Seed Swap/Exchange, anyone?

I'd be interested. I only started saving heirloom tomato seeds last year and I haven't yet grown any of the ones I saved, so I'm not sure how good a job I did. I'll let you know in April. In the meantime, if you want to bet that some of them will sprout I've got several varieties:

Mortgage Lifter (pink beefsteak)
Black Krim (med. purple-black)
Green Zebra (striped green/dark green)
Yellow Pear (yellow pear-shaped cherry tomato)
Green Grape (green cherry tomato)
Black Cherry (just like it says)
Mini Orange (small orange tomato)
Dr. Carolyn's (yellow cherry tomato)
Black Prince (small to med. purple-black)
White Wonder (med. white)

Tomatofest has pictures of several of them.
I also can't guarantee that these tomatoes didn't cross with other varieties in my garden, though I did try to take the seeds from the best tomatoes. Some of them are from my local farmer's market, too. I've got limited quantities but I'll do my best if people are interested.

Anhata, the red raspberries sound interesting. Also the elephant garlic--what does it taste like? Any different from regular garlic?

I used to seed swap, years ago, with one of the British Homemakers who doesn't post here anymore. Unfortunately we don't have a garden here, so I can't offer to exchange this year. Fingers crossed, next year will be different.

Zillah

are good in salsa? Do your beefsteaks do well in salsa recipes? I've discovered that I don't care for the yellow tomato varities so much, but I love the orange cherry tomatoes. There was a really great tomato that was growing in the garden when we moved in, I can't remember what it was called. I forgot to write it down and didn't save the seeds. It had a funky shape, was fairly large, and was almost all flesh, hardly any seeds. It was probably an heirloom variety. I can only remember right now that I think it had an italian name, like Pisa Tomato or something like that. It's driving me nuts.

Also, I need to add to my list of available seeds for swapping:

*Morning Glory, mixed colors.

I brought them with me from Missouri but discovered that they grow TOO well here, they're almost considered an obnoxious weed. Since they produce loads of seeds and grow taller every time it rains, they can take over a yard in no time in the Pacific NW. I'm afraid to plant them. Doesn't rain enough in MO for them to be a threat, apparently.

Sparrow, would you like me to set aside some rasberry seeds and some elephant garlic for you this year? I'd be able to send you the seeds around the end of July and garlic not too long after. I think it's too late to plant the garlic now, in most areas. Can you refresh my memory with your general whereabouts?

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally

Hmm, salsa. I didn't actually make salsa with my tomatoes, so I'm not really sure. The Mortgage Lifter had great flavor but didn't keep well--same with the Black Krim. They're a bit on the soft side. They were great on sandwiches and burgers and in salads, though, and the Black Krim did well in sauces. Green Zebra was terrific all around--looked wild, tasted great, and kept decently on my counter. I suspect it would probably be good in salsa, but your salsa would be green! Or partly green. Most of the others were from the local farmer's market and I haven't tried growing them yet. I'm definitely going to try the Mini Orange and Dr. Carolyn's this year, though. Mini Orange might work in salsa, too, but I only had a couple of those from the farmer's market. Dr. Carolyn's (or Caroline's?) were amazingly sweet and good-tasting yellow cherry tomatoes. They might even beat out my Sweet 100s, we'll see.

I'm not sure what your garden tomato might have been. Have you tried looking on websites for heirloom tomatoes? You might see it pictured.

I'm in northern Virginia, near DC. I think I might like to try the raspberries, but maybe not the elephant garlic. I just don't think I'd use it much. Morning glories would be nice, too--I had a wild bluish-purple plant that took up residence by my front porch two years ago and climbed up the supports by the front door. We saved some seed and grew it again last year deliberately. It'd be nice to have some different colors. Thanks!

Unfortunately, I don't have many seeds, but I do have mixed poppies, and mixed cosmos. For veggies, I have many “Amish Pie” Pumpkin seeds from pumpkins that were very fleshy. Also, anyone in the Seattle area who wants strawberry plants or small yuccas, I am willing to trade. I don't use pesticides, and I fertilize w/ "Alaska" fish fertilizer, a ground cover of clover, and rabbit manure (from my own precious community of, at last count, 8. Want one, or two, more???)

Anhata, I would love to try the rose, although, some roses do better from cuttings. And, against better judgment, I'd like morning glory seeds. Maybe I can keep them contained.

Though really, anyone want a rabbit? LOL

After doing a bit of research, I'm pretty sure that my rose bush is not a "rugosa." The flowers look more like a little cabbage rose than the five petal flower associated with rugosa. So I have no idea whether they'll have hips high in vitamin C or not. If you're still willing to try to plant them, let me know. Before you decide, read these tips on how to plant roses from seed. If that seems like more work than you want to deal with, I totally understand!!!

[edited to add: I've also been reading that the rose seeds should not dry out, so I think I'd have to mail you the hips and you'd extract the seeds yourself?]

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally