Seed Sharing Circle 2015 and growing progress

[Jayb]

Yep, an odd season 

About the only thing harvested so far for seed is Giant Achocha, though either mine aren't that giant, perhaps not the best summer for them? The vines are huge and they do seem to have a fair amount of fruit on them now.

[Jayb]

[Jayb]

My lemon has probably been the only success I have had this season, although it hasn't flowered, so I will be providing the seed I sowed it from for the seed sharing circle.

I hope others have had a more productive growing season!!

Debs

I didn't grow lemon grass this year so seeds will be lovely for next year. Your plants in the pictures look gorgeous, I love the smell if you give the leaves a little scrunch, mmmm.

[Jayb]

Great selection Earlypea  Paul Robeson is a lovely one, one of my fave's, I don't have seeds for Purple Heart Dwarf, so that's one I'm looking forward to. How big did the plants grow?

Red Swan have done well here too, though mine are still out on the plot, a bit of mould about too, so I'm not sure how well my dwarf beans saving is going to be.

I grew Marsh Mallow this year, flowers are lovely. I was thinking of adding some in but your vegetable mallow sounds good.

[Jayb]

It's been such an odd year. The things I really wanted to add in (aubergines, salsify, Lazy Housewife beans, beetroot) have been disastrous.  The seeds I got from last year's circle have absolutely romped away though!

I will definitely have Flat White Boer squash and possibly enough Royal Black chillies. Am loathe to name anything else in case it then turns up its toes. I seem to be under a small curse...

On the plus side, I have a big crop of Black Coco beans to return to HSL, and I am keeping some of them back for next year, they are fabulous. Seed Circle 2016..?! 

Those sound great, I grew Flat White Boer, several years back. I loved them, looking forward to growing them again 

Yayy, planning for 2016 (I hope so) and a lovely choice 

I've got Early Blood Turnips I'm hoping they will overwinter well for seed next year, I've been trying to add them to the Circle for the last few years but although it's an ordinary veg, I've just had no success with getting them as far as dried seeds. They are a lovely, really tasty, easy to grow beetroot and I think they should make a comeback!

[Jayb]

Well, I have picked the first Vince tomato, and if there was ever a tomato doing an impression of a yellow pepper this is it! Tastes like one too!

They sound interesting, are they a stuffing or salad type?

[markfield rover]

Hi Jayb the seed was from HSL I've done a brief search but as yet a bit of a blank , will try again. As they are stuffing or salsa might be best, there are plenty of seeds. They are just so pepper like in touch and form and apart from the seeds at the top as in peppers are hollow.

[Jayb]

I hadn't thought of salsa 
That's the trouble with some of the HSL varieties, unless you have the catalogue they were listed in, there's virtually no record to be found.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've had my share of disasters as well, but at least I've got plenty of Babbingtons, so that's one possibility. I don't have enough potato berries off anything to do TPS this year, or enough perennial allium seed, but those remain possibilities for the future.

[galina]

I hadn't thought of salsa 
That's the trouble with some of the HSL varieties, unless you have the catalogue they were listed in, there's virtually no record to be found.

I can check for you next time I'll get my catalogues out.  Have over a decade of paper catalogues.   

They don't renew tomatoes very often.  Unless a seed guardian grows them every year, they might not be returning in the catalogue for a very long time. 

[markfield rover]

Thanks for that galina,  I guess this is what makes things interesting, I think I have a few catalogues but they maybe a little older. Many years ago I visited Ryton when they were being revamped and the seeds were in a portacabin and the chap stood next to me in deep thought was Trigger  , perhaps our SSC pinup!

[galina]

Thanks for that galina,  I guess this is what makes things interesting, I think I have a few catalogues but they maybe a little older. Many years ago I visited Ryton when they were being revamped and the seeds were in a portacabin and the chap stood next to me in deep thought was Trigger  , perhaps our SSC pinup!

