Kitchen Garden Forum

Are you trying something that's new to the market or maybe something you just haven't tried before.

Is anybody else trying the new tomato seed variety from Van Meuwen 'Gigantomo' ?

Seeds cost £3.99, avg content 6 seed per pkt. There were 10 seeds in mine and having sown them a couple of weeks back all 10 have germinated with 8 at two open leaf stage.

I've just looked through my seed list Pa Snip and there is nothing new on there at all, just my old favourites... you must think me an awful bore...

oldherbaceous wrote: you must think me an awful bore...

Now why on earth would I think that OH
Sometimes the tried and tested is best way to go.

Me, I like a little variance with something new each year just for the sheer hell of it

We are trying colcots this year for the first time for those who cant remember my post about them they are a small spanish leak we are also trying some bulgarian giants the are a large leak i read about these on a blog they are reputed to grow over 6 feet long and very tasty

Dear Pa Snip,
I probably have far too many seeds for my own good but I have found over the last two years two particularly fertile places to go and look for new varieties.
The first is a French seed company's catalogue that a neighbour of mine gave me. The vegatable seed range is incredible and I have never seen so many different varieties. This year I have chosen a little gem type lettuce which has a red inside, a multiheaded cauliflower, a red leaved pointed chicon type of chicory, an all purple carrot and a long rooted turnip. Oh my, I could have spent an awful lot more, anyway the website is www.grainesbaumaux.fr (don't worry the google translate does a reasonable job).

The second place of interest is Amazon, here they have a lot of American companies who specialise in things such as squash, peppers and tomatoes; hundreds to choose from. Just avoid the oriental sellers as the products seem a little too good to be true. Also watch the postage especially if ordering from more than one seller.
Regards Sally Wright.

Dear Sally, i used to grow a multi headed cauliflower called Ninestar, but i don't know if it is still available....

I am also an 'awful bore', I 'm afraid, but having tried new things in the past, they have usually been disappointing in our rather climatically challenging area, so I stick to the well-tried old stuff.

Hang on, I did grow flower sprouts for the first time last year and, although they take up a lot of room and produce awfully thick stalks, the edible parts, the 'flower sprouts' were very tasty and useful, so they are on the list for this year, too.

Last year I tried a new site.....tomatofest.com. Hundreds of heirloom varieties from America. I tried several paste types for cooking, 2 of which I am growing again this year.

I'm going to try Chokos / Chayotes this year as I think I have found a seed source, well the actual fruit which is what you grow. Not the first time I've grown them but it was about 10 yrs ago & if I recall a pretty nice summer.

Will see what the result is & this year I'll keep one for next year as they are pretty difficult to find. I bought mine last time in a Chinese supermarket but couldn't find any last year or this year, but a well known supermarket has them on their website.

It's purely a sentimental reason to grow them as had them often as a kid in Aussie. They have little flavor of their own but soak up any other flavor & don't disintegrate.

Westi

I'm having a go at Cape Gooseberries this year for the first time - has anyone else ever tried them?

Hi Adethe Spade
I did grow physalis about three years ago both in the cold greenhouse and outside. Both successful and yielded loads of fruit. They were easy to grow but quite big plants, so needed the space. They did mature quite late on In the season so if I recall the success was also due to the late summer we had then.
Well worth a go.
Hilary

I'm growing loofahs this year. Planted the seeds in the propagator last week and now awaiting results. Last year I tried to grow tiger nuts - not very successful though. They did grow but the actual nuts were tiny.

OH. The multi-headed cauliflower plants are sold by www.victoriananursery.co.UK. just ordered five plants.

Result!

I'm the proud owner of 2 chokos! I'm going to grow one at home to shade the greenhouse and the other down on lottie. Will keep you posted on the results.

Westi

Good morning Shallot Man, thank you for the infomation about a supplier.