Comparing old and new vegetable varieties

I planted the tomato seeds a few days ago in carefully controlled numbers (so I wouldn’t end up with too many and nowhere to put them). Days later two new packets of seed dropped through the letterbox. And would you believe it - they are yellow. I spent last year complaining that the yellow varieties I grew were fairly tasteless. Let’s hope for the best.

Why have I got these seeds? Well last year the Digger grew chickpeas for a Members experiment for Garden Organic. Five measly peas he got for all his efforts. Then he missed the deadline for sending in the results. In the face of such failure he didn’t apply to do any experiments in 2008. Garden Organic thought otherwise, so he has been sent the seeds for a “Comparing old and new varieties of vegetables” experiment. Sensing that I may be more organised he has passed the seeds onto me.

I have two varieties of tomatoes and lettuce to compare, one a modern variety and one old. They are:

• Tomato - ‘Yellow Submarine’ (new) and ‘Yellow Queen’ (old)
• Lettuce - ‘Rubens’ (new) and ‘Brown Goldring’ (old)

Basically you record how you grow them and how they performed and what they tasted like. Should be interesting if I can keep the records up to date and avoid pests and diseases decimating the crops.

I like to illustrate my posts but as the seeds have not sprouted and no one took pictures of last year’s chickpeas you will have to make do with this. Not one of my best as it was taken in the kitchen and the light wasn’t very bright.