It's the beginning of 2019 and my thoughts are already turning to plans for the growing season on the allotment. January always seems a bit premature but it isn't really because seed potatoes, onion sets, garlic bulbs as well as a myriad of seed packets will be appearing in the shops as soon as the Christmas left-overs have been cleared from the shelves.
I tend to shop online and in my local Wilko store; my preferred seed varieties are purchases via a company on eBay that stocks virtually everything I want and Wilko are cheap for more bulky items like Early potatoes and onion sets.
I've been in a bit of a quandary about Maincrop spuds this year. I normally order Sarpo Mira as they are pretty blight resistant, produce a good crop of tubers and stand well into late September/early October whatever the weather. However, price is a factor here as I can't get them locally so I have to order them from major suppliers (not cheap) and pay hefty postage rates. This was worth it when I had a larger plot and were planting loads, now, it seems less cost effective.
I've been checking out RHS spud trials and the variety Picasso has an AGM award for producing good sized tubers and disease resistance. This, in conjunction with Wilko selling them in 2kg packs this year for £2.50, makes me want to give them a go this season. If I cant get Picasso at either of my local stores, though they are listed on their website, then I'll rethink my choice.
I usually grow cheap Alicante tomatoes but I've been given a packet of Shirley F1; people swear by these and won't grow anything else but I tried them a few years ago and had terrible germination rates, also £3 for 10 seeds make them a poor choice compared to great crops from my usual Alicante at 99p for a few hundred seeds. So, I'll give Shirley F1 a go though I will sow a few Alicante as back-up!
I tried Corno Di Rosa Toro (Red Bull's Horns) sweet peppers last year (instead of my usual California Wonder) and they were great so I'm going with them again this season. The Bosworth F1 Brussels Sprouts have done well for me over the years and they are so reliable (even in the drought), don't blow and are available from October to March so I won't grow anything else. I've grown Tundra F1 Winter cabbages for the past few seasons and they have been good but I'm going for January King just for a change.
Proposed Seed List 2019
Leeks - Musselburgh (awful in 2018 due to drought)
Tomatoes - Shirley (as I've a free packet)
Bell Peppers - Corno Di Rosa Toro
Broad Beans - Bunyards Exhibition (drought hit in 2018)
French Bean (Climbing) - Cobra
Runner Bean - Firestorm
Garlic (Spring planting) - (whatever soft-neck I find locally)
Lettuce - Lollo / Little Gem
Mixed Leaves - Mesclun Mix
Radish - French Breakfast
Salad Onion - White Lisbon
Brussel Sprouts - Bosworth F1
Cabbage - Summer - Pimo II
Cabbage - Winter - January King
Kale - Curly Dwarf / Tuscan
Potatoes - First Early Rocket
Potatoes - Maincrop Sarpo Mira or Picasso
Onion Sets - Sturon
Parsnip - Gladiator F1
Carrots - Sweet Candle & Resistafly F1
Beetroot - Boltardy
Courgette - Defender
Pumpkin - Big Max
Butternut Squash - Hunter F1 (I've a few Crown Prince I'll sow too)
Sweetcorn - Incredible F1
That's it for now. Bye.
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