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 2022 Heirloom Seed Catalogue

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Winterkefe Mangetout

€3.50

This vigorous Swiss landrace was originally gifted to us by Karen Hermes and Charlotte Colchester. A tall variety growing up to 2m high, and unique in that it can be sown in October for an abundant spring crop of large-podded mange-tout. It is also suitable for spring sowing: “Sown in February, it grew vigorously and supplied pods in great quantity; excellent, delicious, easy, and rewarding. I thoroughly recommend this variety” says Alex Copland from Galway. Certified Organic Average seeds per pack 50

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Daniel O’Rourke Pea

€3.50

An Irish heritage variety, originally saved in the Russian gene bank and repatriated to Ireland. These plants grow quite tall (2m) so a strong fence is required but you will be rewarded with prolific small pods and sweet peas, best eaten while young. Good disease resistance, the peas can also be left to mature and dry off to be used as a soup pea in winter. Certified Organic Average seeds per pack 70

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Irish Green Pea

€3.50

One of our most popular varieties, repatriated from the Vavilov Gene Bank in Russia. The plants grow up to 1.5m, so need good support. They produce an abundance of delicious sweet, round peas, 6-8 per pod, described by many as ‘a wonderful crop’. The plants have good mildew resistance and are less prone to sprouting in the pod during a wet summer. Certified Organic Average seeds per pack 50

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Little Marvel Pea

€3.50

This dependable heritage variety originally introduced as ‘Sutton’s Little Marvel’ in 1900, was lovingly grown by former colleague and active seed guardian Liz Bacon, in Co. Tipperary. Vigorous dwarf plants with tightly packed long pods, each containing 6-7 dark green peas. A high-yielding variety, producing well over a long season. Average seeds per pack 50

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Magnum Bonum Pea

€3.50

Translating from Latin as ‘Great Good’, this pea has been around since 1872, and for good reason. Described as a ‘willing giant of a pea, brimming with health and large, luscious pods’. Tall vines of up to 1.8m produce large double pods bursting with flavoursome peas. The peas are sweet when young, and when older are perfect puréed with a touch of mint. Certified Organic Average seeds per pack 50

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Purple Pod Capucijners Pea

€3.50

This variety gets its name from an order of monks in Holland who have long been custodians of diverse fruit and vegetables. A tall, vigorous plant (up to 2m), so needs good support. It has beautiful pink/white flowers and attractive deep-purple pods. At the ‘Scoil Chroi’ school garden in Galway, students especially enjoyed the purple peas dried for soup. Certified Organic Average seeds per pack 50

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Thomas Laxton Pea

€3.50

Named after the famous plant biologist and pea breeder Thomas Laxton, a heritage variety dating back to the 1800s. Quite an early-maturing pea, with 7-9 peas per pod, and a long harvest season. The vines are relatively short, reaching almost 1m in height. Cold resistant and particularly suitable to a maritime climate such as ours. Certified Organic Average seeds per pack 50

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Blaushokkers Pea

€3.50

A unique Dutch heritage pea, ‘Blauwshokker’ translates as ‘blue pod’, referencing the stunning indigo-blue pods of this variety. The vines reach 1.8m in height, with striking bi-coloured purple/blue flowers that add great ornamental value to the garden. The sweet, green pods can be eaten young as mangetout, but this pea is especially wonderful in soups and stews, as was the tradition in Holland and Germany. Certified Organic Average seeds per pack 50

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Russian Pea

€3.50

Delicious and very sweet when harvested young, amazing long pods with lots of peas, (10-12 per pod). This seed variety came to us via a Seed Savers organisation in the Czech Republic. We carried out a successful trial grow-out in 2019 and then handed them over to one of our trusty seed guardians, Mona, who did a bigger grow out to bulk up stock. Growing to 6ft high, they also stood well through wet and windy weather, remaining strong and vigorous. Certified Organic Average seeds per pack 50

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Table Talk Pea

€3.50

This is a vigorous, thick-stemmed variety. Reaching heights of 2.5-3m, adequate support is definitely required for this robust pea. Lovely white flowers and soft marbled green leaves develop as the plant grows, giving way to a plethora of pods. Highly productive, with pods containing an average of 8 large peas developing well into the season. The peas are delicious – very sweet and crunchy when raw, softening after cooking. If you have the space, this is a highly recommended variety to grow. Certified Organic Average seeds per pack 50

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