Heirloom seeds / varietys.

Rixy · « **on:** May 17, 2008, 01:10 »

When i eventually get my allotment i would like to grow more traditional (heirloom) varieties of veg rather than F1 hybrids etc. Any recommendations
as to a seed supplier or varieties i should look out for?

Trillium · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2008, 01:32 »

You can easily source suppliers on your google search or whatever - organic seed suppliers in the UK.
I read over the ones I find to see who has the most of interesting seeds I'd like to get, and reasonable S&H charges. then write up potential orders. Don't order large pkts until you've tried them. I found a few toms I bought weren't much to my liking, same with some melons. Anyway, once you find something you like, you can easily save the seeds.
You'll want to order seeds that have a chance of maturing in your area's growing days, ones that fit into the size of plot/garden you have, and things you'll actually eat (vs stuff that just sounds interesting).
Some heirlooms are still around, such as Bedfordshire Champion onions, which I asked about on this forum, and found some people still grow them. Others, such as Champion of England Peas, got no response but I still bought and planted them to try.
It's possible some fell out of favour due to diseases, poor yields, poor flavour, but that's what makes trying them fun. Always plant backups if you depend on something like toms. For me, it's loads of paste toms for bottling so that I can eat all the regular toms (or not).

iwantanallotment · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2008, 01:36 »

You could join the Heritage Seed Library? http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl/index.php
It's an organisation which seeks to preserve old/rare and heirloom varieties of fruit and vegetables which you wouldn't be able to find by other means.
To adopt a veg for a year isn't cheap at £20 a variety, but you can keep seeds from your venture and the satisfaction that you're preserving a rare old variety can far outweigh the initial outlay.
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/support_us/adoptaveg_varieties.php

If you don't fancy joining, you can find many heirloom varieties on eBay, reputable seeds companies (ie Moles) etc.

Hope that helps, and good luck. It's nice to grow something steeped in history and a little different from the everyday.

DD. · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2008, 06:41 »

I think you'll find the above is not strictly accurate. If you 'adopt a veg', yes it costs £20 a year, but you are paying for the storage, handling etc.. You do not get any seed from it.

You can join Garden Organic for £20 a year, but it will cost a further £20 to join the Heritage Seed Library. You will then get a catalogue once a year from whcih you can choose seed to purchase at a further cost!

Maybe you were thinking of the 'Seed Guardian' scheme, in which you chose a threatened variety off a list to raise for further seed. This is where you may keep some for yourself, sending the bulk of them back.

I did this a couple of years ago with 3 pea varieties, whcih I'm still keeping going for my personal saucepan!

Ruby Red · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2008, 08:28 »

I bought a packet of 4 types of Heritage tomato seeds. You dont get many in the packet but pleased to say all the ones I planterd have come up. They are now 6 inch plants waiting just a bit longer before I plant out. I bought the packet from a garden centre and their names are lovely. There are 2 yellow, Lemon Tart and Banana Cream , and 2 normal red ones they are Christmas Grapes and Vintage Wine.

compostqueen · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2008, 20:03 »

Real Seeds, in Wales, are specialists at non F1 seed so you can save seed from all the plants you grow from their seed. They have a paper catalogue or you can order online

Rixy · « **Reply #6 on:** May 18, 2008, 22:52 »

Thanks for the replies. Will be looking at heritage varieties of Onions, Carrots, Brassica's, Tomatoes and also potatoes to start with i think.

franmeerkat · « **Reply #7 on:** May 19, 2008, 08:59 »

I've no experience of them, but this firm was mentioned in one of the gardening mags this month - they specialise in heirloom varieties:
http://www.thomasetty.co.uk/

bean · « **Reply #8 on:** May 19, 2008, 15:47 »

Compostqueen mentioned Real Seeds in Wales. I bought seeds of cauliflower, ps brocolli, sprouts, chilli peppers, sweet peppers, parsnips, cucumbers and squash from them this year and have found germination rates excellent for all of them whether growing in home-made seed compost, John Innes seed compost or directly into the ground

Although I haven't got as far as eating any produce from them yet (and there is still plenty of time for me to kill them off one way or another :oops: ) all the plants are currently very healthy. On this basis I would say they are well worth giving a go especially if you want to try saving seed, as they supply instructions.

love-my-plot · « **Reply #9 on:** May 19, 2008, 19:29 »

Ditto on the quality of realseeds. I've had 100% germination on all the seeds I've bought from them. Good instructions for seed saving from them as well.

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Heirloom seeds / varietys.

Trillium