Tag Archives: seed swaps

Sorry we ain’t into the Bad Seeds, only the good ones

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Happy New Year to all our music/gardening friends and we hope 2024 is a good one.

It’s now time to think of what you’re going to grow this year and what changes you may be making in the garden, if any. First thing we did was check our seed tin seeing what we may have had left over. There were some Ldll lettuce, a couple of packets off ebay and some stuff we’ve had knocking around for ages which suprised us a little as we thought we used everything up.

As ever we’re on the look out for any seed swaps, or community/allotment sales that have good cheap seed and plant events we may be able to get some interesting variety of seeds. At the present moment we can’t find too many local ones in south London. Garden Organic has a regularly updated list here that is worth checking and also Pumpkin Beth‘s website here which list seeds swaps and plant fairs. If there’s any you know of in the London area or thereabouts, do let us know and we’re blog the dates up.

So we will now raise a mug of tea and hope everyone has a great 2024 and may your garden thrive! And here’s some garden related tunes to give inspiration and good plant growing vibes.

 

 

 

 

What a day for gardening

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We’re not going to be in the garden much today what with the terrible weather (it’s tipping it down in south London at the moment) apart from just a few minutes ago when we brought the kitchen waste down the compost heap that is looking well healthy (if compost can look healthy that is).

The old bathroom mat that was keeping the warmth in has now decomposed and was full of brandling worms last time we saw it in one piece. Later this year we’re going to have a go at making another open type compost heap as they really are better than the darlek ones and you don’t graze your hand everytime you go to turn it! #vivalacompost

By the way we’re always on the look out for news of any good gardening events in our neck of the woods so if you hear of any seed swaps or potato days do give us a shout. Talking of which we’ve found a great list here on Garden Organic of forthcoming Seed Swaps. Only one in Bromley at the moment but we’re sure they’ll be more added soon. Have a look here. #gardenorganic #seedswaps #freeseeds

 

Roll on spring

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There’s been some crazy goings on in the sky over the last few evenings and apart from the winds and cold we’ve even had some sunshine during the day. Don’t be fooled though, we’ve still got some cold weather to come and if you believe the Daily Excess, it’s going to be the coldest winter since 1947 (As Graham Porter used to joke on BBC Radio Leeds “They say that every year!”)

There is stuff to do, you can have a look through your seed tin and see what you have to get for this growing year, you could pop down your local garden centre (we visited Shannon’s) and get some seed potatoes to “chit” (more on chitting here, some people swear by it and some people swear at it!) or start off some seeds in a propogator indoors. You can also have a look online and see if there’s any plant/seed swaps near you as they’re good for finding often interesting seeds. It’s always good to make an early start so when springs starts you can get off on the right foot!

The seedy side of swapping

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We at Weeds like to mix it up when it comes to getting our seeds. We purchase them from our local garden centre, have more than a fondness for a ebay “vegetable seed job lot” (if it says “rare” or “unusual” then all the better) and do we love a seed swap. What’s nicer than passing on something you got a few of and exchanging them for something else.

Organised seed swaps are fun events to attend, you’ll meet like-minded people (great for exchanging gardening tips and information) and you’ll probably bag yourself something that you’ve never thought of growing before or some heirloom/heritage varieties you rarely come across.

One of our favourite seed swaps was in a pub in Hither Green on a Sunday night; a small crowd of gardening enthusiasts gathered to drink, chat horticulture and flick through boxes of interesting looking seed packets (some customised and hand-decorated, much more interesting than your average pack). That’s how a Sunday evening should be spent rather than having to put up with the likes of Highway and Antiques Road Show.

We never like to go to one empty handed and try to bring things as interesting as possible, these have included: chitted seed spuds, Egyptian walking onion sets and a couple of packs of night scented stock as we’re always trying to turn people onto growing those.

Once at a seed swap we saw a girl (dressed in a steam-punk style) pull out of her pocket a list of “what she had” consisting of 2 double-sided typed A4 sheets. Her black gothic style rucksack (with metal bits and all sorts) was filled with tons of numbered “dealer bags” full of seeds which came complete with home made labels and even sowing instructions. That’s a bit over the top for us here but that’s how passionate people are!

Sort of related are the annual potato day/seed fairs arranged by Pennards plants that combine a seed potato sale, heirloom/heritage seeds and sometimes have a seed swap section. Have a look at www.potato-days.net for your local one.

So save your own seeds this year (there’s lots of sites online that’ll give you pointers on how to do it) or see what you may have left over in your seed tin and next year have a look on google/facebook/twitter for a seed swap near you and go down and participate and see what you can bring home! Why not make a weekend of it and go to the big annual Seedy Sunday in Brighton (Sunday February 3rd 2019). Also have a look online as there’s numerous sites that encourage the art of seed swapping without even leaving your own home. Good luck! #onaseedswaptip