old varieties of veg

[flighty1]

hi there, its just gone midnight & I have just spent the best part of an hour looking at a couple of really interesting web sites about growing /saving old veg seeds & I have to admit I found it real eye opening stuff. To be totally honest my interest was brought about by Flummery who is very kindly sending me a few CTofT beans & some Lancashire Lad peas (Thank you so much & sorry for getting the county wrong earlier Flum) I am so looking forward to receiving these seeds that I am hoping that next year I will be able to buy in a number of old heritage varieties to grow as they are so colourful. I was amazed by the red pea pods on another site & will be studying the various sites (flums blog, real seed catalogue & daughter of the soil) to try to understand the genetics if thats the right word in an attempt to try & produce my own seeds. My family love peas & beans so we will really enjoy eating our new varieties. If all goes well I will keep you informed.

[Nicos]

Hi there- sounds very interesting!

did you bookmark those sits you visited?- if so , can you share them with us??

[Flummery]

Posted them yesterday Flighty. By autumn I should have a few more to share.
Daughter of the Soil can be reached through the link on my blog Nicos. Real Seeds, well, Queen of Google, get Googling! They are the first to come up when you put the words in. They grow in Wales so what grows there grows in most of the UK.

[Nicos]

Thanks Flum! ( once I got pat the cannabis site!!)

[zazen999]

Flighty....you might want to click on the HSL link in my signature.


And on my blog; there are the first 45 types of Heritage Bean that I am growing out this year; I've got 78 being grown all in all.

And this chap is I believe collecting lots of peas in the same way that I am collecting beans. http://thisandthat-robert.blogspot.com/

[flighty1]

Many thanks Zaz. I know it might sound silly but I really do fancy trying to grow vegetables produced from my own seeds. I like most people I suppose just order from the latest seed catalogues without giving it a second thought. This year I am going to try Flums peas & beans but I am also looking to try a couple of others this year. I just need to get my finger our & source a few more varieties. Unfortunately this is all new to me & I really don't know where to start. My main criteria is taste but this is a personal thing so whats good for one may not be so for all. Still I shall really enjoy looking for & tasting new or should that be old varieties. Finally thanks again for the links.
.

[zazen999]

You might want to join the second seed saving circle if there are still places available. See the seed swap board for further details.

[flighty1]

Hi Flum. They arrived safe & well, waahhheeyyyy. The little seed packets were really pretty. Thanks again.

[Flummery]

Hi Flum. They arrived safe & well, waahhheeyyyy. The little seed packets were really pretty. Thanks again.

Good -oh! Enjoy them!

[flighty1]

I have been looking to get hold of a few more "old" varieties of tall peas & beans.
So far I have
Pea Lancashire Lad
Pole bean Cheroke trail of tears

I have also just placed an order with Dobies seeds for
Pea Alderman
Pea (mangetout) Golden Sweet

Can anybody suggest any nice varieties of beans for drying out & using in such things as stews/casseroles. Ideally I would like something that has the following atributes
a) good flavoured big beans
b) reasonable crop
c) climbing habit
d) self polinating ie can plant near my other beans but still able to save my own pure seed. Like a french bean I suppose.

If anybody can advise on a variety & or supplier I would be most greatful

Many thanks

[flighty1]

Hi I think I might have answered my own question. Have been on the HSL site & found a bean called birds egg which sounds suitable can anybody advise. thanks

[Mrs Jackson]

I've not grown them before but I ordered some seeds from beansandherbs.co.uk earlier in the year. They've got a pretty good selection of heirloom bean seeds.

Mrs J

[flighty1]

hi there Mrs J I found beans & herbs on the web & have sent them an e-mail to ask if they still have any in stock, however I am still waiting to hear from them. Are the beans nice & large.

[Mrs Jackson]

They're about the same size as a dried Borlotti or Pinto bean, maybe a bit rounder? So a nice size really, I expect they'd be a fair bit bigger if you were eating them fresh as shelled beans instead of dried beans, I know my fresh Borlottis last year were huge compared to the dried ones.

Mrs J

[Flummery]

I've got some - remind me of your address again!