In My Seed Box for 2027 - Swede

    

OK I admit when I think of swede it takes me back to my childhood as my Mum used to cook roast dinners all the time and swede was part of our staple diet, however since growing up and getting married it's not something that the wife was particularly fond off, so I haven't eaten it for some years. 

Chatting with my sister-in-law Pauline who also had a plot on the same allotment site, until she moved away.  She has not had much luck growing swede in the past. 

I have a vague recollection of my old Mum boiling it, mashing it and adding butter, but I may be wrong!

Swede Best Of All - Seeds To Suit  - Approx 50 Seeds - 29p 

Swede Best Of All - Seedmegastore - - Approx 100 Seeds - 49p Packed July 2026

This traditional variety is a popular choice, producing mildly flavoured sized purple topped roots 

Sow        Mid-May to Jun

Harvest  July - December

• Sow directly in the ground from middle of May through to July
• Sow thinly 12.5mm (1/2") deep in drills 300mm (12") apart in finely tilled soil
• When seedlings are large enough to handle thi to 150mm apart, they do not transplant well 
• Keep well -watered and weed free 
• Protect from birds 

 

Gowrie - Seedmegastore - - Approx 1000 Seeds - 99p Packed Sept 2026

A purple skinned variety that offers a combination of high dry matter yields with excellent disease resistance. Good colour and flesh texture.

Sowing Time: May to Late June.

 

Sowing Instructions: Sow seeds thinly ½ inch deep in drills 15 inches apart in soil that has been raked to a fine tilth.

 

Growing Instructions: When large enough to handle, thin seedlings to 6 inches apart, taking care not to damage the roots. 

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

Working On Beds 4 to 6

After a couple of days of rain this afternoon I managed to get the crown longitudinal ties drilled and fixed to the hoops, the Oilers and worm towers installed and beds 5 and 6 have been given another layer of vermiculite. Kelly is going to help me get more compost and mulch/ compost added to bed 5 and 6 tomorrow night weather permitting. I shall also look at what can be harvested from bed 1 tomorrow and pick up more windfall apples and leaves from the paths around the bed. I love being able to get what tools I need out the the Keter store and putting them back after I have used them.

Worm Tower installed bed 4

Hole for worm tower in bed 5 soil is nice and moist under the dry surface 

Worm tower installed such that cap will be at ground level once the bed has been topped up

Large Terracotta olla pot installed to the left of the worm tower

Smaller Terracotta olla pot installed to the right of the worm tower

A layer of vermiculite added to both bed 5 and 6 which will be mixed in with the auger Power Planter once more compost and mulch compost is added tomorrow

Scaffolding Debris netting laid over the structure such that the ends are more equal, I will able tie them in place tomorrow for now clamps are holding them in place to the crown tie

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Squash

  

Historically I was really not a huge squash fan, until converted by the Squash Queen Beryl Randall over at Mud & Gluts, so for the last eight years I have been growing and eating Butternut Squash. If kept in ideal conditions Squash seeds can last 6 - 10 years.

In 2020 I had a bash at the two New Varieties of Winter Squash from Thompson & Morgan, one a Mash and the other an alternative to baked potatoes. 

Mr Fothergill's Butternut Squash 5 Seeds left - Sow By 2021

Johnsons Squash (Winter) 5 seeds left - Seeds Early Butternut - Sow By 2022

Waltham Butternut - 50 Seeds - Premier Seeds - Sow By Oct 2021
Butternut Winter Early Organic - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 2022
Butterfly Butternut

I love the soup my Daughter Emma makes from my Butternut Squash and will defiantly be growing them in 2027

Butternut Squash Generally 

Sow Indoors - March to May

Sow Outdoors - May

Sow 3 of each variety into a pot edgeways into the compost, cover with 15mm of compost firm gently and keep moist 

Keep at approx. 15C - 20C 

Germination - Seedlings appear in 7-14 days  

Potting On at 5-6 leaf stage, stand outside for a few days in late May (avoid frost)  Transplant 600mm apart in growing position. 

Harvest July to October, Pick Regularly to encourage cropping

Tip When fruits start to swell give liquid feed every 7-10 days.

