Green Blogging

The depths of the winter is the traditional time for placing the seed order for the garden.  I love looking through the catalogues and am a bit of a sucker for pictures of lush vegetables.

For several years I have kept all my seeds in a plastic container in the fridge.  I tend to keep all my seeds so some of them were rather old.  However this year I have decided on the radical move of throwing them all away (well most of them) and starting afresh.  It is the gardening equivalent of decluttering the home.  I already feel better for it.

First – I have been a member of the Garden Organics’s Heritage Seed Library for several years, although I did not order any last year.  They don’t sell seeds, but members can order six packets for free.  I was really pleased to see that they had crimson flowered broad beans this year, as I have not seen them for a while.  I last grew them about five years ago and they were a great success.  You can see them in the picture below.

The other heritage plant which I have found really good is Aunt Madge tomatoes.  These are a small tomato but the plant is really vigorous, and although last time I grew tomatoes they all got blight, Aunt Madge was noticeably less affected than the others.  I made up the rest of my six with a cucumber plant and a few climbing french beans.  As I only have a small garden, I like to grow things upwards a lot, up trellises and over some cheap metal arches I bought in Notcutts.

Next, the main order from the Organic Gardening Catalogue.  I always like to order from them as I know it helps their work as an organic growing charity (plus I get a discount as I am a member).  The order this year:

More beans – this time runners.  For some years I have been growing red flame – they have been good so boringly I am ordering them again.   I like to get runners with red flowers.

Courgettes – I have grown Black Forest for a few years, which are trailing and can go up the arch.  I see they have also a new variety, rugosa friulina which they say has a good flavour so I will try that too.

Pentland brig – I have grown this for years (it was a staple when I had the allotment) – and although it takes up a fair amount of space, I can limit it to just one or two plants.

Komatsuna mustard spinach – I have been meaning to grow this for ages, after reading Joy Larkham’s eulogies about it in her oriental gardening book.  She also mentioned Texsel leaves as a quick growing cabbage type leaf so will try that also.

Lettuce – I have some fairly recent free lettuce seed packs (some of the few which survived the cull) so I have limited myself to just one pack of little gem.  It is very easy to get carried away ordering lettuce.

Leeks have not done particularly well in the garden (unlike the allotment where I grew a lot) so I have just ordered a mini leek called Varna.  I have also ordered a spring onion called Ramrod which can be sowed for most of the year.

Peas – we don’t have room for a proper pea crop, but Graeme, my husband, is very fond of mange tout peas.  I have grown an old swiss variety called Weggiser for several years, which (again being a bit unadventurous) I have ordered again.  It will be nice to have them again., they are very good steamed.

Radish – these are useful to grow in gaps, and the catalogue has a mixed pack.

Rocket – I grow this in trays, so need quite a bit.  I have ordered the ‘best seller’ rucola.  I also grow coriander in this way, so have ordered the usual cilantro variety.

Spinach – I already have a perpetual spinach pack but was seduced  by the picture of new variety spinach reddy.  I meant to get an orange chard too but forgot to order it.  Maybe next year.

Turnips – have not had a huge sucess with turnips but have ordered golden ball just to give it another go.

Tomatoes – as usual there is a fantastic selection available, but I have limited myself to Ferline which apparently is resistant to blight.

So that is the veg.  I have also ordered an african marigold and calendula Officinalis as I love the orange colour so much and also use it in cooking (the calendula that is).  Plus some savory for the beans.

So thats done.  All I have to do now is grow them!