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For me heritage varieties, modern open pollenated and F1s all have their place, though I prefer to do without F1s if I can since you are so dependent on the companies. So:
I am trying various varieties from Real Seeds (tomatos, lettuce, peas), and I tend to stick to "standards" like tender and true pasnips, All Year Round Cauliflower, musselbrough leek in preference to the F1s. I'll use the "standards" where they work well and fit my needs, but I gradually trying heritage varietiesand will use them when and if they fit my needs better. After all, many heritage cultivars were dropped because better cultivars came along! I wouldn't us eF1s for turnips for example, so use Purple Topped Milan rather than th eadmittedly good Market Express, and Bolthardy rather than Pablo or Wodan beetroot..
But, for veg where growing in the UK climate is marginal, I see the vigor and related speed of growth of F1 as a huge advantage so for things like tomatos, squash (butternut Harrier F1 is great - we got a good crop last year despite the lack of sun and light) cucumbers and the like I use them.
LB
I am trying various varieties from Real Seeds (tomatos, lettuce, peas), and I tend to stick to "standards" like tender and true pasnips, All Year Round Cauliflower, musselbrough leek in preference to the F1s. I'll use the "standards" where they work well and fit my needs, but I gradually trying heritage varietiesand will use them when and if they fit my needs better. After all, many heritage cultivars were dropped because better cultivars came along! I wouldn't us eF1s for turnips for example, so use Purple Topped Milan rather than th eadmittedly good Market Express, and Bolthardy rather than Pablo or Wodan beetroot..
But, for veg where growing in the UK climate is marginal, I see the vigor and related speed of growth of F1 as a huge advantage so for things like tomatos, squash (butternut Harrier F1 is great - we got a good crop last year despite the lack of sun and light) cucumbers and the like I use them.
LB
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