I know I shouldn't be buying things for the garden so close to Christmas but I decided that there was no way anyone was going to buy me these - Yacon, Oca And Fat Baby Achocha! Tubers and seeds to get planting next year.
I'm blaming James Wongs book and Dawn's blog the other day for showing me her Oca harvest (view Dawn's post here) for buying these and a few more!
I found a small seed growing company on the internet that sold Oca and after reading a bit about them decided I really liked their ethos. They're called the The Real Seed Catalogue and they've got loads of interesting and unusual seeds for sale and none of it is hybrids or modified. In fact they send instructions with every pack so you can save your own seed and not have to buy from them again!
They don't sell a large selection of each type of vegetable, just ones they grow and know work well for them and ones they think taste good.
Their site is really interesting and I think you should all check it out regardless of where you live. There's instructions on there for saving all sorts of seeds, how to stop cross pollination or to cross pollinate to create new stains (for squash and others) and how to build a seed cleaner with free plans.
They also talk a little about the terminology used by seed catalogues and how to read between the lines. Phrases like "Good For Freezing" mean that it all ripens at one time so it can be mechanically harvested and we'll be left with a glut, the other they picked out was "straight long shanks" usually means 'bred to fit the packing machine". I had a look in a seed catalogue as I was writing this and found one straight away "excellent fruit uniformity" not much use for me but the seed producers have bred it for the supermarket where uniformity counts and taste is a secondary concern.
Up until a while ago I guess I always thought that having F1's (hybrids) seeds was a good thing but the more I think about it the more it means we're being controlled by someone else, and having to buy new seed year after year. I will post about my seed swap soon to anyone that's still interested, I haven't many types to offer but they're tasty!
What does everyone else think about F1's and hybrids?
Oh another convert yeaahhhhhhh, Real Seeds are a good company I found them about 2-3 years ago, I am pleased you are giving Yacon and Oca a go they are a good late season harverst to have and once you have them keep a few back and and you have next years crop as well, pay once eat forever :-)
ReplyDeleteI have been switching over to heirloom seeds anther good one is Victoriana Nursery there peas are divivine they do one that grows up to 8ft tall and is heavy cropper, Victorian Colossal, I hate those peas that only grow 2 ft tall, I have grown and saved seed from this varierty for about 8 years now.
I like tyhe idea of having a few more "staples" that I can grow and the oca seem to fit the bill, although I'm going to start small with them and see how I go. Mum has brought from victoriana nurseries before and the service was great, there's a few things on my wish list from there!
DeleteThe only F1 seed I buy nowadays is Shirley Tomatoes for my main (selling) crop.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dawn re. Victoriana Nurseries .. great family firm of gardeners. I've got some bean seeds for swapping when you get started
I was buying f1 sweetcorn but real seeds sell a good heirloom one so I'm trying them next season.
DeleteI've had seeds from the Real Seed Catalogue and have enjoyed the mixed salad leaves (Mortons secret mix) and broad beans (Aquadulce). Like the fact that they are not F1s and that they show you how to collect seed from your crop. Very helpful company
ReplyDeleteI thought so. Every year I keep meaning to save the seeds from my gone over salad and never quite do! I really need to improve.
DeleteI am very lucky my BIL supplies me with lots of heirloom seeds. I really should learn more about saving seeds.
ReplyDeleteMe to, that's my main aim next year with my bid for self sufficiency, it's quite good as I do swap with mum as well and if my brother buys a house next year I'm sure he'll be keen as well as he's already into gardening.
DeleteIt is NEVER to early to think of spring and planting. It always makes me happy and hopeful. We saved many more seeds this past year and canned more of our veggies. Satisfying tasks, both.
ReplyDeleteCanning is also on my to-do list - maybe I can come over for lessons!
DeleteHaving lot's of varied seeds and types is never a bad thing and cross pollinated ones sometimes work out better than expected. Knowledge and resources that are going to continue to be more useful as time goes on too.
ReplyDeleteI like the idae of cross pollinating squashes and seeing what I get. I might just plant a few seeds from a couple of the bigger ones from this year and see what I get.
DeleteI've looked at their website a few times now, and plan on putting in an order in the New Year. They have some lovely sounding old fashioned varieties, probably some my grandfather would have grown when he worked as head gardener at a country estate somewhere - can't remember where it was, and later when he started his own nursery. The oldies are the best. My dad swears by the heirloom varieties.
ReplyDeleteThe order came through so fast and it's nice to support a smaller company without it costing loads more. The website is a great resource without even ordering from them to be honest. I've been corrupted by f1's in resent years but not any longer!
DeleteI buy seeds year around anymore. The seed companies have sales off and on year around and that is when I pick up my seeds. Fall and Winter is a great time to catch them on sale.
ReplyDeleteHave not heard of any of what you just purchased. The tubers looks tasty and sound good. I am heading over to the seed site you listed now to check it out!
The seed company doesn't ship to he U.S. but they have a U.S. company listed and a Ireland company listed as well that does sell to the U.S. and by the way do you grow Artichokes? I have seeds and will be starting mine soon, as I read they like to be fairly good sized plants when set out.
DeleteUnfortunately they cannot ship to the USA because of EU law. Their site is well worth studying though!
DeleteI have a few artichokes in and they are perennial but I'll be starting some more off this year as well. I think they might be a good thing to sell at the farm gate as they're easy to grow and fetch a high price in the shops. We also live in the kind of place where they'd sell. In fact I might put in a whole row now I think about it!
DeleteIf you want Mammoth vegetables Kev. Have a look at Robinsons seeds on the old web. They are Chelsea prize winners and sell some massive veg plants and seeds.
ReplyDeleteI buy my 79 cents vegetable seeds from Aldi.
Not sure about mammoth veg, they always seem too big to use, or you use half and the other half goes off. I think I prefer to grow normal sized ones but with great flavour. I will have a look at their seeds though!
DeleteWe use Real Seeds as well because of their heirloom seeds. Trouble is that there are so many unusual seeds its a job to choose between them!
ReplyDeleteI struggle to keep my order down! But I'm terrible when I order seeds and plants anyway. I need to have a good sort out here and see what I've got first!
DeleteWe have dealt with Realseeds for years and cannot fault them. They have also campaigned against the EUs proposed law on licensing all seed varieties. Effectively it would have handed control of Europes seed supplies to large corporations as they would be the only one to afford it. Home seed saving, breeding and swapping would have become a criminal offence. Small businesses like Realseedswould have been put out of business and people like me would have been forced to buy seed from firms like Monsanto effectively ending the organic market we currently supply!
ReplyDeleteRealseeds encourages all its customers to save their own seed but please don't forget to order some or encourage others to do so. The country, whether it realises it or not, cannot afford to lose endeavours like theirs.
I signed up to the petition last year as I thought it was really important. I see they're trying to stop something similar happening in Africa now as well. I did think that it seemed a genuine company, with an ethos that I really believe in and I hope others support them to.
DeleteI love love love realseeds too.
ReplyDeleteAnd do you know? If you don't get a good germination/crop they insist on sending you new seeds? Even if, like me, you confess to being a rubbish gardener ;-)
They also happily advise by e-mail and they're so...so....normal! not at all businessy.
Glad you've had good experiences with them as well - so far no one has a bad word to say about them!
Delete