My allocation of seeds from the Heritage Seed Library have shown up as a pre-Christmas treat. I got my top six choices, plus a "lucky dip" option which always seems to consist of tomato seeds (which is fine by me - given my addiction to growing the things!).
I got the following packets:
Mangel Yellow Intermediate - this is a beet, a yellow one. I've grown Burpees Golden in past years but was interested to try this variety
Squash Lady Godiva - an interesting one, this, because the seeds lack an outer coating and are therefore good for eating
Carrot Afghan Purple - I've grown every other shade but this will be my first purple
Lettuce Liller - I have no recollection of why I chose this one, but you can never have too much lettuce seed, in my opinion
Leek Walton Mammoth - my leeks tend to the small and tasty rather than the big and showstopping, so I thought I'd give this one a go
Pea Mr Bethell's Purple Podded - yes, I do love growing purple things, don't I?
And the lucky dip ...
Tomato Peremoga - know nothing about this one, will have to dig out the HSL catalogue to see what I am letting myself in for ...
If anyone has some intelligence on any of my seedy charges, do let me know ...
Mangel beets are making a comeback after many years of decline. I think the trick is to eat them before they get too big, after which they lose a lot of their flavor. They are not really my favorite. They are very popular as a livestock food with some farmers.
I'm also growing Mr. Bethell's for the first time this year.
I don't know anything about the others. Save some seeds from them if they are nice!
Posted by: Patrick | December 24, 2006 at 04:56 PM
Yellow Intermediate is a variety of Mangel my Dad used to grow as cattle fodder - they would often grow huge, big enough to carve like folks do pumpkins these days.
We never ate them, although they make good wine. I imagine the sprouting tops in spring would be like leaf beet.
The best use for them is likely offered by this web site:
http://www.mangoldhurling.co.uk/
Happy growing with your HSL seeds, I haven't ordered mine yet - I think Peas will be my 2007 theme.
Cheers
Posted by: Richard Loader | December 24, 2006 at 05:26 PM
Hello. I notice you are going to try Lady Godiva. I had what I consider great success this year with it. Out of three plants I harvested seven pumpkins. The total seed jackpot weighed in at 1 and 1/4 pounds.
Pictures on my blog.
Happy growing.
Posted by: miss hathorn | December 28, 2006 at 04:53 PM
Hi
I was just checking out info on my HDRA seeds today and came across your blog. The Peremaga toms are from Estonia - photo here http://www.ghorganics.com/Peremoga.htm
I got your site second so have yet to get full info on peremoga. Will post again if anyting interesting crops up. No pun intended!
Helen
Mine sown today 14/01/07
Posted by: helen watts | January 14, 2007 at 04:19 PM
and .......'Peremoga: 70 days. Medium red from 3-6 oz, indeterminate. Sweet, juicy with a superb acid to sugar balance. It is hard to pick a favorite from all these delicious tomatoes but Peremoga is up there! It hails originally from Estonia. Healthy plants with tremendous yields.'
So we're in for some good tasting tomatoes.
Helen (keen cook and allotment chairman)
Posted by: helen watts | January 14, 2007 at 04:30 PM
Where else can you get this depth of information! I will try Peremoga this year!Thanks.
Posted by: Mr Cultivator | March 09, 2007 at 02:04 PM
we have a trees of grapes in our garden but we didn't eat grapes we make fresh juice and my father now the recipe to make good grape wine and that was too much tasty i don't know what other indegrents he put in it but its too enjoyable wine
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Posted by: Enlargement | September 22, 2007 at 11:14 AM
Its that time of year again, isn't it, when we can start thinking about growing our old favourites and trying to experiment with new things. I'm so looking forward to this new season!!
Posted by: Lawn Mower Man | March 31, 2008 at 02:15 PM