Why are growing numbers of people choosing to buy seeds from Irish Seed Savers?

The ethos here at Irish Seed Savers Association, is to conserve and distribute wonderful rare and heritage varieties, as well as to encourage the skills of saving your own seed and empowering people to do this in their own gardens, small holdings or farms.

All of our seeds are grown and saved in Ireland and are Open Pollinated which allows you to save your own seeds from them, keeping the variety true to type. By choosing Irish Seed Savers Open Pollinated Seeds you contribute to keeping food security in your own hands and Irish agricultural biodiversity alive and vibrant.

Download 2024 Heirloom Seed Catalogue

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Malselvnepe Turnip

€3.50

This Norwegian landrace is a hardy variety, well suited to growing in northern climates. The squat, medium-sized turnips are pale yellow in colour, and have an excellent flavour. Good for cooking as well as eating raw if you enjoy the strong flavour! Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 450

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Haskoy Cucumber

€3.50

This unusual variety comes from a village in the Pontic mountains of Turkey. The cucumbers are perfect for salads or pickling. Approximately 10cm long, and green with slight white striping. Compact plants, not as tall or sprawling as other varieties. Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 16

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Painted Mountain Corn

€3.50

This variety carries a wide range of genetic diversity, thus adapting well to different climates and soils. The cobs are multicoloured with reds, yellows, creams, browns and purples to delight the senses. The corn can be eaten young and fresh as cobs or used to grind corn meal when mature. Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 26

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Great Mullein

€3.75 (€3.75 incl VAT)

An imposing and statuesque native plant (up to 2 meters in height). In its 1st year, it produces large velvety basal leaves. In the second year, we are treated to a stunning single spike full of beautiful, small yellow flowers. In times gone by the leaves were dried, rolled and smoked and the seedheads were dipped in wax and used as candles, hence it's Irish Name Coinnle Muire (Mary's Candle). Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 100

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Ellen’s Swede

€3.50

This is a rare old landrace variety, maintained by a family in the mountains of the Swabian Alb Region in Germany. This swede produces a lovely, uniform, very sweet, medium-sized root. Good resistance to boron deficiency. Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 450

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Rouge de Huy Onion

€3.50

A dark red bulb, round and slightly flat in shape. Vigorous and hardy. Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 200

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Land Cress

€3.50

Also known as American cress, these dark green leaves have a spicy flavour like water cress, but the plants are much easier to grow. Compact plants form attractive lobed leaves in rosettes. They thrive in the summer and autumn, but will also happily carry on throughout winter due to their cold tolerance. It’s surprising this delicious, peppery plant isn’t grown more widely! Average Seeds Per Pack: 1400

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Echinacea

€3.75 (€3.75 incl VAT)

Perfect for cottage-style gardens or herbaceous borders. Also known as purple coneflower. A member of the Daisy family, the large pink/purple petals surround a deep brown cone and are stunning in drifts. Very attractive to pollinators. Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 50

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Nordland Pea

€3.50

A rare snow pea variety first grown out at Irish Seed Savers in 2011. It came to us from the Seed Savers Exchange in the USA with few details. We don't know if it has some connection to Nordland in Norway, Nordland in Germany, or Nordland in the USA? What we do know from this year's grow out is that it grows tall up to 1.8m, produces a good crop of crisp, distinctly sweet mangetout, and tolerated the wet weather in Co. Clare. Best picked and eaten while young. Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 50

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Josh Toombs Purple Pod Pea

€3.50

This wonderful heirloom pea came to us from Josh Toombs in Co. Antrim. Josh got in touch with Irish Seed Savers when he was 79 years old because he wished to share this pea with other gardeners. It had been preserved in his family for over a century. The decorative pink and mauve/purple flowers produce a classic dark purple pod. Peas are good eaten fresh when young and immature or left to dry on the plant which make an excellent storage pea. Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 50

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Dottenfelder Dauer Cabbage

€3.50

A vigorous, short-stemmed variety with a firm, round/oval head and short inner stalk. Under good conditions the heads (averaging 1.5kg) can be stored well until January. It is delicious cooked and also ideal for eating raw. Certified Organic Average seeds per pack 250

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Tat Soi Pac Choi

€3.50

A fine sturdy heirloom variety from eastern Asia. Its long, deep-green leaves and juicy white stems add their fresh taste to salads and stir-fries. Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 370

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Genovese Courgette

€3.50

Light stripy green fruits. Good flavour and very creamy. An early, productive courgette. Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 10

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Early Market Leek

€3.50

This ex-commercial variety is of very early maturing, making it particularly suitable for autumn use, though it can hold overwinter too. It has light green leaves, straight shanks and good flavour. Ideal for soups, stews and roasting. Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 250

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Old Boer White Pumpkin

€3.50

A unique and rare treasure. A white-skinned variety, beautifully contrasted with very sweet vibrant orange flesh. Perfect for roasting, pies and baking. Historically popular in South Africa, named for the Dutch Boers. Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 10

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Muesboni Runner Bean

€3.50

This heritage German runner bean is a vigorous, reliable, early cropper. It produces bright red flowers followed by reasonably stringless beans. Average Seeds Per Pack: 15

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Claytonia/Winter Purslane

€3.50

This attractive winter salad crop is also known by the name 'miner’s lettuce'. The leaves and stems are both edible and have a refreshingly mild flavour. Small, pretty edible flowers develop in the middle of the disk-shaped succulent leaves. Can be harvested on a cut and come again basis. Self-seeds easily. Average Seeds Per Pack: 500

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Common Daisy

€3.75 (€3.75 incl VAT)

A familiar favourite for some, this charming flower is a native flower that we believe should be protected as much as the others. It can be seen in grasslands, lawns and roadsides from March-October. Brilliant white rays, sometimes tinged with pink, surround a bright yellow center. A welcome, cheerful addition to any garden. Seeds are best started in pots, left to overwinter outside, and planted out in plugs in the spring. Average Seeds Per Pack: 100

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Hollow Crown Parsnip

€3.50

A long-rooted variety, between 25cm to 40cm (12in to 16in). The name "Hollow Crown" refers to a characteristic deep dip in the head of the roots. The taste is top quality, buttery and sweet, and it mashes down to an excellent smooth texture. The history of this heritage parsnip can be traced back to 1820, and it has been grown and loved for its flavour and texture ever since. Note: Fresh parsnip seeds need to be purchased each year due to the fact that they are short-lived and will not remain viable for more than a year. Average Seeds Per Pack: 1000

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Pilot Pea

€3.50

One of the hardiest of all varieties in cultivation. Grown since 1904, when it was awarded the Award of Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society. Also mentioned in the 'Dig for Victory' guides. Good for autumn or very early spring sowing, cropping over several weeks, with good well-filled pods. Certified Organic Average Seeds Per Pack: 50

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