Heritage Fruit and Veg

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Old and new. What special old varieties do you have, or what are you breeding for the next generation?

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Latest Activity: Jan 30

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Useful Resources

Started by VP. Last reply by Magic Cochin Aug 22, 2010. 1 Reply 0 Likes

I'm pretty new to heritage fruit and vegetables, so I thought it would be handy to start off a thread where everyone can add useful websites/blogs, books, suppliers, seed swaps etc. to help others…Continue

Tags: Resources

Gold of Bacău Beans

Started by Patrick Wiebe. Last reply by Patrick Wiebe Aug 17, 2010. 2 Replies 0 Likes

This is a Romanian bean I'm growing this year, and it's really nice. The taste is different from wax beans (which I don't care for), and the texture is very soft but also crisp and not mushy. They…Continue

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Comment by Cathy Garton on August 17, 2010 at 13:46: I'm fascinated with your comments and knowledge here - but I expect I will mainly soak up the information rather than have anything to contribute - you all seem so knowledgeable! I'll confess to ignorance thou (never to proud to admit to ignorance!), what's the difference between heritage varieties and heirloom?

Comment by Patrick Wiebe on August 17, 2010 at 15:21: Hi Cathy, it's nice to see you here. I think the only real difference between heritage and heirloom is British and American English.

Comment by Trish le Gal on August 19, 2010 at 10:00: I think heritage vegetables are great and am always trying new ones that may do better than the catlogue varieties in the changing climate. Some beans I grew last year were Yin Yang, Cherokee Trail of Tears, Bosnian and Negritos - you can see pictures of them on this site ('hungry gap' tips and queries).

Comment by Magic Cochin on August 19, 2010 at 10:08: Hi Trish le Gal - do you belong to the Heritage Seed Library?

I try to save seed from the varieties that do well in my garden - my favourites are Poletschka, Runner Bean Salford Black and Crimson Flowered Broad Beans.

I think we should have a seed swap for next season... so save those peas and beans!

Celia

PS good to see another gardener form East Anglia

Comment by Trish le Gal on August 19, 2010 at 10:12: Hi Celia - yes I am a member of HSL. I'm familiar with CF BBeans but not the others you mention - what's Poletschka?

Comment by Magic Cochin on August 19, 2010 at 10:21: Poletschka is a lovely climbing bean from Ukraine. Got it from the HSL. Gorgeous deep indigo coloured shiny round beans! Great for adding to stews and soups - when cooked they're pinky-brown colour.

Salford Black is a black seeded Runner Bean. Does very well on my plot. Well, except for this year!!!!! when I gave in and neglected the plot during 10 weeks drought and scorching hot temps!!!!

Comment by Trish le Gal on August 19, 2010 at 12:30: Poletscha sounds good. My favourite runner bean that did well this dry season from an early planting is Wisley Magic form HSL a couple of years ago.

Comment by Kath Middleton on August 20, 2010 at 16:43: I have a number of varieties of peas, beans and tomatoes from the Hetritage Seed Library and from seeds swaps. I'm finding though, that if you grow your french beans organically (that is, with lots of flying insects) you can get crosses. I'm thinking of limiting myself to a couple of really good varieties and growing one at home and one at the allotment. You tend to go mad and want to collect them all!

As to breeding - I'm crossing peas - easy, er, peasy actually - and I've crossed tomatoes with results I'm really pleased with. I have used a heritage variety in each of my crosses.

Comment by Magic Cochin on August 20, 2010 at 17:23: Your new pea and tomato varieties are inspiring Kath - maybe you should put up a blog post on this site about your successes?

Celia