Hi Isabelle,
Thank you for the warm welcome and your helpful response!
To answer your first question: yes, please call me Hynek. Even though it’s not my official legal name, I’ve been using it among friends for over 30 years (my father was also named Jaroslav, so it stuck).
Regarding my growing conditions: as mentioned, the garden is at 560 meters (approx. 1,830 feet) above sea level, located in a bit of a frost pocket. Winter temperatures here usually drop about two degrees lower than the official weather forecast. This year, the ground thawed briefly in March, so I immediately sowed pre-germinated fava beans.
As for my selection process this year, I strictly culled any plants infested with aphids. I also had to deal with lodging (plants falling over) because of some rough play from our local cats and kittens who loved climbing them. I managed to solve this with some temporary fencing, which also stopped them from using the freshly loosened garden beds as a litter box.
If I may suggest a direction for the seed exchange: I would prefer to skip fava beans originating from warm regions. Instead, I’d love to get seeds that are already acclimatized to harsher, more northern conditions, even if it’s just a small amount of seed to start with.
Once I cross-pollinate them, adapt them further to my site, and multiply the seed stock, I will gladly share a portion back with the community.
Welcome to the forum Hynek! I have added you to the European subforum too so you can get full access to the seed sharing threads. Looking forward to follow your projects
Hi Malte,
Thank you so much for the warm welcome and for adding me to the European subforum! I really appreciate it. Access to the seed-sharing threads is fantastic, as I’m especially looking forward to connecting with other growers from northern or harsher climates to exchange resilient genetics.
I’ll be glad to keep you all updated on my squash and fava bean projects, and other crops here in the Czech Republic.
Best regards to Copenhagen. Hynek from Otín, Czechia