Heritage Seeds in the Kitchen Garden

Dark winter evenings are made for sitting by the fire browsing through plant catalogues planning next year’s vegetable patch. I always have my favourite varieties and my seeds such as the runner beans that have been passed down the generations, influenced by the passing of time, neighbours’ varieties and even a change in country; but nothing beats the excitement of trying something new.

This year we’ve been sent a catalogue from Thomas Etty, heritage seedsman. Most of the names will be familiar to any lover of food or kitchen garden fanatic but it is the varieties, many of which have their roots (no pun intended) going as far back as the 18th century and even earlier, that sparks the imagination.

A winter squash, Rouge vif d’Etampes, “grown in France since the early 1830s and as good a Cinderella’s Coach pumpkin may be found”, Lazy Housewife, a dwarf form of French Bean from 1749 and a 1673 variety of cabbage are already pencilled in on my list. In addition to vegetables, the catalogue offers a selection of salads, herbs and cottage garden plants.

Don’t forget to order your seeds early, because of their rarity some are only available in limited numbers and the insistence on fresh seed can create delays in delivery as suppliers are located throughout Europe. However, for something a little different next year the wait will be worth it.

For more information visit www.thomasetty.co.uk