HSL Seed Guardian and Member's Experiments

[zazen999]

Got all my experiments and all 3 seed guardian seeds through the post today.

Will give me something to do this weekend won't it?

Will be reading the destructions tonight and getting some plans in place to grow/do it all.

[Jeanied]

Just recap on what you are experimenting with and what you are the guardian of?

[zazen999]

Testing:
slug collars
tree spinach
a new type of compost made from growbark

Guardianing:
crimson giant radish
mummy's pea
izjastsnoi cucumber

[Jeanied]

That all sounds so interesting, Andrea - what fun! Do you get to taste the veg? Or does it all have to go for seed production?

[binley100]

Bit of a fiddly job fitting the slug collars I should think ......

*I'm getting my coat

[HeyWayne]

Full of admiration for anyone that can do this kind of thing - having seen how much goes into being a seed guardian. Very commendable, no wonder GO want you zaz!

[binley100]

Seriously tho' Zaz it all sounds very important and full of responsibility. I wouldn't know where to start. Good luck with it all.

[zazen999]

That all sounds so interesting, Andrea - what fun! Do you get to taste the veg? Or does it all have to go for seed production?

The guardian ones; all go for seed production - which with the radishes isn't hard [that's why I chose them - bleugh]. The others wil just get a nice corner and be left to mature.

The trials - you get to try. Not sure I like the sound of the tree spinach but what the heck!!! In for a penny....

And I'm interested to see if the slug collars make any difference at all......

[Dane End Dolly]

The guardian ones; all go for seed production - which with the radishes isn't hard [that's why I chose them - bleugh]. The others wil just get a nice corner and be left to mature.

The trials - you get to try. Not sure I like the sound of the tree spinach but what the heck!!! In for a penny....

And I'm interested to see if the slug collars make any difference at all......

please keep us all informed on how you are doing, it sounds fascinating but complicated

[zazen999]

please keep us all informed on how you are doing, it sounds fascinating but complicated

Will do Ma'am

[Flummery]

I'm 'guarding' just one - I thought I'd start small and see how I go. It's a Climbing Bean called Fabes de la Granja Asturianas - Asturian Farm Bean. Massive white beans great for casseroles and tapas!

I enjoy growing this type of bean myself anyway - prefer to use them as shelly or dried, so I'm used to seed saving. We can hold back some seed for ourselves - enough for next year's guardianship of course, and a few to grow for ourselves. I shall taste a couple as fresh beans (for research reasons - I need to fill in a form!) and as shellies.

All the 'experimental' and 'research gardening' projects I'm doing are for myself, not HSL.

Keep us informed Andrea - I'm basically a nosey person!

[poly]

I nearly picked those Flum, thought they sounded very yummy.

I could only afford one membership, so went with HSL. Hopefully seed Guardian to 3 veggies, not delivered yet, so can’t confirm the varieties.

I’m also growing as a member’s trial for Irish Seed Savers, Zelta Rieksti tomatoes, which are from a collection of Latvian tomatoes. Also Stamme onions, blurb said these were donated to Wellesbourne gene bank by an onion enthusiast. An old variety producing large onions with excellent keeping qualities.

[seasprout]

I'm doing members experiment, on counting Butterflies in my Garden. Nice and easy from a chair.

[TonyF]

I've given up this year, tho I've got my share of last year's crops ready to go in and although not a member/guardian any more, I'll make sure I send half my crop back to the HSL.

Far too many gardening things going on here now to do any UK based stuff, busy, busy, busy.

[Pies]

How do you ensure,especially with beans, that you don't get any cross polination?