Response was enthusiastic about the posts on “The Lost Victory Garden Seed List of 1943.” Mike Nowak and I talked about it on his show in March which you can listen to HERE. And it has come up in Q&A sessions during my “Chicago Victory Gardens: Yesterday and Tomorrow” lectures again and again.

Researching, writing and talking about the “lost list” got me wondering about what those vegetables grown almost 70 years ago might have tasted like and how they might be different (better? worse? same?) than the varieties we grow today.

As a quick refresher, the list I found had 13 vegetable types it recommended with 31 varieties total. Of the 31 varieties, I found 21 available via online sources. That’s about 67% of the list. Not a bad number. However, the caveat is that they weren’t readily available. Most had only one seed company selling them. Two at the most. So while they did survive they certainly aren’t thriving…

To do my part to support seed diversity – and because I was curious as to what these vintage vegetables tasted like – I decided to an experiment in The Yarden this year and grow some of these old varieties. Since my seed list for 2010 is already quite large – you can check it out HERE – I couldn’t grow all 21 available varieties. But the decision process was easy – from the 14 seed companies that carried one or more of the “lost” veggies, Victory Seeds had the biggest selection so I just got whatever they had that was also on the list.

This is a very special seed company (plus they’re based in my home state of Oregon so that makes them extra cool). The flyer that came with my seeds said this:

“We consider you to be our gardening friend and partner in the work of protecting old seed varieties from becoming extinct By choosing to garden with these seeds, you are helping to continue their history. By choosing the Victory Seed Company as your supplier, you are directly supporting our seed preservation work. Seed sales allow us to search out rare and treatened varieties, multiply them out, and get them back into the hands of conscientious gardeners like you.”

My vintage veggie choices are as follows (with the descriptions from Victory Seeds):

• Onion “White Lisbon” – The smooth stalks have a very mild flavor. One of the most popular bunching varieties. Will not form bulbs in most areas.”
• Pea “Laxton Progress No. 9″ - Named after the famous 19th century plant breeder, Thomas Laxton. An improved variety of “Laxton’s Progress” and a leading home garden pea. Eighteen to twenty four inch plants, six to nine tasty, sweet, large peas per pod. Seeds are wrinkled.
• Pea “Little Marvel” – It was released by Sutton & Sons of Reading, England in 1900 and as first sold in te US by James J.H. Gregory in 1908. Sutton stated that te parentage was “Chelsea Gem” and “Suttons A-1″
• Radish “Early Scarlet Globe” – A very early variety with bright red skin and white flesh. This variety also does well in frames and greenhouses for forcing.”
• Swiss Chard “Lucullus” – This is the most popular variety. Named after the Roman general of the same name. Heavily crumpled with wide, broad white ribs about 10″ tall. Tolerates hot weather and grows until first frost. Heavy producing plant with good flavor.
• Spinach “New Zealand” – It is a very old heirloom said to have been brought to England by Captain Cook’s expedition. It has been grown in North America since Colonial times. NOTE: New Zealand spinach isn’t a true spinach. Learn more about this plant and see what it looks like click HERE.
• Tomato “Marglobe” – Its earthiness faors the adoption in canning regions of the Northern States where frosts and short seasons are common.
• Tomato “Rutgers” – Originally introduced in 1934. Good for slicing and cooking.

There you have it – history (hopefully) growing this season in The Yarden. I’m looking forward to seeing (and tasting) how things turn out.

And, in the spirit of full disclosure, I also got some non-1943 list items from Victory Seeds as well – a celeriac called “Giant Prague” and a currant-like tomato called Coyote (I’m crazy about the currant tomatoes…)

To order from Victory Seeds you can click HERE to view their catalog or send them an email at info@victoryseeds.com

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