Swiss Chard is an excellent all-rounder, tough, reliable and productive throughout the year, making it an excellent choice for a kitchen garden, and its a must grow in my garden. The leaves can be used like spinach and ribs are a delicious vegetable in their own right. Swiss Chard is called poirée, bette or blette in France and is a very popular vegetable more so than in the UK. I urge anyone, who has not tried this vegetable yet, to give it a go. It is in season now and will be on and off until mid to late spring.

History  The cultivation of chard dates back to classic antiquity. The Greeks and Romans used it widely but it did not become popular in Europe until the middle ages.

Site & Soil  Swiss Chard is tough, tolerant of poor soils, shade, heat and temperatures down to –14c

Germinates 7-10days.   Crops Spring 60days Summer 45days

Propagation
1. Sow in situ in drills 1-3cm deep, in rows 30cm apart. Thin, when the seedlings have 4-5 leaves, to 22cm apart
2. Sow undercover in cells and transplant after 4-6weeks
3. Sow 3-4 seeds in stations 20-25cm apart in rows 45cm apart
4. Broadcast sow in 10cm wide drills and treat as a CCA.

Tip Soak seeds for 24hrs before sowing to break down the hard seed shell.

Timing
Chard will produce all year from a single sowing, it can be succession sown through the year or my preference is to make 2 sowings per year one in late winter/early spring and one in late summer/early autumn.
Sow
(Feb) March-June
August-Sept (Oct)
Harvest
(May) June – Nov
Dec – April

Care Best grown in temperatures between 10-25c in well-manured soil. Water well in dry weather, mulch with compost or other organic material to conserve moisture in summer.

Harvest by cutting outer leaves just above ground level from several plants rather than completely stripping one. Continual cutting of outer leaves through the season ensures the production of new young tender leaves. Chard can be harvested at the baby leaf stage for use in salad or as a cooked vegetable either use the thinnings or treat as a cut and come again by cutting the small plants down to just above the soil surface.

Companion
Swiss chard is said to grow well with carrots, cabbage, beans, radish and turnip/swede. I find it grows particularly well next to aubergines.

Nutrition
Swiss Chard is rich in Iron and Vitamin A as well as a useful amounts of Vitamin B & C.

Varieties

Verte a Carde Blanche Classic French variety with thick white succulent midribs and tasty dark green leaves. Really delicious and my favourite.
Bright Lights A swiss chard with a mix bright colourful stems and a mild, sweet flavour. It will overwinter to provide leaves during milder weather in winter and into spring.
Lucullus A swiss chard with thinner 2-3cm wide pale green to white ribs and light green crinkle edged leaves.
Zilver thick ribbed white ribs and green leaves i found it disappointing (i grew an organic variety from unwins).
Perpetual Spinach A long-standing easy to grow spinach like green, it is actually a slim stalked, smooth leaf swiss chard or leaf beet. It is quite hardy and prolific supplying a “perpetual” harvest of leaves throughout the year. It is much slower to bolt during the hot weather and long days of summer than true spinach. Maturity from fifty days onward.

MDD Growing Log
2004 Bright Lights. Excellent set out early May, produced all year and into following spring.
2005 Bright Lights Sown September direct harvest from April onwards. Lucullus Set out in spring from a late sowing indoors, crop affected by bugs but late summer crop recovered and harvestable autumn. NB ribs are thin on thin on Lucullus and not such a good taste.
2006 Bright Lights Sown September in cells, set out March produced all year. Verte a Carde Blanche March sowing in cells set out May produced all year.
2007 Zilver sown Feb in cells harvest through season and Verte a Carde Blanches own seed sown May produced late season and into following spring.
2008 Perpetual Spinach sown spring produced all year though some frost damage in winter. Crop from previous year in spring. Did not like it as much as thick ribbed chard. My favourite variety of Swiss Chard so far is Verte a Carde Blanche pictured above in April 2008 having grown all through winter producing and early crop in spring when little else is available to eat.
2009 Verte a Carde Blanche cropped right through till following April from a single spring sowing
2010 Verte a Carde Blanche cropped right through till following April from a single spring sowing
2011 Verte a Carde Blanche I won’t be growing any other variety from now on.

Nothing goes to waste in an organic garden. In my garden the soil, which is thin over rock, is full of stones and as I work our patch of  land I take out the stones from soil where I am preparing seeds beds for onions, brassicas and lettuces or to sow crops that don’t like stony ground. Buckets of stones come out of the ground every season and what better use to put them than to make paths.  They suppress weeds and make walking around a lot easier.

