Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

[OldKingCrow]

I have 8 rows of Stowells Evergreen sow'd and start'n to pop their rows.

and sitting on some Georgia Rattlesnake (Citrullus lantatus) seeds wait'n for the oppertune moment.

CJ Rideout
Tampa, Florida

[georgerutherford1861]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

CJ,

I have a few rows of Stowell's Evergreen in the ground. Country Gentleman worked fine for us last year, but the shoepeg variety threw us for a loop and I found the kernels a little small. One's mileage may vary, and they sure do look neat and make for great conversation (the two heirloom varieties also grew taller than what we were used to). Early Jersey Wakefield cabbage is up and running, and in the ground we have several types of potatoes (not a lot up yet, we got a late start), zucchini squash, several types of beans, lettuce, beets. Some are heirloom varieties, some are not (I'm working on that). I like to keep the timeline of planting and how things are going in the garden in mind when at an event, it's a link to the past for me, and knowledge and discussion of such things are perfect for 1st person discussion. There was an excellent discussion on here some time ago on the merits of heirloom gardening, the difference between planting types that were available but not very common with planting what would have been "more typical." It's an interesting discussion, and opened my eyes a bit. I do tend to like them all, the common and the unusual. I just need more time to do it!

Doug Frank

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

Doug,

Great stuff.

I have Country Gent seeds but held those back as my small plot is too cross pollenation suseptable.

I am keen on trying Danvers Carrots.

Never had a dawg or vegetable plant not like me yet, I prefer 'em for company.

CJ Rideout
Tampa, Florida

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

Anyone with experience propagating period corn do you see this much disparity in top size / viability in the heirloom varieties as a rule ? Stowell's Evergreen and Bloody Butcher in particular. I am contemplating culling the weak tops for to keep my producing strains strong. The period correct natural fertilizer and no pesticide route makes for a few sickly plants at my experience level.



Reedwater Terrier is one of the older Olde English Terrier breeds. Period correct dawg in period correct corn.



Green corn, green corn growing in the garden
Sugapie, Sugapie, Come and get a lubbin'
Oh me yeller gal, oh my honey
Hoe'n in the cotton and the cane.

Christopher J Rideout

[Spinster]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

Certain period varieties produce extremely disparate height and size. Culling the poor tops does not seem to matter for the next generation, the disparate height continues.

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

Ma'am,

Obliged.

Chris Rideout
Tampa, Florida

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

I have 6 varieties of Heirloom tomatoes that I am trying this year. I bought the plants from Seed Savers and I am looking forward to chomping into a Cherokee Purple.

RM

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

Cherokee Purple ?

Please elaborate. (on edit I see it is a tomatoe variety - I was thinking something made from tomatoes - sorry)

Please post pics of yer maters' once harvested to demostrate the differences between heirloom original varieties and modern agri-bioengineered varieties. I went with corn in an effort to try and produce corn squeezins' from non- "Su" "Se" or "Sh2" varieties which are engineered for higher sweetness and other properties. Though I fear the reduction in sugar content may make for something quite different than I am accustomed to. I had good luck with modern apples making hard cider so this was the next step in my progression in period distilllery.

CJ Rideout
Tampa, Florida

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

I'll do it. My pard Dan Barker raises numerous varieties of Tomatotoes. They are the best I have experienced .

RM

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

Mr. Miller,

Tinned period appropriate toe-maters in the proper period tin with label...opened at an event w/issued field expedient implement, consumed and then the can made into biler would be my direction. Though due care must be applied as the period canning part might could thoroughly botulize you.

The vegetable tins are procurable.....figuring out the rest is but a bit of research and get-to-it-iveness.

CJ Rideout
Tampa, Florida

[Hank Trent]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

Out of curiosity, what variety of tomato would be most typically used for commercial canning in the period? I have a guess, but haven't researched it.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[Brandon]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

Where could someone find the correct cans for puting up food stuffs. I am fimiliar with modern canning as I have a large plot of pole beans and peas, but I could imagin period canning way be a little diferent. Any help would be appriciated.

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

Out of curiosity, what variety of tomato would be most typically used for commercial canning in the period? I have a guess, but haven't researched it.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

I don't know. I haven't researched it either. But I am going to say for my standards of accuro-neurosis any properly supported period variety which you can successfully pull fruit from (using period farming methods is the kicker) which is suitable for preservation, works. Though I would venture that like today, certain varieties of herlooms are better suited and commercially canned based on, among other things delicacy and delicateness of flesh.

Where could someone find the correct cans for puting up food stuffs. I am fimiliar with modern canning as I have a large plot of pole beans and peas, but I could imagin period canning way be a little diferent. Any help would be appriciated.

Many tinmongers produce period cans....from there you have to figure out how to solder it without toxifying yourself, family and friends.


CJ Rideout
Tampa, Florida

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

I think the only thing I've got in that counts as heirloom are my Newburg onions. I plan on expanding for next year, but this is my first garden, and I was limited to the number of raised beds I could set up before I had to get things in due to bad planning. I know I'll have Bloody Butcher in next year.

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Anyone have any heirloom varieties in the ground ?

So who is going to plan the first immersion 1860 Farmer's Market event ?

Chris Rideout
Tampa, Florida