Heritage Seed Library: a delivery

Seeds from the Heritage Seed Library 2008 Catalogue
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

The seeds have arrived! This is how they are described in the 2008 Heritage Seed Library catalogue...

Carrot (Egmont Gold): A tapering, pale orange main crop variety good for late sowing.

Beetroot (Bull's Blood): An old variety dating back to before 1900 and renowned for its edible, decorative, reddish-purple foliage. It produces medium-sized, spherical roots that are tasty and tender when young. If picked when small, the striking leaves are also sweet and succulent.

Climbing French Bean (Bonne Bouche): Originating in the Rouen area of France in the 1950's...it has pairs of delicate white flowers and large green leaves. The long green pods have a slight red stripe, and a really great flavour.

Chard (Samara): This attractive variety produces large green leaves with white stems. It is very productive and long lasting.

Leek (Colossal): A hardy and reliable cropper, with long ribbed leaves that drape onto the ground.

Kale (Asparagus): Listed in The Vegetable Garden (Vilmorin-Andrieux 1885), this variety is reputed to be one of the tastiest kales and can be treated more like Broccoli. The violet tinged, fringed leaves, when picked young, are mild-flavoured and really tasty. In spring the young, tender flower shoots can be blanched and eaten like asparagus. Compact, hardy and productive.

Dwarf French Bean (Negritos): The flowers are a pretty pale purple and give rise to short green pods.