Adopt a Veg - Help to save our vegetable heritage
Disappearing vegetables
Magical beans in wonderful colours!
For over thirty years we have been campaigning to save Britain's traditional vegetable varieties, which are threatened by a combination of commercial pressures and red tape.
Most of us get our vegetables from supermarkets where what counts most is regularity of shape and colour, plus a flawless appearance. These are not qualities that would have carried much weight with earlier generations, when most people either grew vegetables at home, or bought from the local market. Flavour, continuity of picking and delicate skins were what mattered to them.
As an example, the Victorians grew over 120 different varieties of tall garden pea providing a continuous picking of freshly shelled peas throughout the summer months. A century later, frozen peas reign supreme. Food processors require varieties where all the peas ripen at once. Consequently, only one tall pea variety remains.
Added to this was a series of EU regulations from the mid 1970s onwards making the sale of vegetable seeds a criminal offence unless the variety was registered on a National or EU list. Although exemptions were made for some older varieties, many slipped through the net. With the cost of registration running into thousands of pounds a time, the future for hundreds of historic varieties looked bleak.
In addition, dozens of small, family seed producers have gone out of business, or have been taken over by large multi-national biotech companies, which are not interested in selling traditional vegetable varieties.
Why it matters
We cannot know what the future holds for vegetable growing. In a globally warmed world we may have to contend with new types of pests and diseases. Varieties that have been bred for today's conditions may prove unsuitable under changed conditions. So, it is vital that we keep as broad a genetic base as possible. Some of our older varieties may contain valuable genes that could be vital to plant breeders in future breeding programmes.
Also, growing, cooking and eating vegetables is much more exciting and pleasurable if there are lots of varieties to choose from.
What we are doing to save our vegetable heritage
Tiger Tom tomatoes
To keep these older varieties alive, in 1975 we created the Heritage Seed Library. Instead of selling seeds, we gave them away! Today over 800 different kinds are kept at Garden Organic Ryton, and are grown and enjoyed by more than 10,000 HSL members. Included are several late 19th century tall peas, including Champion of England and the incomparable Ne Plus Ultra, which we have rescued from extinction.
We are constantly being offered varieties from members of the public who have saved their own seeds, and we step in to rescue varieties that are being discontinued by seedsmen.
Keeping these old vegetables alive is an expensive operation, for which we get no government support whatsoever. We rely entirely on members of the Heritage Seed Library and vegetable enthusiasts such as yourself.
How you can help - Adopt a Veg!
By adopting one or more of the varieties in our Heritage Seed Library, you will be directly contributing to its conservation. With your donation you will be helping to pay for the seed handling, storage and propagation facilities, as well as the staff needed to look after the ever-expanding collection.
To adopt a veg just choose a variety from the list below. It costs just £20 to adopt a variety for a year. There is no limit to the number of varieties you may adopt.
Vegetable Adopters will receive:
- A certificate of adoption for one year
- Background information on your adopted variety
- A gift card designed by Artist-in-Residence, Lesley Davis, with message
Plus you will have the personal satisfaction in the knowledge that you are helping to keep alive part of our precious vegetable heritage.
Adopt
a Veg today:
- Telephone: 024 7630 3517
- Online: Adopt a Veg online here
You may want to make your selection of varieties first from the list of vegetables waiting for adoption.
To find out more and to receive an application form, write to
'Adopt A Veg',
Garden Organic,
Garden Organic Ryton,
Coventry
CV8 3LG
or email us
Top of pageGarden Organic is the working name of the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA).
We are not responsible for the content of external web sites.
