Sharing plants & seeds

[Prue]

Flo - I've got some rhubarb I can shop up for you if you like. Ph 292 8505 to sort the details.

[Prue]

Oooops - that was 'chop' up!!

[Patricia Sarr (Trish)]

At the plants-and-seeds gathering on the weekend, did anyone want to share the ordering of some chile seeds, or was there advice about what are good tomatoes to grow here? And maybe people who want to share the ordering of tomato seeds?

[Prue]

Trish - I think there is going to be another meeting at the end of August to do a bulk order. For me that is a bit late(I like to get my tomato seeds in by the third week of August at the latest) so I'll probably get a Niche mix this year which I can do from Mitre 10 in Paraparaumu. You're welcome to share...

[Stacey]

It got a bit muddly, but we were thinking of sending out a list where you can put your name, what you have to share and what you would like. Might be a bit elaborate. Perhaps we could just get together for an hour with the seeds we have to share and work out what else we want? Or try it via this discussion thread?

As a starter, I have to share:
Zucchini, Black Beauty
Zucchini, Romanesco
Luffa
Lemongrass
Pumpkin, Buttercup
Pumpkin, Austrian Oil Seed
Spaghetti Squash
Eggplant, Florence Round Purple
Tomato, Oxheart
Tomato, Baxter's Early Bush Cherry
Tomato, Gardener's Delight
Tomato, Green Grape
Tomato, Mini Orange
Tomato, Tigerella
Tomato, Yellow Pear
Chilli, Mulato
Cucumber, Crystal Apple

Seeds I would like to get:
Swanplant
Capsicum, Topepo Rosso & Chocolate Beauty
Sunflower, Skyscraper
Sweet Pea, Old Spice Antiques Mixed
Carrot, Chantenay Red Core
Cucumber, Marketmore
Nasturtium, Empress of India
Soapwort
Echinacea
Celery
Tomatillo
Tomato, San Marzano
Bergamot Bee Balm
Epazote
Artichoke, Green Globe Improved?
Chilli, Ancho

[Patricia Sarr (Trish)]

I dunno, Stacey, maybe it is getting a bit complex. Maybe I'll take your list as a "recommended to try" list and just get some seeds and offer to share them with my sister! They're really not THAT expensive when I'm getting not very many.

Certainly I will want to buy Ancho chiles and chipotle chiles and there will be way too many seeds for just me - you're welcome to share!

And from your list I'd love to share capsicum, black beauty zucchini, lemongrass, and whichever tomatoes you recommend!

Maybe the group's too big to do this - this might be a one-two-three person sort of process..... Whatever works best is fine.

And thank you to Prue for letting me know I should get my tomatoes seeds into soil the third week in August!

Trish

[Prue]

LOL Trish - that's my phobia - not everyone's. And last spring, it being late, I had tomatoes growing out of the shed by the time it was warm enough for them to go outside!!
I'm wondering if some of us ordering seeds should just go ahead, and put up what we're happy to share out or swap for other stuff?
Stacey - I've got green artichoke rooted sideshoots you can have - un-named though.

[Patricia Sarr (Trish)]

Sounds good, Prue, the seed ordering I mean. It's suggestions about types of tomatoes I'd be keen on...

And I have globe artichokes I have just boken up and so can pass on a piece right now, in good health. They came originally from Eve Page's garden (the NZ painter of wonderful nudes), via Elespie Prior, so I love them partly for their whakapapa.
Trish

[Stacey]

I would love to get some globe artichokes from you. Shall we do the letterbox thing again?

And yes, to the seed ordering. If you only want a few packs feel free to add them to my order - Kings have a minimum of $15.

My tomatoes were hopeless last year, though the Baxter's Early were better than the Oxheart. I have heard Moneymaker and Sweet 100 are good round here. I find cherries are really reliable. Will ask a long-time Paek grower for his suggestions tonight.

[Patricia Sarr (Trish)]

Excellent. I need to dig them out for you - I'll send a note when I do that, you can confirm, and I'll put them out for you. Meanwhile, I'll make a list of seeds, because the $15 is more than I'm likely to spend!

[Prue]

OK - bought some tomato seeds from Niche this morning(still waiting on a few new ones coming in) and have got Aunt Ruby's German Green to share, also dill, bell pepper colour mix, buttercup pumpkin, white beetroot and lebanese cucumber.

[Prue]

If anyone wants some two leaf tomato seedlings, my excess ones are available on Saturday between 3 and 4pm at my place(108 Wellington Road). All you need is some pots with mix so you can pot them on for a fortnight or so before they're ready to go out in the garden. I have Aunt Ruby's German Green, Brandywine, Orange Blossom, Green Zebra and Tati.

[Prue]

I'd be happy to get some seeds from you - Tomato Tigerella and Gardener's Delight would be good.
Last year my best tomato was Big Rainbow and I had a few nice ones from Black from Tula, but the rest were a waste of space. I'm going back to Black Krim which I've had success with in the past, also I want to try Aunt Ruby's German Green. As I only have room for around 6 plants this will be about it.
Zucchini Zephyr was by far the best we've every had, outproducing Romanesco and Ambassador by 2:1, better flavour and the flowers held their shape when stuffed. I'm looking for a piece or plant of French tarragon and purple artichoke, and if anyone had a good non-bitter skin cucumber last year they could recommend, that would be handy to know about.