It wasn't in the very early catalogues (I just about know those off by heart ;) )

Yes also been to Ryton long before HSL was in the posh education building.  Jeremy Cherfas was the head of HSL when I first joined and he changed the collection to the catalogue system.  Now it is online and I think everybody can look at them, but the older catalogues have not been scanned in.

I am thinking of adding tomato Auntie Madge's - I noticed that they are on the Adoption list this year and you can't even get a free packet when you adopt, so stocks must be low at Ryton.  This is a little red plum tomato on large trusses with reasonable blight resistance and good flavour.   

[galina]

It's been such an odd year. The things I really wanted to add in (aubergines, salsify, Lazy Housewife beans, beetroot) have been disastrous.  The seeds I got from last year's circle have absolutely romped away though!

I will definitely have Flat White Boer squash and possibly enough Royal Black chillies. Am loathe to name anything else in case it then turns up its toes. I seem to be under a small curse...

On the plus side, I have a big crop of Black Coco beans to return to HSL, and I am keeping some of them back for next year, they are fabulous. Seed Circle 2016..?! 

We are all under the same curse.  I don't think I will be able to contribute any squashes at all this year.  Just lettuce, peas, beans and tomatoes.  Black Coco sound interesting.  I have been growing Blue Coco Beans and they are doing well.   They are dual purpose beans for pods and shelling.  Could add those.  Had hoped to add Mennonite Stripe beans, but they are on strike (maybe I told them they were going to be added to our seed circle).   

Also hoping that one or two other items will still come good.

   

[markfield rover]

Galina I have spare aunt Madge's if you fancy.

[galina]

Galina I have spare aunt Madge's if you fancy.

Sorry misunderstanding. I wasn't too clear above. 

Personally I have plenty of seeds freshly harvested in 2015 and have therefore already planned to add this tomato to my seed circle contribution.  I have grown 6 plants this year and can produce lots of seeds. 

I guess they must be short of surplus seed at HSL because they are not giving away packets when somebody adopts Auntie Madge's as a variety (ie sponsors a grow-out).  Of course HSL would never allow themselves to go short of any seed of any variety, as they are the final backup should everybody else's fail. 

Thank you for the kind offer though

[markfield rover]

HSL supply seed to our local seed swap sometimes seeds I can't find in their catalogue, the swap is February so if there's anything wierd and wonderful I'll let you know. Here's to the new season!

[Jayb]

I've had my share of disasters as well, but at least I've got plenty of Babbingtons, so that's one possibility. I don't have enough potato berries off anything to do TPS this year, or enough perennial allium seed, but those remain possibilities for the future.

Babbingtons sound great for the parcel  I'm glad you got some berries, keep you busy next year! I think Silverleaf was hoping to add some tps.

What are the perennial alliums?

[Jayb]

Hopefully I'll have squash to add, I've got 
Lower Salmon River,
Australian Butter
Long Island Cheese
(and Portimarron, but these were added last year from Sparrow. )

Fingers crossed they will have enough seed in. Any preferences?

[galina]

. Any preferences?

yes please, they all sound good    Hope there are plenty of seeds to harvest. 

[sparrow]

Am with galina, they all sound good. Though I still have about 300 Potimarron seeds floating about here... 

If I get enough I might be able to add in Lazy Housewife climbing beans.

It's now nail-biting to see what happens first - stuff ripening or frost!

[galina]

HSL supply seed to our local seed swap sometimes seeds I can't find in their catalogue, the swap is February so if there's anything wierd and wonderful I'll let you know. Here's to the new season!

Yes that sounds great - goodness!  I can't even see to the end of this season yet, let alone plan the next 

But I do hope there will be another seed circle next year, they are really great both for sharing favourites and for experiencing new varieties that I would not have come across without the circle.  I know I don't always mention every success and a contributor may wonder whether anybody actually grows their seeds.  Well just at the moment the leeks are looking good and the celeriac is swelling nicely along with many other items.  The seed share is very much appreciated.   Thankyou Jayb and everybody