Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Finding Best Vegetables Varieties?

cfaevecfaeve Posts: 14
in Fruit & veg

Many vegetable growing articles state ‘read the seed packets for disease resistance/storage capability/ease of growing etcetera’, yet none of the seeds I see (Wilko, Mr Fothergill or online) give this information.

I’m looking for varieties that are suited to a northern English climate this has the best disease resistance, pest resistance and long-term storage capability.

For next season I’m confident that the Sarpo Mira potato is the way to go to cover these bases for potatoes… but what about these vegetables?

  1. Onions (currently using Bedford Champion)
  2. Carrots (currently using Nantes 5)
  3. Courgettes (currently using Black Beauty)
  4. Garlic (currently using Solent Wight)
  5. Tomato (currently using Money Maker)
  6. Chili (currently using Cayenne & Jalapeno)
  7. Bean (pole) (currently using Scarlet Emperor)
  8. Peas (pole)
  9. Lettuce (currently using Little Gem)
  10. Spring onion (currently using White Lisbon)
  11. Rocket
  12. Leek (currently using Musselburgh)
  13. Kale
  14. Swede
  15. Pak Choi (currently using Shanghai)
  16. Bok Wong (Chinese cabbage)
  17. Parsnip (currently using Student)
  18. Beetroot (currently using Cylindra)
  19. Radish (currently using French Breakfast 3)
  20. Spinach (currently using America)
  21. Chard (currently using White Silver)


Thanks for any tips!


«134

Posts

  • scrogginscroggin Posts: 437
    Most of the major companies produce seed catalogues with the kind of info that you're looking for. As someone who lives in the south east my preferences aren't necessarily applicable to your region. 
  • cfaevecfaeve Posts: 14
    Thanks for the tip Scroggin. I've just ordered some catalogues from some seed companies. The 2 companies that provide online catalogues didn't include this information though unfortunately :/
  • scrogginscroggin Posts: 437
    I find DT Brown to be good. This is on the inside page of their autumn catalogue.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Have a look at the Real Seed Company. They only sell their tried and tested varieties with feedback from customers. I've got a similar cold climate here and I've had good success with their seeds.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • cfaevecfaeve Posts: 14
    scroggin said:
    I find DT Brown to be good. This is on the inside page of their autumn catalogue.
    Catalogue ordered, thank you!
  • cfaevecfaeve Posts: 14
    wild edges said:
    Have a look at the Real Seed Company. They only sell their tried and tested varieties with feedback from customers. I've got a similar cold climate here and I've had good success with their seeds.
    wild edges said:
    Have a look at the Real Seed Company. They only sell their tried and tested varieties with feedback from customers. I've got a similar cold climate here and I've had good success with their seeds.
    Hi Wild Edges. Is the website realseeds.co.uk? The other site matching that company name just seems to be for cannabis plants. 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I've used Real Seeds as well (realseeds.co.uk). They seem like a good company to support. They have a large range of varieties and lots of info. on their website too, including material about saving your own seed. Most seed companies wouldn't encourage that!.
    For information on what suits your climate, is there a local garden or allotment club you could join? The best local information comes from the people who live there.
    I don't grow a lot of veg (no enough space) but for outdoor tomatoes I find that the smaller fruits (cherry and cherry plum types) do best. This year I have Rosella, Gardener's Delight and Yellow Pear (plus Blue Bayou which is bigger but I mis-read the information - duh!). I've previously grown Sungold which did well but wasn't to my taste. For outdoor cucumbers, Marketmore and Konsa are doing OK - not spectacular, but OK.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • cfaevecfaeve Posts: 14
    JennyJ said:
    I've used Real Seeds as well (realseeds.co.uk). They seem like a good company to support. They have a large range of varieties and lots of info. on their website too, including material about saving your own seed. Most seed companies wouldn't encourage that!.
    For information on what suits your climate, is there a local garden or allotment club you could join? The best local information comes from the people who live there.
    I don't grow a lot of veg (no enough space) but for outdoor tomatoes I find that the smaller fruits (cherry and cherry plum types) do best. This year I have Rosella, Gardener's Delight and Yellow Pear (plus Blue Bayou which is bigger but I mis-read the information - duh!). I've previously grown Sungold which did well but wasn't to my taste. For outdoor cucumbers, Marketmore and Konsa are doing OK - not spectacular, but OK.
    Thanks JennyJ. I've had a look at Real Seeds as suggested. I can't find any mention of 'disease' under aubergines, runner beans, carrots, leeks or onions though. I just can't find this information anywhere :/

    There was some people from a local allotment on social media asking people to come round and share ideas, seeds etc. Every time I have been though it's been closed, despite saying it was open. 

    I thought there would be at least 1 website with concise information such as the best 3 leek varieties for disease resistance. Depending on where you look it's not even clear when you should be sowing the seeds for sale
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Garden Which test regularly, they have test sites in the North as well as the south.
    AB Still learning

  • cfaevecfaeve Posts: 14
    Allotment Boy said:
    Garden Which test regularly, they have test sites in the North as well as the south.
    I don't have any money to give to Which magazine unfortunately. Surely somebody knows the ideal Leek, Carrot and Onion to grow up north haha
Sign In or Register to comment.