough to share out.

[galina]

Would it be ok if I swapped the kent blues for something else when I've had a look later in the season? The plants really aren't doing as well as I had hoped, mostly I think because I put them in with my garlic as a rookie mistake. I'll get enough seed for me, but probably not enough to share out.

Sparrow, we are all in the same boat.  We aim to grow certain crops to seed and then have to switch to something else later.  Happens to everybody and happens every year.  Of course you can swap.  Maybe next year will be great for the Kent Blues.  It really is not a problem at all.   

[Jayb]

Would it be ok if I swapped the kent blues for something else when I've had a look later in the season? The plants really aren't doing as well as I had hoped, mostly I think because I put them in with my garlic as a rookie mistake. I'll get enough seed for me, but probably not enough to share out.

Sparrow, we are all in the same boat.  We aim to grow certain crops to seed and then have to switch to something else later.  Happens to everybody and happens every year.  Of course you can swap.  Maybe next year will be great for the Kent Blues.  It really is not a problem at all.   

No worries at all, as Galina says. It's just a guide really so there is an idea of what is being saved for the group. 

[Jayb]

Update for here too..

Sugar beet is in full flower...I didn't really know what to expect with the height...but the shoots are at my head height!...and I'm 5ft 9!
Gilfeather is in full bloom too and last few days when sun has been out...there's been 'zillions' of bees doing their thing..
Tomato flowers have some net bags over too...

It is all going 'strong'...so far...

Oh..nearly forgot...not so 'strong'...sparrows found their way into GH....and have given really good 'go at' for my precious Swedish and Norwegian peas!.. I thought they were safe there..and was just about to move them outdoors and under nets...
Fingers crossed that the plants will put some new growth and I get at least few pods for another 'go' for next year..

Sorry to read about the sparrow attack on your peas    I hope they have recovered enough so you have some to save for yourself. Mice have been a nightmare here with my peas, I've been using garlic as suggested in another thread but I think I should have sprayed each day as they got the lot just as they were sprouting!

Now I've got the sparrows attacking the Gilfeather seed pods, starting to see torn pods, looks more like beak marks than pesky teeth 

[goodlife]

Thank for warning about Gilfeathers...my plants are just next to bird feeders..and the seedpod are just in ripening progress.
Hmm...I must remember keep eye on them now..
Well...'nature' is full of 'wonders'...sparrows did get into great trouble to get into my GH for those peas (looks like they are not going to make it..) and yet those outside, covered with netting are not being troubled...see the peas grew out of their netting and are now growing 'wild' out in the open...and they are not even 'nibbled'!!!  ...of course that is good thing, I just cannot work the 'bleeders' out. But even then....I love my sparrows...funny birds they are..
I must finish this message in positive note...

My climbing peas...particularly sugar lord are BIG and BEAUTIFUL plants..6ft tall now and still growing.. ..oh and plenty of flowers and developing pods too..

[galina]

My climbing peas...particularly sugar lord are BIG and BEAUTIFUL plants..6ft tall now and still growing.. ..oh and plenty of flowers and developing pods too..

I wasn't going to say, not to jinx it, but after a pigeon attack, my Sugar Lords are also recovered (I am saying this very quietly!     ) and there are lovely  big pods.  I have eaten one and it is delish.  I have these growing on 8ft supports and they need it.  Only taller are the Biskopen's Graaert.  Fingers crossed for my half of the seed circle contribution.   

[sparrow]

Would it be ok if I swapped the kent blues for something else when I've had a look later in the season? The plants really aren't doing as well as I had hoped, mostly I think because I put them in with my garlic as a rookie mistake. I'll get enough seed for me, but probably not enough to share out.

Sparrow, we are all in the same boat.  We aim to grow certain crops to seed and then have to switch to something else later.  Happens to everybody and happens every year.  Of course you can swap.  Maybe next year will be great for the Kent Blues.  It really is not a problem at all.   

Phew, thank you! If it's not too boring I will have courgettes (when the ruddy male flowers show up - why are men always late? ;) ) and black futsu/thelma sanders/queensland blue squash, depending on which one works. I likes my curcurbits, I does!

[markfield rover]

I've just eaten a "sample" pod from the Jeyes pea, very yummy a lovely pea sweetness , the plant is almost six foot with white flowers , if I wasn't growing these for the circle I would have probably eaten them all there and then , brilliant raw!