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196 Pages of History. Contains all the monthly growing guides from 1945
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With each copy at £12.99 including free delivery by Royal Mail you will get the following absolutely free:
- 2 Replica Wartime Growing Leaflets
- A Wartime Seeds Collection
2 Replica Growing Guides from 1945
The original guides were printed on thin, matt paper but these replicas are on better quality, gloss paper and printed on both sides in colour. They provide the planting plans and rotation schedules specified by the Ministry of Agriculture.
With each copy of the book, I’m including a replica copy of Grow for Winter as well as Summer – number 1 in the New Series from 1945. This was designed for a full size 10 rod plot. I have increased the guide size slightly so it fits onto folded A4 paper.
Making the Most of a Small Plot, Dig for Victory leaflet number 23. This was produced as not everyone had or could cope with a full sized plot. Printed on A5 paper, slightly larger than the original guide.
Wartime Seeds Collection worth £9.03
Wartime Varieties – Free Seeds
I’ve worked with Suttons Seeds to put together a collection of seeds that would, subject to supply and enemy action, have been available during the war. They’ve all stood the test of time and are deservedly popular today.
Please Note: you’re most unlikely to use all the seeds in a single year, open and re-seal packets carefully. Tip: fold the top a few times and use a paper clip to hold them closed. Store in a cool, dry place and they should germinate well the following year and possibly even the year after that.
Lettuce Little Gem
This was introduced in 1880 and described on the packet by Suttons in 1938 as “A distinct and most valuable cos lettuce. Dwarf and compact in growth and a beautiful colour. The solid hearts, which stand for a considerable time before running to seed, are highly esteemed by those who prefer a small, crisp lettuce.”
It’s easy to grow and ideal for successional sowing to provide for the table from early May to late October. Little Gem holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit. – 900 seeds, £1.75
Cauliflower All The Year Round
Introduced in 1933 this cauliflower was becoming popular when the war started. Although modern hybrid varieties may perform better, All The Year Round is both reliable and fairly easy to grow which is why it is still very popular today.
All The Year Round is a small, but not miniature, variety and usually planted a little more closely than its larger cousins. However, arguably it’s best feature is that it can put a cauliflower in the pot on most days of the year with successional sowing under glass in the coldest months. – 200 seeds, £1.75
Leek Musselburgh
This is a variety that’s been around for over 200 years and is still a firm favourite of many, including myself. Grown well it produces thick, white stems with an excellent flavour. It will stand through the harshest winter and fresh leeks can be on the table from as early as mid-October right through to mid-March.
Leeks perform well in most soils as long as nutrients are available. For those with clay soils, be aware that the network of small feeding roots produced by leeks will break up the soil around the plant and degrade to valuable humus after harvest. – 350 seeds, £1.99
Carrot Autumn King
After 120 years, another variety that has stood the test of time. A heavy cropper producing standard carrots in 10 to 12 weeks that will store well.
Our secret weapon as the vitamin A in carrots improves eyesight. This enables our night-fighters to bring down enemy bombers in the dark.
Well that was the cover story at the time! – 1100 seeds, £1.99
Cabbage Greyhound
The earliest references I can find to Greyhound are from just after the war (1948) but it was obviously an established standard summer variety then. Fast growing, approximately 10 weeks to maturity in good weather. Sown successionally from February through July to provide fresh for the table from June to November.
Greyhound produces compact cylindrical heads, ideal for the modern household. It doesn’t require large spacings. In good, well manured deep soil plant just 12 ins. apart although 16 ins. is best normally. – 350 seeds, £1.55
