Hablitzia tamnoides

[Jayb]

I'm quite excited to be growing these for the first time this year, they are also known as Caucasian Spinach or Spinach vine.  I've got some seedlings already started in the house, although I may have started them a bit early.  Germination was good and though still small they have little red stems and mid green coloured leaves. The leaves aren't really big enough yet to have a little sample, but I'm hopeful this will be a useful and tasty perennial crop. They don't appear to have been grown much outside of their native Scandinavia. I wonder if anyone has come across this or is already growing some, I'd love to know what you think of it?

http://emmacooper.org/files/hablitzia.pdf

[Jayb]

[goodlife]

AHHHHH!..that's what it is  I don't have much to report about it..other than..YES..I do know it well ...but only as a ornamental plant. Just like runnerbean it was grown as ornamental and we didn't know in family that it was even a edible..well we've heard about it but for not being very 'veggie' family anything that we didn't know, we didn't eat or even dare to try.
And look how I turned to grow on..not much escape my mouth now..
Gran used to have great thicket of those climbing up the barn wall...I wonder my antie still have kept the seeds going..HMMMM...

[markfield rover]

Jayb any sowing tips? Did you use the fridge?
Cheers.

[Jayb]

Cheers Goodlife, good to know they are robust climbers. I was thinking they might like to climb up through a tree?  If they will transplant ok I've a some spare seedlings if you would like?

Jayb any sowing tips? Did you use the fridge?
Cheers.

No, nothing fancy I thought I'd try them plain and simple to start. Sown in a pot of multicompost, with a fine covering of compost and left to germinate on the windowsill. I was going to try some outside but no need these came up fairly quick. I've still some seeds left if you need more.

[goodlife]

Cheers Goodlife, good to know they are robust climbers. I was thinking they might like to climb up through a tree?

I think they climb on almost anything. Only thing that might restrict the amount of growth they put is that if they have to compete with the tree roots. I suspect that if they have nice and lush soil around their roots they will be proper thugs.

If they will transplant ok I've a some spare seedlings if you would like?

Thank you for you kind offer  BUT...I've been speedy pants and so excited of your post so I went and bought myself a plant today  ..and as it happened, it was discounted for half price too! 
Chap who sold it said that 'he has eaten nicer stuff and the leaves are slightly bitter'..we'll see what our mouths will 'say'.
And while I was there and there was 'sale' on...I got myself another Aronia too..Swedish variety and Amalanchier for fruit 
Its been VERY good day even its so bloody cold and foggy.

[aj]

BUT...I've been speedy pants and so excited of your post so I went and bought myself a plant today  ..and as it happened, it was discounted for half price too! 
Chap who sold it said that 'he has eaten nicer stuff and the leaves are slightly bitter'..we'll see what our mouths will 'say'.
And while I was there and there was 'sale' on...I got myself another Aronia too..Swedish variety and Amalanchier for fruit 
Its been VERY good day even its so bloody cold and foggy.

Where did you go in Nottinghamshire to get these lovely things?

[Jayb]

Cheers Goodlife, good to know they are robust climbers. I was thinking they might like to climb up through a tree?

I think they climb on almost anything. Only thing that might restrict the amount of growth they put is that if they have to compete with the tree roots. I suspect that if they have nice and lush soil around their roots they will be proper thugs.

If they will transplant ok I've a some spare seedlings if you would like?

Thank you for you kind offer  BUT...I've been speedy pants and so excited of your post so I went and bought myself a plant today  ..and as it happened, it was discounted for half price too! 
Chap who sold it said that 'he has eaten nicer stuff and the leaves are slightly bitter'..we'll see what our mouths will 'say'.
And while I was there and there was 'sale' on...I got myself another Aronia too..Swedish variety and Amalanchier for fruit 
Its been VERY good day even its so bloody cold and foggy.

Lol, good for you , I need to get speedier on the reply button!

