totp
Assistant Gardener
Posts: 128
|
Post by totp on Jul 26, 2009 13:09:25 GMT
Dear All,
I want to get started on buying some seed for growing crops for next year and I'd be be interested to know what varieties you grow and would recommend. Next year I'd like to grow tomatoes, peas, runner beans courgettes, spinach, carrots, cucumbers, leeks beetroot and radishes.
If you could help I'd be delighted. I think I'd prefer taste and quality over quantity as I have young kids so don't need a vast amount of anything.
Thanks in advance.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Jul 26, 2009 17:23:31 GMT
Well I only have a tub veg garden and no large GH anymore. I am a far too young veg grower to be able to suggest many varieties.
However I have been growing Toms, Chillies/Peppers and Cucumbers for going on for 30 years and I would suggest a mini Cucumber - the kids would love it.
Toms - well maybe a good solid oldie such as Gardeners Delight or Moneymaker and a few trial varieties. I always go for the heirloom varieties, if I can.
Peppers/chillies - well again - depends on what kind of "heat" you prefer. I have some seeds saved from a Hungarian sweet pepper and it looks as though they are coming true so they are not probably a F1 but I don't have a variety that I grow every year.
It doesn't really help you but I am sure that others here will give you some good advice.
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Tig on Jul 27, 2009 18:34:57 GMT
I think we almost have a GWD concensus on peas totp - Hurst Greenshaft seems to be a good one, taste and productivity. I like Tumbling Toms, they are small, tasty and the Grandkids love them. No trouble to grow because they are a bush type. Courgettes - Black Beauty has always been a good reliable producer for me, we also like Astia f1. The yellow scallop squash are easy to grow, good croppers and have a slight nutty taste. Carrots - I'm quite happy with Chantenay red cored, and Early Nantes 2, but I will only grow them in a high sided container because they always get carrot root fly damage if I grow them in the ground. I have some others to try next year though. Leeks - Musselburgh seems a very popular variety - I am trying Carentan 2 this year. Radish - if for the kids French Breakfast is a mild one and quite a decent size. Spinach - Hector f1 is not bad, but they are all prone to bolt. You could grow the perennial spinach, not as tasty IMHO though. Cucumbers and beetroot are not my forte  and I'm trying runner beans for the first time this year. x Tig |
|
|
|
Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jul 27, 2009 19:06:01 GMT
Carrots...I was really pleased with Autumn King,
Peas...sugar snap from D T Browns...wish I could remember the variety...in the catalogue it was 'highly recommended'
Cucumbers...the mini-fruits on Petita take some beating.
Courgettes...grew one last year called Tricolour...a ball-courgette...really tasty and better than the one I grew this year.
|
|
totp
Assistant Gardener
Posts: 128
|
Post by totp on Jul 29, 2009 18:08:57 GMT
Thanks all for your ideas. I'm going to buy all of them and see how they work out.  |
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Jul 30, 2009 12:19:47 GMT
Add 'Armstrong' runners to your list, totp... I've been impressed with their lack of stringyness, even if left a bit too long on the vine.
OM.
|
|
|
|
Post by bagpuss on Jul 30, 2009 16:50:21 GMT
I tried Lady Di runner beans last year, and they were very good. As are Scarlett Emperor. I'm trying Enorma this year, and they aren't quite ready to crop yet, so cannot comment.
With beetroot, I have only tried Boltardy, which is very tasty and reliable.
Hope that helps.
|
|
|
|
Post by 4pygmies on Jul 31, 2009 5:43:39 GMT
I have been very impressed with the yellow Courgette 'Soleil' this summer which I've grown alongside the bog standard green ones (sown at the same time). They started fruiting quicker, the plants are much less mildewy and they are much easier to find so no huge marrows unexpectedly either! My OH thinks they taste much nicer too - raw or cooked  I shan't bother growing any others from now on  |
|
|
|
Post by carolann on Jul 31, 2009 19:39:10 GMT
I grow Hurst Greenshaft Peas as they are very tasty and you get up to 11 peas in one pod its a very heavy cropper. Leeks - Musselburgh as they keep very well in the ground till you need them and they taste wonderful. Cabbage - Minicole which is a white round one, it is only a small cabbage but it keeps very well and is tasty. French Beans - Tendergreen not too big and they crop for a long time, I dont like beans but I like these ones. Radish - Cherry Belle not too hot all the family like these ones. Lettuce - Great Lakes which is an Iceberg type but you can just keep picking leaves off if you want. Tomato - Black Cherry lots on a truss and very tasty you can eat them like sweets  , Golden Sunrise also very tasty. Spring Onions - Winter White Bunching which have been great as they dont bite back when you bite into them. Courgettes - Orelia F1 its a Yellow long one and it is very nice cooked or raw. I hope this helps you Totp. |
|
totp
Assistant Gardener
Posts: 128
|
Post by totp on Aug 1, 2009 11:23:31 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Aug 2, 2009 11:25:51 GMT
Purple sprouting broccoli was nice. It has to stay in real long and is big but provides in Feb March the next year and that is nice when Winter is hardly gone. Also liked the Painted Lady runnerbeans they were good and tasty and this year too in the same place seem to be fine. Kohlrabi does not stay in long and is lovely as a filling ( raw ) in salads. Beetroot Red Crapaudine is an old fashioned long rooted one that is very tasty. Purple podded peas are pretty and produce well. Cavolo nero a cale looks good and is tasty for stir frying ( with all cabage as long as you have no clubroot problem cabbages are great ) Lettuces if you like the pick and come again ones Lollo rosso, oakleaf, Mak choi are fine to pick a selection every time you want a salad and as you pick only some leaves per go they can stay in until they begin flowering and when you like yellow you can still keep them and they give you next years seeds. I am on the continent too but near the sea so my winters are milder than yours and my summers less hot but in general all these should do well for you. Oh and do try onions. You should be able to get Tsjernakov Onions which are big ones that should like it your way and they are tasty. Penquin are a small and quick one they might do too and Noordhollandse Bloodred onions are great spring onions. ;D Just realize you might need more than one allotment |
|
|
|
Post by bagpuss on Aug 3, 2009 14:22:09 GMT
Can now comment on Runner "Enorma". They live up to their name (very long pods indeed). Very tasty and haven't had a tough/stringy one yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cheerypeabrain on Aug 11, 2009 19:33:00 GMT
Pepper 'Red Top' grown from seed (D T Browns)...excellent pepper...I've grown others before but have always een disoppointed with the thickness of the flesh...these are thick, firm and juice. Not yet red but I have high hopes that they'll sweeten as they ripen.
|
|
and I'm trying runner beans for the first time this year.
I shan't bother growing any others from now on 
, Golden Sunrise also very tasty. Spring Onions - Winter White Bunching which have been great as they dont bite back when you bite into them. Courgettes - Orelia F1 its a Yellow long one and it is very nice cooked or raw.
