Seed List
Brown Bath Cos
This is one of the oldest of the cos lettuces and considered one of the hardiest of its type, suitable for summer or autumn sowing. It is exceedingly crisp and well flavoured. The leaves are large, broad and scooped around the margins. When exposed to sunlight these become a brownish-bronze, hence the name.
Burpee's Iceberg
Originally bred by W Atlee Burpee Company, USA, and introduced in 1884. Our donor found seeds in an allotment shed in the 1990s, left behind by a previous tenant who had grown them for 30 years. Described by Burpee as having “medium-sized compact heads with heavily ruffled leaves and crisp, tender hearts.” A classic, crisphead lettuce, thinnings make delicious extra-early salads. 85 days from seed to harvest (approx.)
Greek Maroulli Cos
A compact cos lettuce with beautiful, tasty, large-bladed leaves, lovely when added to a mixed salad. Their size makes them perfect for window boxes or containers.
Liller
A huge, cabbage-headed lettuce that can weigh anything up to 500g. The unusual pink tinge on leaf margins is temperature-dependent, apparent on planting out the young plants in the spring but disappearing as they start to mature. Leaves are large, full and smooth, ideal for adding to a sandwich.
Northern Queen
Our donor found these seeds among her father's gardening clutter. Originally sold by Finneys, a Northumberland seed merchant with nurseries and trial grounds in Newcastle. Finneys closed during the 1950s when this was its most popular outdoor variety. It is a large butterhead lettuce with soft, mild-flavoured leaves. Prefers a cooler climate; our donor suggests a September sowing, as it will overwinter with protection.
Soulie
Our donor's sister acquired seeds of this variety from Luc Soulie of Tarn in the South of France. This lettuce has been, and still is, saved by generations of the Soulie family. A cos lettuce, upright with red-tinged, fairly loose leaves. Surprisingly crisp with a pleasant sweet flavour.
Stoke
Originally from Stoke, near Rochester in Kent, where the Cheesman family had grown it for 170 years, but this variety probably dates back to before 1840. A compact and trouble-free lettuce, perfect for growing in limited space or in containers. The dark green leaves are crunchy, flavoursome and slightly sweet. Sow to harvest 70 days (approx.)
White Seeded Samara
An attractive, bright apple-green, loose-leaf lettuce that produces white seeds, hence the name. The large, soft leaves have excellent flavour and it works very well as a 'cut-and-come-again' variety. Also does well under glass, but is also cold-hardy.
Cantalun
Originally from the Vilmorin Seed House, this Charentais type melon produces round fruits, approximately 12-15cm in diameter and just under 1kg in weight. The orange flesh is sweet and juicy; one member was so keen to praise it that she contacted us immediately after sharing it with a friend, describing it as, “utterly delicious, the nicest melon we have ever eaten.”
Collective Farm Woman
This Ukrainian heirloom variety produces tasty fruits which, when mature, have orange skin and very sweet, whitish-yellow, crunchy flesh. Most will be 500-600g in weight, occasionally achieving 1kg in optimum conditions. This variety is well adapted to Northern latitudes and reputed to ripen well, even in Moscow!