Is it possible to shop at Tatgut on site? Does Tatgut have a shop? Can I buy a voucher from you?
You can purchase part of our range in Friedrichshafen in the GPZ paper world. There we have set up a seed shelf with around 150 different varieties. You can find our entire range here in the online shop. Papierwelt is open Monday-Thursday from 8-16:00 and Fridays from 8-15:00 and is located at Paulinstraße 12 in Friedrichshafen.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZKHyLQT4Ck6N2n4z6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copyVouchers are available in the seed sets/vouchers section. The vouchers are available in values of €10, €30 and €50. On request, we can issue the voucher in the name of your choice.
Where is your show garden? Can I park there?
Our show garden is located in 88069 Laimnau in Germanenstraße. There is a free public car park right next to the show garden. Click here to view the map.
To get here by bus, take the 7546 bus from Tettnang to Laimnau and get off at the Laimnau Raiffeisenstraße bus stop. The buses run every hour from 8 am to 8 pm.
How long does the dispatch take? Will I receive another dispatch confirmation?
Normally, our seeds will reach you within 2-6 working days from the time of ordering. We do not send any further dispatch confirmation, but send your goods directly to the post office.
If we receive a large number of orders at once or if there are delays in dispatch by the post office, the delivery of your order may be delayed. If you have not received your goods within 10 days, please write to us using the contact form.
Does Tatgut also give lectures? What do I need to know?
We also offer lectures on request. The cost of a lecture is made up of travel expenses and a guide value of €250. This figure may vary depending on the size of the group or event and the materials used. If you have a specific enquiry about a lecture, please contact us by email or via the contact form.
We also offer group tours of our show garden. We are happy to arrange an appointment for groups of 10 people or more. Please contact us at least two weeks in advance. Further information can be found in the events section:
https://tatgut.de/event.
Lecture example:
‘Sowing diversity - harvesting the future.’ - Old varieties, biodiversity and seeds.
Speaker: Patrick Kaiser, Managing Director of Genbänkle e.V., Tatgut seed initiative
Many cultivated plants that existed a hundred years ago are now considered lost. Along with them, many of the colours, shapes, aromas and flavours on our plates have been lost. Patrick Kaiser presents the possibilities for preserving and the importance of plant diversity using the example of vegetables. At Genbänkle e.V., he works to preserve the diversity of vegetables and cultivated plants in Baden-Württemberg. With his seed initiative ‘Tatgut’, he propagates and preserves a large number of historical varieties and garden rarities in Tettnang (Laimnau).
Can I help or work with you?
If you enjoy working in the garden and would like to learn more about seed propagation and variety diversity, you are very welcome to help out in the show garden on Tuesday mornings (9am-12pm). We look forward to your active support for the preservation of crop diversity! If you would like to help out, please let us know at least 2-3 days in advance so that we can schedule you: contact@tatgut.de, (+49) 17658933043 or via the contact form.
If you would like to work with us for several days, this is possible via an internship or a stay with WWOOF. WWOOF (‘World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms’) is all about volunteering to help with the day-to-day work on organic farms and ranches worldwide:
https://is.gd/n6ONzB.
As a small seed initiative, we unfortunately do not have any paid positions open in the sense of employment.
Are your seeds certified organic or demeter?
Our seeds are neither Demeter nor certified organic. Basically, the time and financial outlay would not be feasible for us as a small seed initiative. However, we have clear rules for the propagation of our seeds and our handling of our land: We completely refrain from using toxic pesticides or artificial fertilisers. Many substances that would be permitted in organic farming are of no interest to us. We try to encourage the genetic diversity of our plants. We water as little as possible and by regularly propagating our plants here in southern Germany, we achieve the best possible adaptation to the climatic conditions and challenges in Germany. We also pay attention to biodiversity and promote near-natural gardening on the land available to us. We promote soil life through careful soil cultivation and lots of mulching. In addition to our plants for seed production, we also plant a large number of shrubs and trees as well as flowering plants.
How long can the seeds germinate?
If stored properly (cool, dry, dark, e.g. in a screw-top jar), the seeds can germinate for a long time. Normally, 3-5 years is not a problem. Caution is advised with short-lived seeds such as onions, salsify or parsnips, which usually only have a germination capacity of one to two years. If you want to store seeds for longer, you can extend their shelf life by further re-drying them (e.g. using silica gel) or cooler temperatures (fridge or freezer).
Can I also buy young plants from you? Do you also sell vegetables?
We specialise in saving varieties and obtaining seeds. True to the motto ‘Cobbler stick to your last’, we concentrate fully on these topics. However, as nature sometimes bears fruit completely in excess of demand or lets plants shoot, it is always possible to find one or two plants or surplus vegetables at Fischerweg 9 in Laimnau.
What is seed-proof?
A plant variety is seed-fertile if plants grow from its seeds that have the same characteristics and shape as their parent plants. The prerequisite for cross-pollinators is that cross-pollination in the garden is avoided. The variety can be propagated naturally as in the past. Although many landraces and historical regional varieties are referred to as ‘varieties’, they still have a certain range of characteristics.
What are hybrids?
In the production of hybrids, pure inbred lines are first created, which are then propagated separately over several years. After 7 - 10 selfings, the pure lines that complement each other in their characteristics are crossed, producing the seed for a hybrid variety (known as F1). The heterosis effect results, for example, in increased vigour and a higher yield than that of the parent generations. In addition, the characteristics of hybrids are a high uniformity of the offspring (same ripening time, same shape, same size, etc.), but there is a split if one tries to use seed from these plants again. As a result, the seed market is increasingly dependent on large corporations, as the seeds have to be bought anew every year.