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Pumpkin

Dobies very kindly sent me a pack of Pumpkin Gold Speck F1 that was added to their catalogue for 2024. I didn't get to trial it in 2024 or 2025 because of the known medical problems. With a new grandson it will be grown in 2026

Average pack contents 4 seeds for a price of £3.99 so that's £1 a seed. 

The web site states that they are one of the most high yielding mini types of pumpkin with masses of scalloped fruit with long handles that are great for eating and Halloween!

These colourful little pumpkins measure just 7.5cm (3”) diameter, 5cm (2”) deep and weigh in at 150-250g, making them perfect for a tasty snack or serving in individual portions. 

Just scoop out the centre, steam or bake, then refill the skins with the flesh smothered with butter or brown sugar. The hollowed-out shells also make unusual serving bowls for delicious pumpkin soup. 

Pumpkin 'Gold Speck' is an easy-to-grow bush type which takes up much less space than vining varieties. Excellent disease resistance including powdery mildew. 

Height: 60cm (24in). Spread: 80cm (31in).

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

D.T.Brown - Rhubarb Livingstone

OK not quite in my seed box but ordered for the plot 1 allotment in 2021. The growth during the first year was astounding although due to the weather some stalks did go to seed and had to be chopped off. 

By 2022 all three of the plants were in their own beds, when I received the plants, I only had two beds ready, and the third plant was squatting in Rhubarb Bed 1 for a while until I managed to get the third rhubarb bed ready. One does not take any stalks in the first year of growth and the goodness goes back into the plant and helps it establish.  

In 2022 I took about 40% of the stalks late in the season from two of the three plants and have made a number of Rhubarb crumbles, and I have to say I didn't have to add much sugar, as Rhubarb Livingstone is succulent and delicious and well worth the waiting until the second year before harvesting.  

In 2023 without the need of forcing one of the 3 plants to provide an early harvest, I had lots of Rhubarb between March and October. With my wife passing away in January 2023 I don't need as much Rhubarb now, so in 2024 I donated one of my Rhubarb plants to a plot neighbour.  

He didn't take it all and the blessed plant just bounced back in 2025 and I have harvested all three plants hard. 

Below is the technical and sales blurb from the D.T.Brown Rhubarb Livingstone web page that has now been removed as they no longer sell this variety. In 2024 the cost for 3 x 9cm potted plants was £19.90 a saving of £9.95 if you are looking to add Rhubarb to your allotment plot or garden, I can wholeheartedly recommend Rhubarb Livingstone, doing a google search I have found various sources for it.  

Do you enjoy those bright red stems in early summer, but wish the season for sweet, young rhubarb could be longer?  If so, you will want to grow Livingstone which produces its succulent, delicious, stringless sticks from March to October. This outstanding, British-bred strain was achieved by eliminating the summer dormancy which causes rhubarb to stop cropping by the middle of summer. By the way, this breakthrough came about by conventional means and not by any form of genetic modification.

Livingstone really does yield a fine crop of high quality, red-skinned stems through the autumn months, extending the season for this much-loved fruit (well, vegetable actually!).

The disease-free plants will crop heavily once established.  Whether your favourite is rhubarb crumble, rhubarb pie or simply stewed and served with compulsory custard, Livingstone is the variety we have been waiting for.  Supplied in 9cm pots.

'Livingstone' is a compact variety to about 50cm with bright red stems. Unlike other rhubarb varieties, it does not have a dormant period in summer. The main cropping period is early to late autumn, though it can be cropped in summer if required

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Sow Indoors

 

Sow / Plant Outdoors

 

Flowers / Harvest

 

How to grow

CultivationPlant crowns in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, from late autumn to early spring. Crowns can be cropped for ten or more years, though division may be necessary after about five years. Mulch in spring with a 7cm layer of well-rotted organic matter without burying the crowns, and apply a general fertiliser at 70g/sq m in spring or summer. Water during prolonged dry periods in summer. See rhubarb cultivation

PropagationLift crowns between autumn and early spring (usually in November). Use a spade to divide the crown into sections each retaining a portion of the rhizome (thickened root) and at least one growing point. Sections from the outer part are better than the centres of old plants. Discard any old or decayed parts of the crown. Replant straight away or wrap in damp sacking until ready to plant

