Would you like to become one of our seed guardians for an open pollinated variety of seeds?

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The Incredible Seed Library has some seeds from our stock that are in short supply that we would like to bulk up.

 

We are really pleased with how this has been going, thank you for all your efforts. The new Incredible Seed Library volunteer team are keen to see this experiment continue, and welcome any new or returning Seed Guardians.

 

We now have a number of easy to save seeds which we would like some of our members to grow on and save for us. This year we have Tomatoes, beans and peas.

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They are all easy to grow and save.

 

There is information on saving seeds from these plants on our YouTube channel

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl4E9y-04SScD7PlqE8u20Q

 

Please watch these videos before choosing which seed you would like to save for The Incredible Seed Library, as they give information on the number of plants we would ideally like you to grow for us. It would be useful if you could offer us a couple of choices as we have a limited amount of seed for each variety.

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We would like you to choose one or two varieties to grow on for us and would like you to save as many seeds as you can for us to give away next year. Please grow all the seeds you are sent to ensure the genetic diversity of the variety.

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We are trying to ensure that the seeds that we all grow are viable and genetically diverse and so we are mostly looking for 2 or 3 growers to become seed guardians for each variety of seeds to give a greater number of parent plants. This should take the pressure off everyone as should things go wrong (and as gardeners we know that happens) then saving from a smaller population will be added to by another grower, thus ensuring the genetic diversity of the variety.

 

When we have allocated and sent out the seeds that you have asked to become a seed guardian for, all you need to do is grow them on as you would your regular plants.  If you feel you would like any further support, then feel free to email us at incredibleseedlibrary@gmail.com and we will endeavour to answer your questions.

 

Seeds for Seed Guardians to grow in 2025

 

Beans

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When growing beans it is worth protecting the germinating seeds from mice. I grow mine on in pots hanging from my greenhouse supports until they are strong seedlings and then harden them off before planting in the garden. Then leave them to grow until the seed pods go papery, and harvest the pods. Dry them completely and then pod the beans before you send them to us.

 

Afia Dwarf French Bean

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These fine pencil dwarf French beans were sourced from the Heritage Seed Library. They produce vigorous plants with pretty lilac coloured flowers, which are followed by tasty beans. 

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Cosse Violette Climbing Bean

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French Climbing Bean Cosse Violette is a striking climbing variety. Produces impressive lavender flowers and high yields of crops throughout summer. Each stringless bean pod appears in deep purple shades, a gorgeous crop to grow in the garden. Sow April - May.

 

Kew Blue Climbing French Bean

 

Kew blue climbing French beans come originally from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. They have a pretty purple flower followed by purple podded beans which can be eaten fresh or you can dry the beans which have a nutty flavour when rehydrated and cooked.

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Lady Di Runner Bean

 

Completely stringless, dark green 30cm pods. Delicious flavour, retaining a fleshy texture as the seeds are slow to develop. Crops 12-16 weeks from sowing. Tasty, nutritious and easy to grow! Sow undercover in April for early crops, planting out in late May.

 

Montezuma's Red Dwarf French Bean

 

Montezuma’s Red Dwarf French Bean is a Heritage Seed Library variety. Sow March-April under glass, or in succession outdoors from late April until mid-July.

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Neckar Gold Climbing French Bean

 

A reliable yellow wax climbing bean with high yields of crunchy, oval and stringless 8″ pods with excellent sweet flavour. The vines are vigorous climbers which easily top 8 feet, so you need some serious support.

 

Pea Bean

 

These pea beans are actually a true bean and not crossed with a pea, even though that's what the name suggests. They are a climbing variety so grow with support. Best eaten young when they are sweet and tender.

 

Rhondda Black Runner Bean

 

The Rhondda Black Runner Bean was bred by an enthusiast from the Rhondda. It’s a very fine champion bean of great length and excellent flavour, with beautiful black seeds on very large plants.

