Having been inspired to look at Alan Romans by Chriscross' s post - I have been looking at various heritage potato sites. Anyone tried Heritage Plants? I hope someone has and liked it as it has some exciting things - not only potatoes!
thanks
I grow more and more. The only thing I ever use F1's for is sweet corn, since it's a compulsive outbreeder and there's no way I can grow enough plants to maintain a strain in good condition. I'd suggest starting with peas, as it's ever so easy to save seeds. Grow other things, and as you learn more about seed saving, you can save it from more varieties.
Growing more heritage varieties this year than ever before although there are a few F1 varieties that I really do like to grow. I've looked at some of the heritage varieties of potatoes but never actually grown them... I think this year is my time to try these too!
I grow heritage Peas, Beans and Tomatoes, better than F1 in my opinion as more taste and it helps the old varieties alive
If you want a good book on old vegetable and fruit varieties, try 'Forgotten Fruits' by Christopher Stocks. You can get it for a few quid on Amazon.
In the heritage potato plants if they offer "Aura" a french salad it's great and you can save your own seed (tubers) for 5-10 years before the viruses beat them..
I've had a couple of things from Heritage plants, seeds arrived promptly and germination was good. Got the impression it was a small business, somethings seem a little pricey. Are the potatoes certified seed?