Frøsamlerne (Danish seed savers) exchange list 2011
Again this year the list is long and interesting: Danish Seed Savers exchange list
See eg. the exciting Caucasian Spinach (Hablitzia tamnoides), originating from the Caucasus, and with history of cultivation in Scandinavia, mostly in manor gardens.
In my garden I have a few frozen pots with seedlings of Caucasian Spinach, from the seeds I got last year from a seed savers. When spring comes, I’ll transplant them near a tree or shrub in the shade, where it may otherwise be difficult to grow vegetables.
On facebook, there is now a Group, Friends of Hablitzia tamnoides, the Caucasian Spinach
The old Danish Prinsesse bean
Prinsesse bean is a classic on the exchange list. It’s live Danish heritage, preserved by a vegetarian family for generations. 100 years ago it was a well-known cultivar, mentioned in gardening books as the earliest bean to grow. Now used mostly as dry bean, and then it’s a lovely name!
It is also spelled with c: Princesse
Do I need to translate the name: Princess it is in queens English :-)
February 18, 2011 at 14:00
That’s quite an impressive list!
How many members does Frøsamlerne have now?
February 18, 2011 at 15:58
Last spring we passed 300 members, could be something like 350 now, and almost 50 members are listing seeds. We are changing our culture to absorb all these wonderful people :-), also many more members are offering seeds. We are also increasing the activities, more introduction days about seed saving basics, more high level workshops/courses, like the one testing pea DNA, doing excursions in summertime, show up at markets and festivals and enjoying our garlic competition. Having a lot of seriously interesting fun:-)
May 3, 2011 at 09:22
Very interesting experiencie, it will be great to be there.
December 26, 2011 at 18:32
Hello !
I’m from the U.S. and am also a member of Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa. One time we had a member from Danmark who listed a bean called “Poletschka”. I would like to find someone willing to send me this bean or be willing to trade a few seeds for some beans that I have. I would very much like to grow this “Poletschka” and offer it to other members of Seed Savers Exchange.
December 26, 2011 at 21:15
Hello Russell Crow.
I shall try to find someone with the bean, willing to share it with you.
Søren.
December 27, 2011 at 01:05
That would be wonderful. I also have some beans here I can share. I think the Poletshka is a round black seed Yes ? It is a beautiful looking variety.
April 30, 2012 at 13:58
I would just like say that the F1 or F2 from your Prinsesse bean is just uncommonly beautiful. We had a bean collector here in the U.S. during the 1970’s and ’80’s by the name of John Withee. He had a bean growing network called Wanigan Associates. I believe John Withee knew a Professor Meader a bean breeder at the University of New Hampshire. I read in a magazine article where John Withee stated that if your bean hybrid stayed true to type for at least 3 growing seasons you could consider it a new variety and could give it a name. I believe he probably got that information from his bean breeder friend Professor Meader. Anyway if your new bean from Prinsesse holds true you should perhaps name it. Maybe name it after the person who discovered it. Maybe name it after the town or county where it was discovered. Perhaps a name because it reminds you of something. Not this year, but in 2013 I would very much like to get a small sample of your new hybrid bean. This year I have plenty enough beans to keep me very busy. Also I would like to obtian your Mapie next year in 2013. After the new year begins sometime. We have a bean here in the U.S. that goes by the name of Mapie but it doesn’t look like yours. It looks like the bean that Sutton Company released here in about 1909 called Superlative.
April 30, 2012 at 21:25
I’m a fan of Professor Meader!
I guess Mapie=Magpie. Our seeds of Magpie came from SeedAmbassadors in Oregon, they visited us in Denmark some years ago. Great young people – made a lasting impression.
My Prinsesse cross I mistreat consciously, growing them shaded by neighboring vegetables. I hope to select for more tolerance, so they will grow with more ease in the beginners gardens. I’m honestly surprised how much they have stood up to.
Please remind me, and I can send you seeds next year.
My garden is small, I have not grown out Magpie for some years, and will not find room for them this year either, but seeds store many years when dry :-)