XPost: rec.gardens.organic
This is going to be a longish story; I tend to do that. You have been
warned.
On my first pilgramage to the Seed Saver's Exchange summer campout, I
met Dennis, a fellow gardener and heirloom veggie nut. He had been
injured at work, but was still getting around pretty well...one
obsession of his was turnip greens. Dennis trialed many varieties in
his quest, finally settling on a Czech variety: "Horpaczi Lila," which
he got from the East German seed bank! Fast forward some years.
Dennis is now less mobile, but I have visited him most years at his
apartment north of Chicago. At one point he tells me the turnip story
on the phone, and says he has some pretty old seed he'd like to have
grown out (hint, hint), so he mails me part of his at least 10-year
old stock, which I plant that spring in the greenhouse. Yield: about
a dozen plants, and a teaspoon of seed.
Next spring, to the garden, harvesting a couple dozen roots. The next
spring, about a pound of seed!
I still have some of that seed, germinating about 25% indoors, and I'm
not getting any younger.
Sooo.... if anyone would like to grow this out (you can steal some of
the first-year leaves to do your own taste test) drop me an email
with snail address. No obligation except to do your best to "pay it
forward" and raise some more seeds to keep this old-timer going.
Cheers!
--
Gary Woods O- K2AHC
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