by Badger's mate » February 1st, 2019, 3:56 pm
I've had a bit of a clear out, will take stuff to a seed swap next month. Some things worked well and will be kept, some produced but didn't really get used. We're not that bothered about kohl rabi or Batavian lettuce for example. Also self-blanching celery. Okra came to nought, but as it was an exceptional summer we'll give it another go this year. Tried some pointy red cabbages but will revert to ballhead ones this year. Will try again with the big white drying beans. Toms did so well, particularly 'Red Alert' on the plot. I grew them under a biodegradable plastic mulch, which kept the fruit much cleaner than usual. I feared significant mollusc damage, might have got away with it last summer. Will try melons 'Emir' as a friend did well with them but maybe it was a good melon year. Will cut down on chillies (too many visits to Wahaca, clearly) but brought some sweet pepper seed back from Hungary to try. Will grow tomatillos as ever. I realise I forgot to order cardoon seed when I put an order in the other day.
I'm reasonably settled with varieties that do well in my soil, three different spuds for example, but will always try a few of a fourth variety. This year I'm giving King Edwards a go; the plot suffers from common scab against which it's a reasonably resistant variety, besides being a good cooker of course.
I'll probably give up on peas. I've got some 'Champion of England' seed I saved from last year (I won three plants in a raffle). They will get sown and I will crop them, but it's a lot of bother and every chance we'll be away when they're perfect. That said I expect I'll do mangetout again.
Last year I bought a Chilean Guava and a Sichuan Pepper. Hoping for great things...