Amaranthus hypochondriacus
If something involves seeds and unusual vegetables, it’s bound to attract my attention, don’t you think?
Garden Organic’s new Sowing New Seeds project has three years of funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food Scheme with the aim of helping gardeners, allotment holders, schools and community groups in the Midlands to grow exotic crops that aren’t normally seen in the UK.
-
Over the next three years the plan is to:
- Collect, increase and make seeds of exotic crop varieties available through Garden Organic’s Heritage Seed Library to safeguard them for future generations
- Gather information on how people are growing these plants in the Midlands, and the story behind them
- Publish factsheets on exotic vegetables
- Publish an exotic crops grower's guide
- Set up an exotic crops demonstration garden at Ryton Organic Gardens
- Hold seed swaps, community events and demonstrations
To do all that, they’re going to need our help. Think if you (or somebody you know) grow anything different or unusual which might be a non-traditional plant. Tell as many of your allotment or gardening group colleagues as possible about the project. Act by growing an extra plant just for seed this coming growing season. If you haven’t got time or space, donate a seedling or cutting to somebody else who might have room.
Sally Cunningham (she wrote Asian Vegetables) is one of the people behind the new project and she sent me a PDF copy of their explanatory leaflet, so if you would like more information about the project you can visit the website. Sally also says that some of these exotic plants should be on display at Ryton Organic Gardens later this year, so keep an eye out for them if you visit.