I know what I like, and which varieties have performed well for me in the past, so should I go for those reliable favourites or try something new?
As seed catalogues drop through my letterbox as predictably as falling autumn leaves, I face a dilemma. Each one is a veritable candy store, packed with sweets and treats to savour. I know what I like, and which varieties have performed well for me in the past, so should I go for those reliable favourites or try something new?
New varieties are always appealing, but not necessarily better. The one thing you can be sure of is that they'll be a little more expensive, or you'll just get fewer seeds of them in the packet.
A balanced approach is probably best. Order seeds of those favourites that you know perform well and you won't be disappointed. I'll always try one or two new tomato varieties, but will always grow 'Gardeners' Delight'. Few, if any, can beat it for flavour and as it's an established variety its seeds are also great value.
Sweetcorn is a different matter. I grow it every year, as my family love it fresh from the garden. But I'm yet to find a variety that combines all the desirable characteristics: good yields, large cobs, tenderness, good flavour and the elusive two cobs per plant.
However, last year I was sent seeds of a new variety, 'Rising Sun', to trial, and it was magnificent. Plants were tall and vigorous, and cobs of equally massive stature, but only one matured per plant despite the promise of two. That was OK, as the first mouthful convinced me that here was a superb new variety that others will find hard to beat. I'll definitely grow it again.
The range of grafted crops available for 2010 looks very promising. Grafted plants offer vigour and enhanced disease resistance, and stronger-growing plants produce bigger yields of tasty fruits. I'll come back to grafted crops in a future blog.
So, what's the answer to my dilemma? Of course you should look wider and delve deeper, or you'll never discover new favourites. Gardens evolve and develop, and our knowledge only grows with new experiences.
Perhaps you have a trusted old favourite that you grow year after year? Or have you recently discovered a fantastic variety that you'd like to share with everyone?
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