I use the larger flatter stones to place around capsicums, when planting out, to help retain the sun’s heat that will radiate back at night and help plants get a good start.

The plant debris and weeds are first cleared and the earth lightly worked to lighten the top soil, incorporating seaweed manure and bonemeal.  For areas that are not to be planted now I cover the soil with leaves, grass cuttings and best of all chopped nettles. This protects the soil and keeps it in great condition ready for sowing later.

The first of the heat loving summer crops are planted directly in the tunnel in mid-March. For the beans I prepare long bean trenches filled with rotted garden compost. Tradition in these parts is to sow the first Haricot of the year on St. Josephs day undercover. This year I sowed a dwarf French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Tendergreen from Thomas Etty and behind that the exotic climbing Long Bean (Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis) also known as snake bean, yard long or asparagus bean a wonderful bean that grows to 60cm or more in length. I’ve grown it every year since I got the tunnel and maintain the seeds.  Also sown direct into the tunnel in mid march are the cucurbits; courgettes, cucumbers and other gourds. I am careful to make sure only one variety from each sub family of the cucrbits and legumes are sown in the tunnel so that I will be able to collect seed without danger of crossing. So this year in the tunnel I sowed Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) Burpless Tasty Green, an unusual Hairy Cucumber (Cucucmis Melo) Bari distinct from a regular cucumber in that it is botanically a melon. Achoca (Cyclanthera pedata) Fat Baby this is a small spiny cucumber like gourd that grows to form a hollow shell which is delicious stuffed. A courgette, (cucurbita pepo) Ronde de Nice a lovely round courgette with dense flesh and a gourd. Later in the year, when it is warm enough, the tomatoes, peppers, chillis and peanuts will be planted out that i’ve grown from seed in the house. Coriander gets sown all year round so another few short rows went in to keep us in supply.

Work in the tunnel this spring was made much easier with the help of Laura Beyney, who is here for a week helping out in the garden and learning about edible veg, plus the odd spot of fishing in the Ardeche.

Polytunnel Planting Plan 2011

A heavy snow storm came in on Sunday 7th March and we were snowed-in for 7 days. I am primed for just such an event and even hope for it in a strange sort of way. Perhaps the war-time mentality of  my ‘black country’ grandma rubbed off on me and I, like her, always have plenty of food in the pantry. But when my wish came true last week our friends Peter and Joanna were having dinner with us and as the  snow started to fall it was too late, no way to go down the 2km track in the snow. So as the snow fell we were happily playing daft games and getting hammered so by the end of the night we had drank all the wine in the house  (7 bottles- ooops).  Sorry guys I will make sure to store up on wine too for next time!

Outside We had to rescue one of our long haired cats who freaked out when she got stuck in the deep snow, and clear paths for the cats and Ralfie, our friends dog, to get about. We also needed to shake snow off the trees, whose branches might snap and dig out the polytunnel as the plastic stretched under the weight. Pretty dramatic really and the biggest snow fall we’ve seen here yet.

Stuck indoors for a few days turned out to be the start of something, as Jo is an Interior designer and Peter a craftsperson they helped us to set about renovating our living room. Great stuff – still a way to go but it is going to look great and be so much more comfortable. Thanks to J&P.