[goodlife]

BUT...I've been speedy pants and so excited of your post so I went and bought myself a plant today  ..and as it happened, it was discounted for half price too! 
Chap who sold it said that 'he has eaten nicer stuff and the leaves are slightly bitter'..we'll see what our mouths will 'say'.
And while I was there and there was 'sale' on...I got myself another Aronia too..Swedish variety and Amalanchier for fruit 
Its been VERY good day even its so bloody cold and foggy.

Where did you go in Nottinghamshire to get these lovely things?

Cool and temperate nursery is selling their stuff off with -50%. He is not planning to quit but is on move to another site. If you are quick he still has some goodies to get rid..but you do have to ring first for what is still available.
The nursery is near Ikea in alsworth village.
http://www.cooltemperate.co.uk/

[aj]

BUT...I've been speedy pants and so excited of your post so I went and bought myself a plant today  ..and as it happened, it was discounted for half price too! 
Chap who sold it said that 'he has eaten nicer stuff and the leaves are slightly bitter'..we'll see what our mouths will 'say'.
And while I was there and there was 'sale' on...I got myself another Aronia too..Swedish variety and Amalanchier for fruit 
Its been VERY good day even its so bloody cold and foggy.

Where did you go in Nottinghamshire to get these lovely things?

Cool and temperate nursery is selling their stuff off with -50%. He is not planning to quit but is on move to another site. If you are quick he still has some goodies to get rid..but you do have to ring first for what is still available.
The nursery is near Ikea in alsworth village.
http://www.cooltemperate.co.uk/

I was hoping you would say that - thanks...

[aj]

Just put my order in. Cheers my lovely. 

[goodlife]

  ..you are welcome.
I wonder if we are flogging off some plants by end of the summer.. They better taste nice!
I've got 2 possible places eye on the lottie..one is next to fence and my huge elderberry bush...or I could make little wire trellis up next to GH and let it climb on that..maybe allow it to go on GH too if it ever gets that big. Can't quite yet decide. First option has old compost bin on situ..which removed would leave nice and lush ground to grow in...and second spot I've been tipping old compost from containers..again should do well..both are sort of semi-shaded..or partially sunny positions.
OHHH..I love this sort of 'troubles'...so exciting  ...and then I have to find place for the other 'goodies' too...

[goodlife]

I've been looking to Finnish gardening forums and there seem to be growing interest to this 'old crop' too! I've come across few nurseries there that supply plants but seeds seem to be hard to find. Local 'HSL' seem to constantly short of seeds and they go as soon as they come available.
Jayb..how did you manage to get hold of your seeds?

[Jayb]

Jayb..how did you manage to get hold of your seeds?

I'd been looking for them for a while and was lucky enough to come across a lovely site with them and some other lovely things, can't remember which country now.  I'll see if I can dig out the sites name. I think they seed quite easily so hopefully we should have some to go around before too long, though if anyone does want a seedling or a few seeds to get started now I have enough to share.

[Hector]

Hi folks, any feedback on how theses taste...trying to grow more perennials :)

[martinburo]

I'd love to try them. PMing you, Jayb.

[Jayb]

I'd love to try them. PMing you, Jayb.

I'm not sure how long the seed lasts for, they are a few years old now but, I successfully germinated some seed last spring. You are welcome to try some seeds, if you don't have success I'm hoping to save seeds from my plants this year fresh seed may work better, fingers crossed. I noticed signs of them sprouting the other day.

[Jayb]

Hi folks, any feedback on how theses taste...trying to grow more perennials :)

I managed to kill my earlier ones off, but I've got several plants from last year just sprouting now. I'm hoping they have a bigger crop this year.

[Hector]

We lost crops to horse invader from neighbours field...so looking forward to trying this and using hose- recovery as an excuse to renovate raised beds plans/ make more robust. I have found a potential supplier and have written to them, so hopefully we can share results :)

[Jayb]

Hmm, know the feeling, we've had problems with horses, sheep and cattle in the past! they make darn big hoof holes in the ground too besides stripping the green stuff.
If you haven't had any luck finding seeds, I've some you can try, they are a couple of years old but germinate ok last year.

[Hector]

Got 3 wee seedlings of this to try :)