I didn't think they'd send it to me in the UK, but last week it arrived: the Baumaux catalogue from France.
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/baumaux.jpg)
Firstly, I should explain that in size this catalogue is more like the Argos catalogue than your average seed catalogue. And what a selection! Here are just a few pages to drool over:
100 different varieties of lettuce
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/baumaux_lettuces.jpg)
Over 130 different varietes of beans (mainly French beans)
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/baumaux_beans.jpg)
I'm particularly intrigued by these: marbled French beans from the Alps, reputedly superbly flavoured.
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/baumaux_beans_Alps.jpg)
Shame I don't need any more seed... Oh well, maybe just one more packet of beans ;D.
What fantastic bedtime reading
I have just tried to order one too, it didn't like my postcode so I just put 0000 in. I wonder what will happen now? M :)aybe I'll get an incomprehensible email in french...
Norty dandelion - just sent off for a catalogue :-[
Looks great, but I daren't! ;D
Well I've tried. ;D
just ordered mine :-)
( envoyer la demande = to send the request )
I can see me doing plenty of scribbeling and translating in altavista :-)
Intresting potatos
25 tubers @ 5,10 â,¬ for cherie which is about 20 cents per tuber
5,10 â,¬ = £3.41 ( 13 pence a tuber )
I've sent for one too. Will no doubt get some eye rolling from my husband when it arrives ;D.
yes my husband calls it allotment porn!! because i get so excited and spend so much time pouring over the pages
Quote from: cambourne7 on January 21, 2007, 19:39:46
just ordered mine :-)
Intresting potatos
There may be restrictions on sending potatoes abroad. I'm not sure what the rules are. They stock one I'd like to grow called Bintje (THE traditional chip potato in Belgium).
Here are a few more pics to drool over:
61 varieties of radish (I swear I am not making this up!)
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/baumaux_radishes.jpg)
And these rather ingenious looking individual cloches for tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. Anyone used something similar before?
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/baumaux_tomatotube.jpg)
Quote from: cambourne7 on January 21, 2007, 19:56:50
yes my husband calls it allotment porn!! because i get so excited and spend so much time pouring over the pages
;D ;D considered using the heading 'Veggie porn' before deciding on The mother of all catalogues!
Aaah, veggie porn, that's good. It'll be known as that from now on in our house ;). He already moans about kitchen pron, when I'm drooling over the magimixes in Selfridges 8)
Who wants more ;) ;D??
Me ;)
Anything good in the herb department?
Quote from: LauraB on January 21, 2007, 21:30:42
Me ;)
Anything good in the herb department?
Yes, plenty of herbs too, though nothing I hadn't heard of before. Mind you, I didn't realise you could eat Tulbaghia. I thought it was just an ornamental, but apparently it tastes like garlic.
More veggie porn:
Aubergines
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/baumaux_aubs.jpg)
Peppers
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/baumaux_peppers.jpg)
Oh, and they do 182 varieties of tomato ;D.
Just sent off for a catalogue too!
Any fruit, esp. strawberries in there ??? ;)
What are the postage costs like?
Two pages of strawberries. Mostly varieties I haven't heard of before. Also lots of grapes, figs and some unusual fruit bushes. Not all are suitable for colder climates, but if you think how big France is, you can see why they stock so many different varieties suited to different climatic conditions.
Quote from: Vez1 on January 21, 2007, 22:07:42
What are the postage costs like?
Hmmm :-\ just checked. It's 12 Euros. So probably only worth it if for a big order.
http://www.graines-baumaux.fr/
There shouldn't be any restrictions on sending stuff out/into the country as we are all in the EC - must be some advantages.
There are loads of restrictions on movement of spuds within the EU, in fact even within the UK
Oh dear - Graines Baumaux are in for a shock tomorrow morning when they see how many Brits have ordered their catalogue :o. Just look what you started Dandelion :P. I wonder if they'll send them?
When I filled in the address I put town, county, post code and UK all in the same line as it wouldn't accept my post code in the allotted space.
