A Seedy Evening

The Organic Gardening Catalogue (www.organiccatalogue.com) are a few pounds richer this evening. After much deliberation over the type of carrot to purchase and the number of onions we might be able to eat (500 seems a little excessive Emily!) we've decided on a growing list for 2011. The final list was decided on after a moment of panic - we must remember those winter veg.

A bottle of white wine and much debate later, here is the list of crops that you will no doubt be helping Emily and I to consume in the coming year. Woodstock Farmer's market here we come!

Vegetables:

• Dwarf French Bean 'Royalty' - Purple
• Dwarf French Bean 'Aiguillon' - Green
• Borlotti Bean 'Barlotta Lingua Di Fuoco'
• Sprouting Broccoli 'Rudolph' (expect these in winter)
• Carrot 'Yellowstone' (yellow carrots?)
• Courgette 'Soleil' F1 (watch out Lewis, these ones are quick)
• Kohl rabi 'Superschmelz'
• Salad Leaves 'Italian Blend' (does what it says on the tin)
• Lettuce 'Lizzy' (that ones for you sister)
• Leek 'St Victor' (not sure who Victor was but apparently he grew fine leeks)
• Onion 'Sturon'
• Shallot 'Red Sun'
• Pumpkin 'Tom Fox'
• Potato 'Orla'
• Potato 'Arran Victory'

Fruit:

• Rhubarb 'Champagne' (sure to make your cork pop apparently, also good with custard)
• Raspberry 'Malling Jewel'
• Gooseberry 'Invicta'
• Blackcurrant 'Ben Hope'
• Blackcurrant/Red Currant/White Currant - mid season varieties (TBD)

Flowers:

• Dahlia 'Dwarf Mixed'
• Cornflower 'Double Mixed'
• Delphinium 'Magic Fountains' (sadly no roundabouts)
• Nigella 'Miss Jekyll'
• Stock 'Brompton Mixed' (recommended by folding bicycle riders)
• Scabious 'Tall Double' (why can't they just be 'Very Tall'?)
• Sweet Pea 'Old Fashioned Mixed'
• Sunflower 'Generic'

In addition to these new additions we have a back catalogue of seeds which will make an appearance:

• Pea 'Carina'
• Parsnip 'Tender and True' (not a chance they will be true in the clay soil of the allotment)
• Leek 'Varna'
• Carrot 'Autumn King'
• Carrot 'Chantenay'
• Beetroot 'Egyptian Turnip Rooted' (a good crop achieved in 2010 from these seeds)
• Rocket 'Saturn 5' (Growing in tribute to the Inspiral Carpets)
• Tomato 'Gardener's Delight'
• Lettuce 'Buttercrunch'
• Salad Onion 'Ramrod' (as recommended by Alan Titchmarsh. Apparently he swears by a good Ramrod)
• Turnip 'Atlantic'
• Radish 'Rudolph' (not sure they'll go with the Broccoli 'Rudolph')
• Borage

There's plenty of sowing to be done over the coming months and hopefully plenty of veggies and fruit to be harvested later in the year. Not sure where Emily is planning to put them all but I'm sure she'll give it a good go (on the allotment that is).

Best get digging that third (fourth and fifth) bed.