 

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Peas

 

When growing peas it is worth protecting the germinating seeds from mice. I grow mine on in a length of guttering hanging from my greenhouse supports until they are strong seedlings and then harden them off before planting in the garden. Give the guttering a sharp knock to free the length of seedlings before sliding them into a pre-dug trench. Then leave them to grow until the seed pods go papery and harvest the pods. Dry them completely and then pod the beans before you send them to us.

 

Latvian Peas

 

This is a very tasty soup pea which is also great in other dishes that use dried peas. It has a pretty dark red and white flower. Easy to grow, sow March-April, support if necessary.

 

Bream Black Peas

 

These are new to the Incredible Seed Library, so we don't have any details! Any information and photos you can provide when you grow them would be very gratefully received.

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Mr Bounds Pea Bean

 

Mr Bounds Pea Bean is a tall growing pea that has a very large dark brown seed. This is an easy to grow plant - just sow the seeds in a wide row in spring and provide support. Perfect for drying and cooking in the winter.

 

Roveja Peas

 

A very ancient variety of peas originating in the Middle east, today cultivated in only in a few Apennine regions in Italy. Thanks also to its relatively problem-free cultivation this variety has been rediscovered in recent years and it did well for us in Wales in 2017. The plants are semi-dwarf - you can let them sprawl, but we'd suggest supporting them with pea sticks or low netting for the best crop. They are absolutely beautiful, with bi-coloured pink-purple flowers fading to pale pink/white as they age. They're allowed to mature and dried, then used for delicious winter soups and stews.

 

Boddington's Peas

 

A productive soup pea from the Clydach valley in Wales. Real Seeds haven't been able to trace much of its history, but have been impressed with its performance. This variety has smooth greeny-grey seeds, that make a traditional UK style pea soup or tasty mushy peas. Allow for growth to 6 foot plus, so make frames for them as you would runner beans or climbing french beans. Can be overwintered in a polytunnel for early crops and eaten podded, as mangetout or dried.

 

 

Tomatoes

 

These varieties are most suitable for growing with the protection of a polytunnel of greenhouse. Please grow in isolation from beefsteak or potato leaved tomatoes and at least 2m from other varieties. Preferably grow it as a single variety in your polytunnel or greenhouse.

 

Garden Peach Tomato

 

A unique heirloom tomato, ‘Garden Peach’ produces 3-4in pale yellow fruits that have a pink blush to them and soft peachy skin, with pale yellow very tasty flesh. . This extremely productive and unique variety often comes top in tomato tastings with a mild sweet taste.  Best grown as a cordon under glass in cooler climes.

 

Persimmon Tomato

 

This beautiful tomato seed is a large beefsteak-type tomato in a vibrant orange colour. It has a really good flavour profile for a larger tomato and grew really well on strong plants.

 

Indigo Cherry Tomato

 

A gorgeous bi-coloured, deep blue/red large cherry tomato, the fruits are really striking when they are plucked from the vine as the sepals leave a red star, contrasting the deep blue skin. The fruits are very tasty with a good sweet/tart balance.

 

Indigo Rose Tomato

 

A stunning coloured purple variety developed by years of natural cross breeding selection. The medium size fruits of around 70-80g have a plum like flavour, which is best when the colour changes from shiny purple to a dull purple-brown to complete the development of sugars and acids.

 

Sart Roloise Tomato

 

These seeds produce vibrant, juicy tomatoes that are ideal for home gardeners. Thriving in a range of climates and easy to grow either outdoors or in a greenhouse. With the most captivating deep indigo blue brushstrokes on the shoulders and creamy white flesh with a golden, marbled interior that resembles pineapple. Each fruit weighs between 200-500g with a complex, fruity, and juicy flavour with a good amount of acidity and tropical notes. Some say it has a citrusy, pineapple-like flavour. This tomato produces a large amount of flesh per fruit, but not many seeds, which is why we need Seed Guardians for it.

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