An interesting wait for us all now I guess ;D.
Tricia
Great find Dandelion. Je have aussi just sent for un.
le Geoff.
Ooooo, that is rather good isn't it :D
You can also look at it online in almost English... I went to google and searched on "Baumaux". The first link I got was direct to their site and Google offers you the option to translate the page (well, it tries, bless ;) ;D)
Then you want the "seeds potageres" link for veggies. You get pictures (though its never quite the same as having a paper catalogue to paw over) AND you also get a laugh at some of the very strange translations!
Quote from: dandelion on January 21, 2007, 20:05:23
They stock one I'd like to grow called Bintje (THE traditional chip potato in Belgium).
Bintje is sold over here too. Its due to be at the
Hampshire potato day (http://thewhitchurchweb.org/potatoday/catalog.htm) where they sell them by the tuber - great if you only wanted a few to try... (Sorry, not sure where you are so if that's any use :-\)
I've just sent for one too ;D ;D
Noticed they only ask for 'Town', so added UK in there . Here's hoping ;D
It did occur to me that maybe the brochure would come out automatically, with national postage on it. I would be quite happy to pay a bit when the postie arrives, as it looks well worth paying for.
cj :)
Quote from: tricia on January 21, 2007, 23:45:20
Oh dear - Graines Baumaux are in for a shock tomorrow morning when they see how many Brits have ordered their catalogue :o. Just look what you started Dandelion :P.
Tricia
:-[ Hope I don't get blacklisted.
Quote from: cambourne7 on January 21, 2007, 19:39:46
Intresting potatos
25 tubers @ 5,10 â,¬ for cherie which is about 20 cents per tuber
5,10 â,¬ = £3.41 ( 13 pence a tuber )
You definitely won't get live plant material, including potato seed, by post from outside the UK.
Strangely it will be available at the Hampshire Potato Day for 13p per tuber!!!
The catalogue does look amazing
Phil
What a wonderfulway to put it - vegetable porn - but then I suppose to a normal, sane person they cannot comprehend how we can drool over seed catalogues!!
Good one Dandelion. Alto after the huge UK response I dare not even try. But would reallyfancy some of those lovely French runner beans. Anyone want to do a swop if ordering?
Regards
Jitterbug
Moi, aussi !!!
Does it state they will send abroad?
Yes they do, I found out about this seed company through a friend of my mum in Belgium who always orders their seed. Postage from France to other EU countries is 12 Euros ( https://www.graines-baumaux.fr/PageCadreSecurise.asp) . I think that's for seed. I imagine they won't send spuds. Don't know about plants or fruit trees.
Quote from: dandelion on January 23, 2007, 14:18:44
... Don't know about plants or fruit trees.
Plants and trees are plant material and not cannot be (legally) exported without lots of expensive paperwork -
phytosanitory documentationPhil
i got my catalogue cant wait to start looking !
still waiting for my catalogue! Cant wait... how would you pay though?
my french is very rusty
credit card ( looks like you pop the details on the order form )
I think postage is 12euros
I'm SO fuddy duddy - WHY are we never satisfied with our own home grown organic seeds - 100s of them - more than you'll grow in decades - like buying a Renault or Audi?
Let's support our few remaining BRITISH growers before the Supermarkets et al cremate them??
Sorry Tim, but temptation is such a difficult thing. What if I read the catalogue , but dont inhale? ;)
cj :)
..then you'll end up buying the Renaults and Audis cos there'll be no British produce available.
Driving up the road the other day and noticed the guy in front of me had a sticker in his back window that said BUY BRITISH, He was driving a MAZDA car!
I have requested the catalogue on someones recommendation. I have just moved to France with a 'seed pack' from my lovaly Irish mum-in-law. I also want to try growing some more 'unusual' vegetables so I plan to order from this catalogue. If anyone can come up with something different from the catalogue I am quite happy so send over a few seeds. The advice I have received on this forum has been great, and postage to the UK is no more that a 1st class stamp in the UK so any suggestions?