Suggested planting locations and garden typesLow Maintenance Patio & Container Plants

How to care

PruningAllow the foliage to die back naturally in winter then cut away the old leaves to expose the growing points to winter cold

PestsAphids, slugs and snails may be problematic

DiseasesHoney fungus and a virus may be troublesome

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

Raspberries On The Plot

 

Not in my seed box, but on my allotment 

In 2021 I ordered the D.T.Brown - Long Cropping Raspberry Collection that consists of 6 canes each of the following three varieties from left to right Malling Juno (early) far left, Tulameen Pearl (mid) 2nd from left, Polka (late) 4th from left came in March of 2021

Autumn Treasure (late) 3rd from the left was sent in error instead of Polka, and once I notified D.T.Brown they sent out the Polka so I ended up with four beds of Raspberries. 

Malling Juno (early) - Tasting the first raspberries of the season is always a treat and Malling Juno is one of the best on the market. The medium to large berries has a firm texture and a deliciously sweet flavour - just perfect for eating fresh. 

The spine-free canes are leafy, easy to handle and prune and, the fruits are well presented, so picking is easy too! Cropping from early to late June (even earlier if grown under cover), plants are known to have excellent disease resistance as well. Bred by East Malling Research.

Very few Raspberries in the first year (2021), but such growth once they got going, a super yield in the spring of their second year (2022), third year the harvest's just went on and on. 

The paths either side of the bed required clearing of new canes that come up despite the timber edging to the paths. This was not a problem as they were offered to new plot holders on the site.

I also obtained some yellow All Gold from a plot neighbour and these now live in the boundary bed that was built in early 2023.   

Tulameen Pearl (mid) - Tulameen Pearl is far superior to the popular Tulameen which D.T Brown have sold in the past. D.T.Brown thinks this vigorous new strain is a real find and that customers will agree it’s a winner, which I have to agree with. It has a high yield with berries which are larger and brighter, and the fruit is firmer so keeps better once picked, not that they ever last long with my family.

Not a great yield in the first year (2021) which is to be expected, but a good number of additional canes in the first year and a significant increase in yield in its second year (2022). I'm looking forward to seeing what 2023 will bring as the quantity of canes increase.  

Polka (late) - A multi-award winner at the National Fruit Show, Polka has exceptional fruit quality, and the large/ medium red berries are full of fragrant zesty flavour. Bred in Poland with Autumn Bliss as one of its parents, the virtually spine-free raspberry canes will yield double the crop of Autumn Bliss and Polka crops up to 2 weeks earlier, from late July to October. Polka even grows well on less desirable soils. 

 

Autumn Treasure (late) - Bred at the world-renowned East Malling Research centre, is set to be the benchmark for home gardeners. This quality primocane has a high disease resistance to root rot, wilt and powdery mildew, and crops well even on poorer ground. It gives an exceptional yield of very attractive, large, firm berries from August to October and the fruit stands wet weather very well. The flavour is very good indeed - not as acid as Autumn Bliss. Spine free canes.

I'm very impressed with the quantity of Raspberries that this variety gave in its first year (2021) and the number of additional canes they have grown and produced fruit in 2022 was staggering and in 2023 the amount of canes and fruits were off the chart. 

There were also those particular raspberries that were not in a condition to be taken home and that had to be consumed as I was harvesting.

It was indeed a very lucky accident that Autumn Treasure were sent in error, and I would highly recommend this variety of Raspberry.

All photos above are from 2021. In 2024 I need to build better cages to hold the raspberries in place so the paths remain open. 

In 2023 I was given All Gold Raspberry canes that I've placed in the Boundary beds on the main Path 

All Gold Raspberry is an outstanding autumn-fruiting raspberry, producing large, golden yellow fruits, with a taste that is even more exquisite than its red-fruited sisters! An excellent raspberry for fresh use and freezing and also for garnishes and wine-making!

These heavenly, sweet fruits can be harvested from late August until mid October, , ideal for smaller gardens where they can be grown in a large container

Digging up Yellow Raspberries that are escaping from my plot neighbours raspberry area. Michelle told me anything that is growing between the two timber post I'm welcome too as she has to dig them up and manage the area anyway and If I do a little weeding along the way she will not complain.

