Heritage seeds are alive and well!

[Flummery]

I was having a furtle through the T&M catalogue this aft, like you do, and I noticed that they have 'New for 2010!' seeds for Goldensweet (the mangetout pea that Mendel used in his genetics studies - so how is that new?) and Crimson Flowered Broad Bean.
I assume that the amount of interest - and swapping - there has been here and in other places has made the company realise it might be worth registering the seeds for sale.

This has made me think about what other heritage seeds I'd like to see more widely available (in case they are reading this!)

I'd love to see Bird's Egg climbing french bean better known. It's like Borlotti lingua de fuoco but for me it crops more heavily. I also think Cherokee Trail of Tears deserves great credit as a tasty green bean that you can also shell out if you 'forget' them.

I'd also like to see Salmon Flowered Pea grown more. It's just so decorative and the small pods of sweet peas seem like a bonus.

I've been very impressed (in spite of detesting the name) by the tomato Euromoney from the Heritage Seed Library. I'm certainly growing this every year. It's a fantastic, beautiful, juicy, flavourful, slightly salty tasting salad tomato, big enough to slice on a butty.

I'm very heartened that a seed company is listening to what real gardeners want to grow. Anyone else got any suggestions?

[SarzWix]

I noticed those too Flum and was in two minds whether to be pleased, or, a bit cynical about them 'jumping on the bandwagon'...
Anyway, I'll settle for pleased, and suggest Leek 'Early Market' as a contender. They are quite early, but stand all winter, no rust problems and they taste great

[Flummery]

It would be easy to be cynical but I decided that I liked the idea that we 'little folk' have influence. It makes me feel better about myself!

[SarzWix]

Maybe it will lead to less F1's in the catalogues, which can only be a good thing for most veg, and small scale growers. Most of us don't need/want everything to mature at the same time, or need every plant to be identical!

[Alison]

You've made me actually bother opening the T&M cat that turned up the other day. Not bought anything much off them for a few years now but, although they might be jumping on the band waggon somewhat I am pleased that they're maybe moving a bit away from the uniform and regular plants that they seemed to be filling their pages with last time I'd looked.

[Welsh Wizard]

Too little too late for me: I will be be buying all necessary seed supplies from Real Seeds, and Moreveg. Great service, great seeds, cheap prices and sensible amounts of seeds. Who needs the big guys?

[Alison]

Oh I probably won't buy from them either (Real Seeds, Kings, Tuckers etc for me) but at least those who do will get a better selection.

[Lavenderblue]

oh Flumery, the salmon flowered peas you gave us were beautiful. We have bags of the seed saved for next year. I keep banging on about this tomato but Galina, is beautiful. It was the first to ripen by miles, the flavour is so balanced, sweet and sharp and tomatoy. It is a heavy cropper and still setting fruit now. The vine is a bit sprawling but I think well worth the effort.

[ginger ninger]

I'm not bothering this year with T&M, I've got "Marshalls, Kings and also The Real Seed" Catalogues to chose from, as well as all the fantastic seeds from you grapes via seed swaps, O, I almost forgot, I've also got the seed parcel to look forward to.

[Snadger]

Next year I intend growing only the Crimson flowered broadie as I am the only one in the family who eats them. Unfortunately for me, with growing so many types of broadies, the genetic pool has been tainted and my Crimsons I got off NTG aren't what they were a few years ago.

Methinks starting afresh with untainted seed and not growing other types will hopefully ensure they stay dwarf and Crimson. Not many allotment holders around me grow ANY type of broadie......which is a blessing!

[Alison]

I can't be sure they'll be OK to save if I grow them down the lottie as, even though the plot next to me doesn't grow any the one beyond that does but will still grow some at home as they look so pretty in the borders.

[ginger ninger]

The Crimson Flowers smell so sweet as well, I grew them for the first time this year, I got mine from "Robinsons", there ideal because they don't take up all my room, can anyone tell me if there OK to plant now to over winter for an early crop next spring or do I need some other variety? Thanks.

[Flummery]

I'm not buying from them. I bought a few things when I got a £10 vouchers for a GYO prize and they keep sending me the catalogue. I ordered bedding plants this spring and the order was mega-cocked-up so that put me right off. I've always used Marshalls and Fothergills so I shall probably continue - I hope THEY have some heritage seeds!

[wollyanna]

Have been intrigued by the names where do you manage to find all theses treasures the birds Eggs seem delightful and also the trail of tears,i missed out last week when someone kindly offered some but always live in hope. I've not been impressed with TM for a number of reasons.

[Flummery]

I belong to the Heritage Seed Library - it will come up if you Google - and every year we have a choice of 6 packets of seeds. We pay £20 per year membership so you could say it's expenisive per pack but they are things you can't buy. I view membership as my contribution to the cost of keeping these varieties going - they have to be grown on and distributed etc. Many of the types (if you choose wisely) can be saved again - make sure you get things that are self fertile.