ALLIUMS Alliaceae
ONION Allium cepa
Maincrop Sow after the shortest day of the year S(Dec-Jan) TPFeb PMarch
Succession Sow S 1.Feb-April 2. Mar-May 3.MidAug-MidSept H Aug-Sept/April-June/April-Sept Some vars Sept-April Dates listed for individual vars as per seed source.
Onion Tropea Rossa Lunga (F) S:[July-Sept] or Mar-May H May-Sept new
Onion Rossa Lunga di Firenze (F) S:[July-Sept] or Mar-May H May-Sept new
Onion Blanca de Lisboa S:mid Jan-Feb TP March-April H Aug-Sept
Onion Walla Walla (O) SMar-Apr HMid June-Oct Sweet Salad onion
Onion Giugnese (F) S[July-Sept] or Mar-May H May-Sept
Onion Tonda Musona (F) S[July-Sept] or Mar-May H May-Sept
Onion Blanc Blanc de Paris SAug-Sept HApr-July
Onion De Rebouillon* (O) Bulb SAug-Sept H Apr-July. Scallions S Apr-May H May-July
Onion Japanese Bunching Long White Tokyo SMar-Jun HMay-Oct
Onion Barletta SFeb-April Poly
Onion Rose de Roscoff (SW) P March growing for seed
GARLIC Allium Sativum P Oct-Jan
Garlic Asiatic? Turban (SWPatrick/SS)
LEEK A.porrum
Leek Bleu de Solaise (V) S (Feb-Mar) March-May PJun-Jul HDec-Mar could sow earlier
Leek Musselburgh S(Jan-Feb) March-April HNov-Mar
PERENNIAL ALLIUMS
Welsh Onion Allium fistulosum Commune Rouge (FSM) SFeb-May HApr-Nov Perennial
Tree Onion Allium cepa proliferum Amish (SWPatrick) perennial P autumn
Tree Onion Allium cepa proliferum Egyptian Walking Onion (SWPatrick) perennial P autumn
Garlic Chives (FSM) Allium tuberosum S: Spring or early autumn

BRASSICA Brassicaceae
Brassica Oleracea
Broccoli, Purple Sprouting Botrytis Cymosa Group Rudolph extra early* (O) SMar-May TP H Dec-Jan
Broccoli, Purple Sprouting Botrytis Cymosa Group Late (T&M) SApr-May TPJun-Jul HJan-Feb
Broccoli, Purple Sprouting Botrytis Cymosa Group Early (O) SApr-May TPJun-Jul H Mar
Brussels Sprouts, Gemmifera Group Noisette or Mezzo Nano(O) S(Feb-Mar) PApr-May HOct-Dec
Cabbage, capitata group Savoy Ormskirk* (T) SApr-May TPJun-Jul HNov-Apr
Cabbage, capitata group Golden Acre (SH) SFeb-May HJun-Sept New
Cabbage, capitata group Red Acre (SW Candy) New
Cauliflower Botrytis Group All Year Round S(Jan-Mar)Mar-Jun, Sept-Oct HJun-Oct New
Cauliflower Botrytis Group Italica Romanesco (Un) SApr-May HSep-Oct
Cauliflower Botrytis Group Italica Romanesco Precococe (F) SMay-July TPMay-July H Nov-Jan
Kale Acephala Group Red Russian* (SW Ireland) SJan-Jun TP before mid August HNov-Mar
Kale Acephala Group Cavolo Laciniato* Nero di Toscanna Precoce (F) SMay-Jul TPJun-Aug HOct-Dec New strain
Kale Acephala Group Dwarf Green Curled SMar-May PMay-Jun HSept-Mar New
Kale Acephala Group Asparagus Kale (HSL) SMay TP July-Aug
Kale Acephala Group Georgia Southern Collard (HSL) SMay TP July-Aug
Kale B.O longata? Jersey Walking Stick (O) SApr-May TP June-Jul HNov-Mar New 2010
Collard Greens Acephala Group Vates (SW) SJan-Jun TP before mid August HNov-Mar
Kohlrabi Gongylodes Group Purple Vienna (I) S(Jan-Feb) May-July/ June-Aug HApr-Nov
Chinese Broccoli alboglabra group Kailaan (O) SJune-Aug
Oriental and other brassica Greens and Mustards
S1.[Jan-Feb] 2.May-Aug 3.Sept-Oct 4.[Nov-Jan]
Chinese Cabbage B.rapa var Pekinensis unknown var
Chinese Cabbage B.rapa var Pekinensis Michihli
Chinese Cabbage B.rapa var Pekinensis Wong Bok SJun-Aug HAug-Oct
Pak Choi B.rapa var chinensis (K) unknown var
Pak Choi B.rapa var chinensis Canton Dwarf (SS) 
SSept-Oct [Nov-Jan]
Rosette pak choi B.rapa var rosularis Tatsoi 
(O)
Mizuna B. rapa var nipposinica or japonica 
(SS) SMay-Aug or Sept
Komatsuna B.rapa var perviridis (O-Photo) 2010 SMar-Sept HApril> cut 40days
Oriental Greens Stir Fry Mix (O) SApril-Sept contains White Pak Choi, Chinese Kale Full White, Tatsoi, Kaillan, Choy Sum Yukina and Savoy.
Texsel Greens B.carinata Abyssinian Cabbage/Ethiopean Mustard (T) S(Feb or Oct) SMar-Sept.
Indian Mustard Greens Brassica juncea (O) SJune-Sept HAutumn-spring. 55days