So dug up they were, roots trimmed and then put in a bucket of water to have a nice drink whilst I collected more of their brothers and sisters.

Height: 150cm (59"). Spread: 50cm (20")

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Potatoes

 

Most companies historically dispatch & delivered around the end of January/ start of March. I have all the insulated chitting boxes made a couple of years ago ready to rock and roll. 

In the past I have been very lucky in that seed companies have supplied me with new varieties to trial and blog about and then I have topped up with some of my standard go too varieties.  

In 2026 I didn't see any new varieties to ask to trial so I've visited my local Blue Diamond Garden Centre and bought 2kg sacks. I will be searching the catalogues to see if I can find any new varieties to trial in 2027

 First Early  - Sharp's Express - Taylors 

First Early / Salad Potato - Pentland Javellin - Taylors

Second Early - Charlotte - Taylors 

 Main Crop - Desiree - Taylors

There are three main types of potato to grow, named according to when you plant and harvest them.

First early or ‘new’ potatoes are the earliest to crop, in June and July. They don't store for long so are best eaten fresh.

Second earlies (also called ‘new’ potatoes) take a few more weeks to mature and are harvested in July and August. These also don't store for long, so are best eaten fresh. Salad potatoes have a firm, waxy texture and many have an intense, nutty flavour. They are usually first earlies or second earlies.

Maincrop potatoes take the longest to mature and are harvested from August to October. They are suitable for baking, roasting and mashing, and can be stored for a few months.

First early potatoes

First early or 'new' potatoes are so-called because they are the earliest to crop, in June. They take 10-12 weeks to mature. Plant 30cm apart, with 60cm between rows, around 12cm deep.

Plant: March (with frost protection)
Harvest: June and July
Recommended varieties: 'Arron Pilot', 'Red Duke of York', 'Lady Christl', 'Orla' and 'Rocket'.

Second early potatoes

Second early potatoes take 14-16 weeks to mature. As with first earlies, plant them 30cm apart, in rows 60cm apart, 12cm deep.

Plant: March (with frost protection)
Harvest: July and August
Recommended varieties: 'Charlotte', 'Maris Peer', 'Ratte'

Maincrop potatoes

Maincrops take 16-22 weeks to mature. Plant 40cm deep, in rows 75cm apart, at a depth of 12cm.

Plant: mid to late April
Harvest: August to October
Recommended varieties: 'Pink Fir Apple', 'Desiree', 'Cara', 'Helidi Red', 'Maris Piper', 'King Edward', 'Sarpo Mira'

Salad potatoes

Salad potatoes share a firm, waxy texture and many have an intense, nutty flavour, perfect with a knob of melted butter or cold in a potato salad. They are usually first earlies or second earlies.

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

In My Seed Box for 2027 - Peppers

 

In 2022 peppers were started off in a portable grow station in doors in February, moved out to the external grow house in March and finally into the space saver and allotment greenhouses on the allotment. 

I haven't really grown peppers since then. Pepper seeds last 3 - 6 years when stored in ideal conditions, and at the moment I only have one pack that is viable, so I will keep a look out for more for 2027, as I would like to have a bash at them again.  

Review Of Seed Stocks in Packets

Sweet Paragon                    - 10 Seeds - D.T.Brown - Sow By 2025 

Alphabetical Listing of seeds I have grown previously 

                                                  Sowing          Sowing         Plant                Harvest
                                                  Indoors          Outdoors     Out

Chilli Lancer                              Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct
Chilli Machu Pichu                    Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct
Chilli Moruga Red                     Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct
Hot Red                                    Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct
Sweet Boneta                                               Late Mar - April                         Jul - Frost

Sweet California Wonder          Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct
Sweet Lemon Dream                Feb - April                          50mm tall            Jul - Oct
Sweet Lunchbox Mix                 Feb - April                          50mm tall            Jul - Oct

Sweet Mixed                             Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct

Sweet Paragon                         Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct

Sweet Summer Salad Mix        Mar - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct

Sweet Tangerine Dream           Feb - April                          May - Jun            Jul - Oct

Germination 7 - 14 days 

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index