Garden Organic Experiments - Anyone else taking part?

Larumbelle

I got my seeds for the garden organic experiments today! :T

I'm taking part in the quinoa trial, the heritage vs modern pea trial, and the slug and snail survey. My seeds arrived today

The quinoa I got was 'Rainbow' and 'Temuco', both were supplied by Real Seeds.

The pea varieties were Alderman (the modern variety), Simpson's Special, Hugh's Huge and Beltony Blue.

I do plan to save seed from all of these varieties if they grow well, to swap next year. But it'd be great if anyone else is taking part that we can share experiences as we go along!

Penelope_Penguin

silvercharming wrote: »

I got my seeds for the garden organic experiments today! :T

I do plan to save seed from all of these varieties if they grow well, to swap next year. But it'd be great if anyone else is taking part that we can share experiences as we go along!

Hi, SC :beer: Do you have the details of this trial - I think there'd be plenty of us interested.

Penny. x

Larumbelle

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

Hi, SC :beer: Do you have the details of this trial - I think there'd be plenty of us interested.

Penny. x

So far as I know the trials are only open to Garden Organic members (I know there are quite a few of us about on here), to join you go to the members' area of the website and click on member experiments.

For those not members of Garden Organic, although you do get lots of perks - magazines, free entry to GO and RHS gardens, discounts at the Organic Gardening catalogue, access to their seed-swapping sites and special events, and so on - it is probably not financially worth joining specifically for this purpose (it costs £28 to join or £36 for a family).

BUT as a keen seed-saver I will have all of these varieties that successfully grow for swap or freebie next season!

Penelope_Penguin

silvercharming wrote: »

So far as I know the trials are only open to Garden Organic members (I know there are quite a few of us about on here), to join you go to the members' area of the website and click on member experiments.

I've been a member for a couple of years - mainly for the seed library :j Thank you for getting me to look at the website - I've registered now :T

Penny. x

Lotus-eater

I'm not a member, I can't justify spending that money on nothing really.
I do grow Alderman every year and love tall peas, so I will be watching the results with interest.
What I find interesting is that are lots of different varieties of Alderman around, I believe the Victoriana nursery's magic tall peas are a variety of it.

I'm looking for the ultimate tall pea myself, although I do like Alderman, I'm sure there is a better one out there.
Ne Plus Ultra is supposed to be very good and I might try some this year if I remember to buy some seeds.

Btw, zazen999 has started a thread on growyourown about the same thing, she posts on here so will be along in a while.

Larumbelle

Thanks for that Lotuseater, I do intend to join the growyourown forums, I do lurk there sometimes, there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! I might have to join now and say hi to Zazen

For me Garden Organic membership works out quite nicely, because I live nearby to Ryton Gardens. It means I can attend a lot of the events for free and can just potter around down there when I'm in need of a little bit of inspiration, otherwise I have to admit it might be a little harder for me to justify the membership!

One of the varieties is said to grow over ten feet tall! I've never grown a pea that tall before - I live in a bungalow and the beds for legumes this year are close to the house, I like the idea of my pea plants growing higher than the guttering :rotfl:Lotus-eater, if any of the varieties are really good I'll save you some seed

Pen-pen - glad I've nudged you! If you can't find the link let me know. Some of the fact sheets in the members area are pretty good as well. I take it I've found a partner in crime on here anyway

growing4gold

Im a member too!

I think its a great cause to support and get most of my seeds through their catalogue. I have yet to visit Ryton but have visited another site in Yorshire that I got free entry too which was lovely.

I'm taking part in the pea experiment! Have a whole bed down at the allotment set aside for the purpose- looking forward to the results!

Penelope_Penguin

Mine arrived today - I'll be having a good look at what to do later :j

Penny. x

Penelope_Penguin

DH planted the trial peas yesterday; I'm putting the quinoia into modules today.

Anyone else got any progress to report

Penny. x

Zazen999

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

DH planted the trial peas yesterday; I'm putting the quinoia into modules today.

Anyone else got any progress to report

Penny. x

I'm only doing the peas as we grew Quinoa last year.

My peas were planted out into final position last week. :j

I got 10, 5, 10, 7 germinated [in order of the list on the form].

Hi Silvercharming.....have you joined GYO yet?

I've also put a thread on the GO forum....and will be posting there mainly....as it is their trial!

Penelope_Penguin

Zazen999 wrote: »

I'm only doing the peas as we grew Quinoa last year.

Oooooh, did you cook the quinoia; what does it taste like

TIA, Penny. x