MAIZE Zea Mays
S[April]-May PMay-June HJuly-Sept
Sweetcorn Stowells Evergreen (O-Photo) 2010
Strawberry Popcorn (SW) Corn, Popcorn Zea Mays (SWFrance) S(April)May PMay-June HAug-Oct

CUCURBITS Cucurbitaceae
Sow in pots early mid spring and set out after frost S(March-April) TPMay-June
Armenian Cucumber Cucumis melo var.flexuosus (SW) 2009 Poly
Hairy Cucumber Cucucmis melo Bari (SW/SS)
Cucumber Cucumis sativus Satsuki Madori (SW) new 2010
Cucumber (Gherkin) Cucucmis sativus Fin de Meaux (Tz/SS) Poly
Summer eating
Courgette C. pepo Verte D’Italie (G) 2008,2009
Squash, C.pepo Patty Pan Mixed SMar-May HSep-Oct (Un) new 2010
Squash, C.pepo Yellow Crookneck (SW-Mike@PlanB) new 2010
Squash, C.pepo Delicata (O) aka ‘sweet potato squash’ Trailing habit
Squash C.pepo Table Queen (O)
Winter Storage
Pumpkin C.maxima Queensland Blue (SW-Matron)
Pumpkin C.maxima Marina di Chioggia (F)
Squash, Winter C.moschata Butternut * (SS)
Gourds & Unusual Cucurbits
Snake Gourd? lagenera alargadisima lunghissima de sicilia (SW) new 2010
Ridge Gourd/Luffa* Luffa actangula
Sponge Gourd/Luffa smooth Failed 2009 try again
Bitter Gourd/Karela Momordica Charantia. Failed 2009 try again
Achocha Cyclanthera pedata Fat Baby (SW) Failed 2009 try again
Calebasse Lagenaria siceraria (K) new probably edible but growing for the shell
Bottle Gourd (SW) new probably edible but growing for the shell
Melons
Watermelon Citrullus vulgaris Kleckley’s Sweet (SW)
Watermelon Citrullus vulgaris Cream of Saskatchewan (SW)
Watermelon Citrullus vulgaris Yellow from NZ (SW)
Melon Cucumis melo Zatta (Ugly but Good) (F) S[Feb-Apr] TP/S May-June HJul-Nov

LEAFY GREENS & SALAD
Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) SApr-May and July-Aug.
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) Variegata Di Chioggia (F)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) Rouge de Vérone (V) Radicchio S May-July H Oct-March
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) Rossa di Treviso 2 (F) Radicchio S May-Sept H Sept-Dec upright with long red leaves
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) Sugar Loaf (V) SJun-Aug
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) Witloof (Forcing) SMay-July Lift Oct HNov-Mar
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) Barbe de Capucin (Forcing) (G) SMar-Aug HJun-Mar
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) Catalogna Gigante Chioggia (F) S:Mar-Sept
Corn salad/Mâche (Valerianella locusta) A Grosse Graine S:July-Sept, Aug-Oct H:Sept-March
Corn salad/Mâche (Valerianella locusta) Ronde Maraîchère S:Aug-Oct H:Sept-March
Corn salad/Mâche (Valerianella locusta) Coquille de Louviers S:Mid July-Oct H:Sept-March Spacing 20cm (V)
Endive (Cichorium endiva) Frisée De Meaux S(Feb-Mar)May-July HMay-Aug-Oct
Endive (Cichorium endiva) Frisée Fin de Louviers S(Feb-Mar) May-July H May-July & Aug-Oct
Endive (Cichorium endiva) Scarole Ronde verte à coeur plein SMay-Aug
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
Malabar Spinach (Red) SMay-Jun new
Rocket Cultivated* (Eruca Sativa M.) SMar-Oct H:All year
Rocket, Wild (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) SMar-Sept
Chrysanthemum Greens (Chrysanthemum coronarium) S(Feb-March&Sept) & May-Aug
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) Géant d’Hiver * S Aug-Oct (Oct-Nov-Feb) H Oct-April
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) Bloomsdale Longstanding (HSL) (39days) new
Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris var.cicla) Verte a Carde Blanche* (G)(Feb-March) April-June + September

