Seed Sharing Circle 2015 and growing progress

[Jayb]

If anyone would like to join this year's proposed Seed Circle, sign up on the thread 

The Seed Circle would be in it's 6th year  and is open to all A4A members, it's great to have new people join too    The group is all about setting aside a little growing space and time to raise some crops for seeds, keeping the group informed of how the season is going and at the end of the season share these seeds with the group.

Each person decides what 2 or more crops they will grow and save seed from, saving enough seed for every other member to grow a crop the following year. The group could be 10 – 20 + people, although it seems to even out at around 15. Veggies will generally need to be heritage or open pollinated so that they will come true from seed, (potatoes won't come exactly true).

It's always fun to have new to the group varieties and not those that are the real basic ones which are easy to pick up for 50p in the shops. If anyone is stuck for ideas or starter seeds ask on the thread or pm me, I'm happy to help someone get started if they need seeds. To give you an idea, here's a list of seeds varieties already shared within the groups http://seedsaverscircle.org/seed-circle/a-z-of-varieties-shared-in-the-seed-circles/


I think most of us have found out some vegetables are easier than others to grow for seed and everything can change with the weather. But generally peas, French beans, tomatoes, perhaps potatoes and some herbs are the easiest. Chillies, Sweet peppers, squash, courgette and lettuce will need isolating from other varieties to keep seed pure.  Parsnips, onions, leeks, beetroot, carrots, celeriac and many Brassicas only go to seed the second year and need isolation from other varieties and so are more time consuming and a little trickier.

Real Seeds gave the idea for the circles. Their site gives some great seed saving tips as well as being a great seed catalogue http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedsavinginfo.html

For anyone interested in the previous years Seed Parcels and what we finally shared they can be found at http://seedsaverscircle.org/

And the previous threads for the Circles;
Seed Circle 2014 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,77280.0.html
Seed Circle 2013 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,74928.0.html
Seed Circle 2012 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,70816.0.html
Seed Circle 2011 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,64431.0.html
Extra Group 2011 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,68391.0.html
Seed Circle 2010 http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,58860.0.html

[Jayb]

[goodlife]

  MEEEE.....Meeeee.....meeee..... Put my name on the list pleaaaaaase , madam, if you would, thank you, most kindly....

[markfield rover]

I am going to the seed swap on the 7th quite a few HSL usually turn up so...... If I can find some "worthies" I would love to join in please, you are doing sterling work Jayb ,thank-you.

[Silverleaf]

I want to join in!

I haven't planned out what I'm growing yet, but definitely want to share! Hopefully I can put in a lot more this year!

[sparrow]

Me please, me please, me please!!! 

[Robert_Brenchley]

Yes, definitely. Hopefully I'll have a better year this time!

[ruud]

You can count me in

[galina]

Yes please, but no idea as yet what I might grow to seed.

[pumkinlover]

I would like to be in again please!

[markfield rover]

I have just received seed from the National dahlia collection, so if it's exceptable  I'll add these, they are mixed so real pot luck including the chance of a new variety!

[Jayb]

Yes, sounds great to me. Being both edible and producing beautiful flowers, bonus all around 
Gives me a chance to plan ahead and have some space set aside for them.

[Jayb]

 

Goodlife
Markfield rover
Silverleaf
Sparrow
Robert_Brenchley
Ruud
Galina
Pumpkinlover

[Ian Pearson]

Me too please1

[earlypea]

I'd love to.  Was in the first one in 2010 and having been watching enviously this year - feel quite out of the bean-loop.

Trouble is I might not be around much during the growing season, but I reckon I could fairly easily save

Red Swan dwarf french beans

and

Sokol breadseed poppy
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/flowers.html

I've not spotted either of those on the previous years' lists.

and then we'll see what else as I go along.  I've got big plans and lots of seeds, but maybe not the time......

earlypea

[goodlife]

I'd love to.  Was in the first one in 2010 and having been watching enviously this year - feel quite out of the bean-loop.

Trouble is I might not be around much during the growing season, but I reckon I could fairly easily save

Red Swan dwarf french beans

and

Sokol breadseed poppy
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/flowers.html

Those 2 sounds good and it would be nice to have you joining again Go on....you know you want it...SEEEED, SEEEEDS and more SEEEEEDS...



I've not spotted either of those on the previous years' lists.

and then we'll see what else as I go along.  I've got big plans and lots of seeds, but maybe not the time......

earlypea

[Jayb]

Welcome back both 

Goodlife
Markfield rover
Silverleaf
Sparrow
Robert_Brenchley
Ruud
Galina
Pumpkinlover
Ian Pearson
Earlypea

[Jayb]

I'd love to.  Was in the first one in 2010 and having been watching enviously this year - feel quite out of the bean-loop.

Trouble is I might not be around much during the growing season, but I reckon I could fairly easily save

Red Swan dwarf french beans

and

Sokol breadseed poppy
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/flowers.html

I've not spotted either of those on the previous years' lists.

and then we'll see what else as I go along.  I've got big plans and lots of seeds, but maybe not the time......

earlypea

Both would be ideal for the group and I just love Red Swan and was thinking of putting it in this year, so I'm really pleased you are going to be adding it. Perhaps I can be back up for in case needed? I should think both will do well with minimal care once established if you are going to be busy summer time, good choices.

I think I may be going to have a bit of a bean and pea year, so hopefully some new additions from me 

[sparrow]

I may well be a repeat of squashes & peppers (different ones!) and I have an order with Baker Creek that is sitting in my saved folder which is fairly bean-y.

I didn't realise how addictive this seed saving would be and I have eaten the majority of my root crops...d'oh! Might see if there are enough salsify or beetroot left...

I love the idea of the breadseed poppy.

[Jayb]

Lol, a total shiny bean lover here, although I really don't need them, I've got a couple of packs of beans in my basket too!
Squash and peppers will be just great 

[martinburo]

Yes, please.