Worcester Community Garden joined the Heritage Seed Library (HSL) in October 2025. The HSL, run by Garden Organic, maintains the national collection of heritage and heirloom vegetables, holding more than 800 varieties of seeds, including rare varieties adapted to specific growing conditions, heirloom seed varieties saved over generations and varieties no longer available to buy.
The HSL is a vital resource to connect people with heritage and heirloom seed, keep these varieties alive and increase biodiversity. Much of our cultivated biodiversity – including vegetable seeds we grow to eat – has been in decline. Over the last century, we have lost many hundreds of local vegetable varieties, grown for generations by seed companies, families and communities. Factors adding to this decline include intensive production of a reduced number of species, industrialisation of agriculture and food processing, seed regulations and loss of open-pollinated, traditional varieties.
For 2026, we have chosen over 20 heritage seeds to grow. Each month we will share news about the heritage seeds we are growing and our partnership with the Heritage Seed Library.
Heritage Seed of the Month
July 2026 – Climbing French beans
Our Heritage Seeds for July are climbing French beans. We are growing two varieties at the Garden this year:
Climbing French Bean ‘Dinah’s Climbing Blue’
Originally from France, the donor, after whom it is named, was given this variety by her former boss in 1971. A vigorous and productive bean, plants have purple stems, dark leaves and pink-purple flowers followed by dark purple, stringless pods. It’s tender and tasty even when mature.
Climbing French Bean ‘Greasy’
This variety is later than other French beans, producing its white flowers into the last weeks of August. It also tolerates hot, dry summers. The pods contain up to 8 beans each and can be eaten fresh when really small. However, it is at its best when used as a dried bean when its rich, smoky peanut-like flavour can be fully appreciated.
(Information provided by the Heritage Seed Library)