NZ: Grower spreads tasty World War II tomato seeds
Society secretary Jenni Young said Peattie, who lives in Temuka, distributed the seeds, to the delight of tomato growers. "In the spring we put out the seeds and they are freely available. I believe that sharing of old varieties is one of the things that will burgeon."
Young believes that saving the seeds of plants people like is all part and parcel of gardening.
Peattie acquired the seeds more than 20 years ago and since then they have provided him with a healthy, disease free crop. "Alf Clark brought the seeds home with him after he came back from Italy in World War II and I got the seeds from his son. Now I have got them up to eight feet high." They are quite a large tomato variety and they taste good, Peattie said.
"I have entered some for the weekend show (Horticultural Society's Autumn Show). And I have also got 80 to 100 different chrysanthemum blooms for the public to enjoy."
As someone who grew tomatoes from the World War II seeds, Young enjoyed growing them as they yielded amazing results. "I like growing utilitarian food and the tomatoes seeds are great to get around spring time," Young said.
Avid gardeners can rejoice in this autumn collection of plants by attending the Horticultural Society's Autumn Show of the current growing and showing season.
The show features chrysanthemums as the prime show flower, together with other seasonal flowers, container plants, bonsai, floral art and superb fruit and vegetables. Novice exhibitors are encouraged to enter with help in staging exhibits available at the venue on Saturday prior to judging which starts at 11am.
The show will take place at the Caroline Bay Hall on Saturday at 2pm and on Sunday at 4.30pm.
Source: stuff.co.nz