LETTUCE Lactuca sativa
Sow Spring (Dec-Feb), Summer (March-May), Autumn (June-Aug), Winter (Sept-Nov)
May King (Crisphead) winter/spring (O-Photo) 2010
Winter Density (Cos) Winter/spring S:Aug-Sept
Brune D’Hiver Butterhead Winter/Spring
Rouge D’Hiver Romaine Winter/Spring
Rougette de Montpellier butterhead Winter/spring
Valdor (Butterhead) Winter undercover/spring S:Sept-Oct
Corsair (Cos) spring/summer
Sherwood (Cos) spring/summer
Regina dei Ghiacci* (Iceberg) spring/summer
Paris Island Cos (Cos) spring/summer
Sucrine (Romaine) summer
Little Gem (Semi-Cos) summer
Craquerelle du Midi (batavia) summer
Laura (Batavia) summer/autumn
Rouge Grenobloise* (Batavian) autumn/winter lettuce, good in cold and shade.
Verde D’Inverno (Cos) Autumn/Winter/spring S:(Feb-April) July-Oct H Autumn / winter
Gloire de Dauphiné (Batavia) Autumn/Winter/spring S May-July /Sept-Oct New
Greek Maroulli (Cos) (63days) (HSL) 2010
Soulie (butterhead) Heirloom ?
Red Leprechaun (Romaine) autumn ?
Green Salad Bowl, (Loose-leaf) all year S:March-Sept
Red Salad Bowl (Loose-leaf) all year S:March-Sept
Lollo Rosso (Loose-leaf) all year S:March-Sept
Bronze Arrow (looseleaf) all year (HSL) 2010
Sword Lettuce (Lactuca longifolia) Yu Mai Tsai Leaf (SWCandy)

LEGUMES Leguminosae (Fabaceae)
Haricot or Common Bean Phaseolus vulgaris
Sow Direct (March) April-Mid Aug H June-Oct
Haricot (Bush) Fin de Bagnols green filet
Haricot (Bush) Maxidor *(SS) yellow beurre bean
Haricot (Bush) Roi des Beurres / Kinghorn yellow beurre bean S:Mid July
Haricot (Bush) Black Turtle (SW) new 2010
Haricot (Pole) Mountaineers (HSL) White Half Runner new 2010
Haricot (Pole) Blue Queen (HSL) 15-20cm long purple pods new 2010
Haricot (Pole) Supermarconi (F) flat podded green new 2010
Haricot (Pole) Rattlesnake (SW-Mike@PlanB) new 2010
Haricot (Bush) Black Turtle (SWFrance) new 2010
Haricot (Pole) True Red Cranberry (shelling) (SW) new 2010
Pea Pisum sativum
Annual cool season crop Sow round seeded 15 Feb-15 April & End July H May-June & Oct in mild areas S Sept-Nov H March-April wrinkle peas
Pea Duke of Albany Maincrop, Tall
Pea Alderman Maincrop, Tall wrinkled S March 100days
Pea Epicure (HSL) Tall-2-3m new 2010
Pea Mangetout Pisum sativum macrocarpon
Pea (snap) Sugar Anne (O) dwarf S April
Pea (snap) Sugar Snap (O) dwarf S April
Pea (snow) Norli (DO) Tall
Pea (snow) Carouby de Maussane (G) Tall SFeb-April new 2010
Other Legumes
Bean, Broad Vicia Faba. Aquadulce (V) S Oct-Nov H April-May early var
Bean, Runner Phaseolus coccineus Scarlet Emperor (SS) perennial Early
Bean, Long Green Vigna sesquipedalis (F/SS) Undercover (March-April)
Bean, Long Red Vigna sesquipedalis (F/SS) Undercover (March-April)
Bean, Soya Glycine max Fiskeby (SW) new 2010
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) new 2010
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) S[Feb-Mar] TP May H Sept 2009

OKRA Abelmoschus esculentus
Sow in Heat early/mid-spring March-April Transplant after last frost
Okra Texas (SW)

