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
April 2026
Sweet Banana Pepper is a slender, mild, sweet pepper that originates from Hungary. It produces heavy yields of pretty, pointed peppers which are ready to eat when they are lime-green, but turn a bright waxy red if left on the plant. Excellent pickling peppers and also tasty in salads and sandwiches. Seed Guardian Sandra Slack says, “Beautiful, glowing fruits, handy size for stuffing and baking whole.”
Our sweet pepper seed was sown on 17th February 2026 under heat, and the plants now have two sets of true leaves. They will be planted in Polytunnel 2.