Seed sorting for 2024

Hairy Nightshade! Sounds like the worst of everything!

 

Re beefsteak toms. I had a plant of Carbon last year. Tasted great with a burger in a bun. It was quite dark coloured which seems to give something to the flavour. But my desert island tomato would be Sungold.
For now, the only seeds I'm getting ready to sow are some of my old Oz plants eg eucalyptus perriniana of which I had a huge specimen in my last garden. And trying some more hardy orchids now I've autoclaved enough jars of the medium.

 

I'm definitely starting to veer towards the pink/purple/dark red types for flavour. I like Sungold, though. It's the only tomato my mother will countenance, despite me trying to lure her to the "dark side" of the tomato spectrum.

 

Just stumbled upon this chap's website. He has some great-sounding heritage veg seed to share. He's not a seller; he just asks for postage cost plus a donation. Even if you don't want seeds, the site makes for an interesting read. Home - The Seed Detective

 

Beefsteak toms are easily the most flavoursome for me, I've yet to try a tomato that beats cherokee purple for flavour. If only it was a bit more productive.

Cherries, sungold especially, are nice little sweet flavour bombs but much less use in the kitchen

 

Ive found orange and yellow toms to be typically "lighter" in flavour, more fruity than savory. I have seeds from an orange tom I purchased at a market in reading, it had a good taste, I was snacking on them constantly, but was peculiarly crunchy in a lovely way, though still juicy. It didnt "pop" which I liked. We shall see.

 

I did read that in the US when sending long distances they would just send potato eyes and they started them off in trays. That way you got true variety.
A bit like sweet potato slips I suppose.

 

I made a blank version of a spreadsheet I intended to use, feel free to use and abuse
crop sheet blank

 

Tomatoes, peppers and other small/ medium seeds are in plastic boxes in the fridge. Peas and beans in a drawer in a cool room. However, I've spotted some tomato design wrapping paper on eBay and I'm thinking of papering an IKEA six- drawer mini chest to make a stylish Seed Hotel.

 

Apart from a very few I always buy new seeds each year.
My collection is in a shoe box, but I can't seem to throw them away.

 

My seeds from The Seed Detective turned up today. About 20 seeds per packet.

 

Adam I have you ever grown purple Tomatillo ?

There are purple ones and the green type, an interesting fruit to try
they remind me of a crunchy Rhubarb without needing sugar !!!

 

No but I have seeds for one called "Pineapple" ill grow this year. Id want to do more but no room, you will have to do some for me!