ROOTS
PARSNIP Pastinaca sativa S March-April
Parsnip Demi-Long de Guernsey (C) SFeb-May H Sept-April
CARROT Daucus carota
S (Jan-Feb & Nov) S March-July main crop carrot.
Carrot Gigante Flakkée (F) SMarch-July late
Carrot John’s Purple (HSL)
Carrot Red Elephant (HSL)
Carrot Rainbow Mix (O)
Carrot Amsterdam Forcing (O) S(Feb)
BEETROOT Beta vulgaris
I (Oct-Nov) II March-April, III May-June, IV July-Aug
Beetroot Boltardy* (O) early/main crop S:March (S: Nov in polytunnel).
Beetroot di Chioggia (SW) SApr-July Old Italian salad beetroot.
Beetroot Cylindra (W) SApr-July HJuly-Oct
Beetroot Golden Detroit (O) SApr-June HAug-Nov
RADISH Raphanus Sativus
Daikon SJuly-Aug (SW-Kate) Harvest 10-12 wks failed 2009
Daikon Mooli Minowase Nr2 SMay-Aug or July onwards HAug-Nov
Radish Giant Luo Buo (SWCandy) S Late summer early autumn ready 75 days.
Radish French Breakfast (V) S Jan-Feb
Radish Pink Beauty (O-Photo) 2010 SFeb-Sept HMay-Oct
Radish White Icicle (SWCandy) a daikon type radish
TURNIP Brassica rapa var. rapa
Turnip, Rave D’Auvergne Sow late summer / autumn for winter
FENNEL Foeniculum vulgare
Sow after midsummer for autumn & winter crop.(November in polytunnel for spring crop).
Fennel de Parma Sel Prado (F)
Fennel (SW) unknown var
SALSIFY Tragopogon porrifolius
Salsify Mammouth a fleur Rose SMar-June HOct-Apr

SOLANUM
AUBERGINES Solanum Melongena
Annual prefers Hot & Humid conditions S Jan-Mar in heat and plant out after last frost.
*Szechuan (HSL/SS)
*White Egg (SS)
Thai Long Green (SW)
Thai Round white / green (SW)
Black Beauty (SW)

PHYSALIS Solanaceae
Sow undercover 6-8 weeks before last frost, can take up to 3 weeks to germinate, plant out mid spring – early summer or sow direct. S: Mar-April P or S direct May
Physalis (Physalis Peruviana) Coqueret de Perou Height 70-100m (FSM) 2009

CAPSICUMS
Perennial prefers Hot conditions S (Nov) plant out undercover March-April or Sow Jan-Mar in heat
PEPPERS C.Annuum
S Jan-Mar in heat or Aug-Nov for indoors
Doux D’Espagne/ Spanish Mammoth (SS)* Outstanding sweet pepper
Californian Wonder Orange (SS)*
Yellow Cornos (SW/SS) Yellow tapered
Giallo D’Asti Yellow (F) new
Topepo Rosso (F/SS) Red Round tomato shaped pepper.
Cecei (Sweet White pepper) (SWNóra) Hungary new 2010
Kocsolai (Sweet red pepper) (SWNóra) Hungary new 2010
PEPPERS, Chilli
Aci Sivri* (SW) Turkey
Alma Paprika (SWCandy) Heat Level 1 new 2010
Cayenne* (SS) Guyana
Chile De Arbol*  (SW)
Cyklon  mildly hot Poland new 2010
De Bresse  (O) Medium Hot France new 2010
D’Espelette (SS) Heat 3-4/10 French Basque
Exploding Ember  (SW/SS)
Fish Pepper (SW) Heat 10/10
Guajillo (SWCandy) Mexico Heat Level 5-6/10 new 2010
Guindilla*  (MS) Heat 3-4/10 Spain
Grandpa’s Home Pepper  (SS) Siberia
India Goat Horn  (SW) not true but like what I got so breed this one
Istanbul (SS)
Jalapeño, Conchos  (SW/SS) Heat 4/10
Jalapeño, Early  (O) Medium Hot
Jalapeño, (SW)
Kashmiri I 2009  (MS)
Kashmiri II 2009  (MS)
Kalocsai (Hot paprika?)  (SWNóra) Hungary new 2010
Oriental Red  (MS) medium
Pasilla (k) Mexico Heat 1/10
Pasilla Bajio (SS)
Pepperoncini (K) & Golden Greek Pepperoncini  (SS)?
Pimientos de Padrón  Med+Hot Spain
Santaka  Japan Heat 8/10 (SW)
Satan’s Kiss(F/SS) Italy Heat 1/10
Szegedi (Hot paprika) (SWNóra) Hungary new 2010
Thai Red  (MS/SS) Heat Level 8-9
Tepin or Chiletepin C.Annuum var. glabriusculum Heat 8/10 Mexico
~ C.Baccatum
Aji Amarillo  (MS) Peru Heat 7-8/10
Lemon Drop* Heat 8/10
~ C.Chinense
Habanero, Peach C.Chinense Hot
Habanero, Red (MS) C.Chinense Hot
Trinidad Seasoning C.Chinense Mild (SW)
~ C.Pubescens
Rocoto Red Peru.
Rotoco, Alberto
~ C.Frutescens
Tabasco  Louisianna Heat 8/10 Poly