Quote from: tim on February 07, 2007, 19:46:26
I'm SO fuddy duddy - WHY are we never satisfied with our own home grown organic seeds - 100s of them - more than you'll grow in decades - like buying a Renault or Audi?
Let's support our few remaining BRITISH growers before the Supermarkets et al cremate them??
I just like variety ;D !
Just checked my seedbox and counted packets from Thompson and Morgan, Suttons, Mr. Fothergill's, Carter's, Franchi, Moles (via Supersprout), Johnson's, Woolworth's, Lidl, The Real Seed Catalogue, Botanical Interests, Association Kokopelli, Somers and Belgian DIY chain Brico. Plus homesaved seed of course!
Those beans - do les yeux deceive moi?
Or are they really offering 100g of seed?
Cor, et Blimey!
;D
I dont know if you all read French or not, bit there is a thing on the back of the envelpoe they send, which gives you a free pack of seeds if you recomend a friend to get a catalogue.
cj :)
Quote from: carolinej on February 08, 2007, 08:29:00
I dont know if you all read French or not, bit there is a thing on the back of the envelpoe they send, which gives you a free pack of seeds if you recomend a friend to get a catalogue.
cj :)
I should have got at least 20 packets of free seed then :o :o :o :o!
oh sorry dandelion but as my mum says if its for you it wont pass you!
QuoteI should have got at least 20 packets of free seed then
You have to fill in the form and send it off with the name and address. Maybe you could get interested people on this thread to PM you their address, and you send it off ;D
cj :)
My hasn't arrived yet...not fair, I want to play! ;D
Quote from: carolinej on February 08, 2007, 08:47:20
QuoteI should have got at least 20 packets of free seed then
You have to fill in the form and send it off with the name and address. Maybe you could get interested people on this thread to PM you their address, and you send it off ;D
cj :)
Yes its worth a try
i can get my friend to dictate a letter in fench for you?
I have used them for a couple of years, their delivery is superb and the amounts of seeds generous. The sheer volume of varieties puts our seed companies to shame
Hey Pigletwillie,
have you ever tried their extra long french beans? They look marvellous, but the description doesnt say stringless. I'd like to try them , but dont want to be de stringing all those beans!!!
I am trying to decide what I may need next year too, as delivery is a bit expensive. Well, to tell the truth, its more like trying to decide what to leave out ::) Far too much temptation ;D ;D
cj
Quote from: carolinej on February 11, 2007, 08:12:06
have you ever tried their extra long french beans? They look marvellous, but the description doesnt say stringless. I'd like to try them , but dont want to be de stringing all those beans!!!cj
I think those need a bit more heat than French beans. I've seen them for sale in the Asian grocery shops. I've not tried them though.
My copy of the catalogue arrived yesterday! Sat reading and muttering to myself,while OH says WE HAVE ENOUGH SEEDS! DO YOU HEAR!!!!!!!
Oooooh well I have just sent for one, it looks the bizzo. re. the postcode thingy, what did you all do?
I tried the 0000, so ever hopeful.
Oh my God what have you done. I have an entire salad drawer in the fridge full of seeds, have spent a week trying to catalogue them, accidentally ordered yet more this evening, and then you go and do this! I have no willpower faced with seed catalogues.
I'm going to have to buy a new fridge... ::)
I am particularly interested in the seeds on p.314, no.9286. They seem to be rabbit seeds. I was wondering if they are of the all female variety, or if , like some cucumbers, you have to pick off the males. lol
cj :)
Still haven't received mine yet, it took me quite a few attempts to get it to accept my address, perhaps I haven't done it right?! :'(
Not impressed with the french translation of "seed potatoes". Sounds a bit messy to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just ordered catalogue... fingers crossed
went into their online catalogue ... wow !!! what a range of Tomato and Beans... prices not bad, roughly in line with UK for Tomato
Oh My, oh Ma! It's arrived! :o ;D