TOMATOES Lycopersicon esculentum
Sow in Heat early/mid-spring March-April or Direct May Transplant after last frost
Tomato Zapotec (SW Candy) Large pink-red fluted tomato. Mexican heirloom
Tomato Ceylon (SWCandy) mini-beefsteak heirloom tomato
Tomato Auntie Madge’s (HSL) small red plum tomato new 2010
Tomato Greek (HSL)
Tomato Double Rich* (K)(SS) red beefsteak
Tomato Cuostralee* (K)(SS) red beefsteak
Tomato Ananas / Pineapple yellow/red beefsteak
Tomato Caro Rich* (K/SS) orange
Tomato Reine D’Or (SS) yellow
Tomato White Beauty (O) White new 2010
Tomato Emerald Evergreen green beefsteak.
Tomato Andean Purple (SWCorsane) collected growing wild in the Andean foothills new 2010
Tomato Eva’s Purple Ball (SW/SS) pink/purple
Tomato Noir De Crimée *(V/SS)black
Tomato Green Zebra (HSL/SS) small vine yellow/green stripe
Tomato Peacevine or Gardeners Delight(HSL/SS) red cherry
Tomato Miel du Mexique (SS) large red cherry
Tomato Roma V.F. determinate paste
Tomato San Marzano2* paste
Tomato Cornu des Andes* paste

GRAINS
Quinoa, Temuco (HSL) S [April] TP May
Quinoa, Rainbow (HSL) S [April] TP May

PERENNIALS
Asparagus Asparagus officinalis*  P spring
Sunchoke /Jerusalem Artichoke Helianthus tuberosus. Asteraceae P March H Nov-March
Cardoon Cynara cardunculus.Asteraceae Plein Blanc Enerme S (March-April)-May H Sept-Dec
Rhubarb Rheum undulatum S July-Sept P Oct-Dec Harvest the following year.

FUNGHI
I have not grown mushrooms before so this will be a big learning curve. The aim of adding mushrooms to our edible garden is to cut down the amount of animal protein we eat and to broaden our year-round harvest. I am also fascinated to learn more about mushrooms after hearing Paul Stamets talk on mushrooms.
Tree Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus Ostreatus . Habitat broadleaf hardwoods in spring and autumn.
Incubate mycelium on wood indoors in warm humid conditions ( 25c for 4-8weeks, humidity 85-95%) no light necessary. Formation bring outdoors to a light place 12-15c for 30 days, humidity 95-100% Fruiting 10-21c, humidity 85-95%) Stamets says Oyster are the easiest mushrooms to grow so I will star there.

HERBS/span>
Mexican Tarragon (sweet mace)(SW Candy) Hardy Annual/Tender Perennial.
Summer Savory (SW Candy)
Mammoth Dill (SW Candy)
Mitsuba Japanese parsley (Honewort) (Cryptotaenia japonica) A hardy perennial woodland plant Sow late spring and early autumn (SWNóra)
Perilla/shiso (Perilla frutescens) Red
Perilla/shiso (Perilla frutescens) Korean large leaved green (SWCandy)
Basils: Genovese, Lime, Purple, Thai
Parsley Giant Italian Flatleaf
Alongside plenty of perennial herbs Rosemary, thyme, oregano, bay, tarragon, sage, mint etc.

KEY Those marked with a * are my favourite varieties ones I will always grow because they produce well and are valued in my kitchen.
S Sow TP Transplant P Plant H Harvest
Seed Source Code (SS) self saved (SW)Seed Swap (K) Kokopelli (HSL) Heritage Seed Library (F) Franchi Seeds (V)Vilmorin (DO) Duchy Originals (O) Organic Seed Catalogue (T) Tuckers Seeds (RS) Real Seeds (N) Nicky’s Seeds (PC) Potager d’un Curieux (Eden) The Eden Project (LeP) Le Paysan (Tz) Tezier (C) Caillard(AH) Amish Heirloom Seeds (Mar) saved from a market fruit