Details A purple variety that is sweeter and less fibrous than green asparagus. Takes three years for the crowns to grow large enough before harvesting, though a small amount of light picking can be done in the second year. Seed needs 18 to 23deg for germinating, once seedling first shows itself transplant into its own 2L pot and plant out into its permanent about 12 months later, never let the first seedling spear get frosted till fully in leaf.
Botanical name Asparagus officinalis
Price per packet $4.00
Packet contents 30 seeds
Grower name Richard Watson
Out of stock
Bean - Black Turtle - 197CMK
Details Black turtle beans are native to Mexico, used as a dry bean in lots of recipes. soak beans 2-6 hours before planting, plant 5cm or 7cm deep in rows. Maturity is 90 days.
Details A productive vigorous climber, Long vines that will grow to 6m tall if provided support, ideal as a drying bean. Borlotti are descendants from the original Cranberry beans that originated in Colombia
Details Many of the older gardeners will remember the butterbean which was very popular in the 60's and 70's. This strain has been grown for over 40 years by a long time home gardener before been given to Richard so as to preserve this heirloom This bean produces a pale yellow/cream pod in colour that grows to about 15cm in length. The complete pod is eaten although the ends can be trimmed if desired and is wonderful added to salads when small.
Between 1838 and 1839 the Cherokee people of the United States were forced to march across the Smoky Mountains to Oklahoma. This winter death march is known as the Trail of Tears as over 4,000 people died making the trip.
In 1977 a member of Seed Savers Exchange named Dr. John Wyche from Hugo, Oklahoma, USA donated seeds to there collection. It is thought that his Cherokee ancestors carried this heirloom bean with them on the Trail of Tears.
Beans were domesticated in the Americas thousands of years ago and serve as a protein in the diet of humans and animals. Growing this bean takes about 55 days to produce a purple podded green bean and 90 days to dry beans. This is a vigorous climber is enjoyed very much as a fresh green bean and have found to be highly productive.
Details Believed to have arrived to New Zealand with the Dalmation gum diggers. A long string-less bean with green skin and purple streaks. Excellent raw or cooked. A vigorous climber to 2 metres. Another crop will be grown this coming summer and seed should be available again by March 2021
Details White flowered, white seeded bush form of the Scarlet Runner bean,grows to about 40cm tall. Like all bean they are frost tender. During long periods of wet weather it can be idea to throw a cover over to shed the rain as any beans close to the ground can rot.
Details Like Indian Hannah bean Major Cook was also imported from North America by Mark Christensen, Research Director at the Heritage Food Crops Research Trust. Breed in the North of France by Major Cook and a Mr Luxton after 1954, at the time both men worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and both had a strong interesting in gardening. Produces pretty purple-violet flowers followed by a huge crop of stringless beans with a very good flavour.
Details A heritage bean of unknown origin. Good healthy climber with long green stringless pods. A heavy cropper with good taste as a fresh bean and also an exceptional dried bean.
Details It's fast growing perennial climbing up to 3 metres in a season. Plants will produce a profusion of pretty red and white flowers, amidst a heavy cover of leaves, in colder climates it pays to cover root crown with mulch so as to stop frost penetrating the soil killing the crown .
Details Flavourful, flat podded, white-seeded bean, the best flavoured dwarf bean we have ever grown. I have been saving this variety from oblivion since about 1974.
Details Peans are a great all rounder with many uses. The plants climb just like a runner bean or climbing french bean and produce flat pods similar to a large mangetout pea. The pods can be picked young and used whole as a french bean or left on the plants to mature and shelled like peas, or they can be left to mature fully and dry and then used as any other dried beans. New seasons seed will be available again as soon a possible
Best eaten when small while still sweet, larger roots can be used as animal feed. Sow in late summer for winter harvest, they can bolt to seed if sown too early.
Details Ruby is a new grex cross between Detroit Dark Red, Bulls Blood and a unknown dark red large growing beetroot given to Richard by a Takaka gardener. Grex cross vegetables tend to have strong vigour and will exhibit a wide variation in shape, colour and tastes. The genetic diversity of grex crossing is capable of unlocking traits that can go back 100's of generations so this seed is something quite different and should be quite interesting to any gardener who's a bit experimental.
Details Pure white flowers. The pods enclose beans that are SWEET, and which remain GREEN once cooked. Try raw. These broad beans are my own selection, from possibly a random mutation, over 35 years ago. That original, pure white- flowered specimen caught my eye. I much preferred the flavour and colour of its beans, over others. I think you will, too. Kids love them raw,and as such they are wonderful in salads. In colder parts of the South Island and Inland North Island you don't want to sow broad beans between March and and early May if plants are over 10cm tall, heavy frosts will damage or kill. Plants under this size handle frosts well.
Open Source Seed Initiative Pledge: You have the freedom to use these OSSI-Pledged seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict others’ use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this Pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives.
Details This tall line of broad bean can withstand heavy winter frosts as low as -10deg here in the Amuri basin when plants are young, but equally handles the heat as well, will grow mostly unsupported up to 1.5m tall. In colder parts of the South Island and Inland North Island you dont want to sow broad beans between March and and early May if plants are over 10cm tall, heavy frosts will damage or kill. Plants under this size handle frosts well.
Details From the cucumber family Caigua suits most areas of New Zealand as its handles cooler weather, the small thumb sized fruit can be used as a gherkin replacement as well as cut up into salads, can grow to 3m so best to grow up and over some sort of frame work.
Details This heirloom sweet variety originates from the Balkan region, a Hungarian cheese-type. Medium-late heavy producer of yellow fruit. This is a yellow chilli is used for paprika and stuffing, can be fully ripened to a deeper orange/red colour. The pods grow to a size of 50mm long by 60mm wide, the plant grows to a height of 60cm.
Details Purple flowers, Purple fruit ripen red. Thumb-sized, they are big on flavour.Sow indoors in early Spring. I now germinate my frost-sensitive species on a purpose-built compost heap, in our glass house. (Capsicums require soil to be 15C. to germinate.) I grow the resulting plants outdoors once the frost danger has diminished. Czech Beauty is a reliable performer, in our Scargill climate, where growing-season temperatures can fluctuate widely.
Details Siesta is a productive golden capsicum. Nev's original seed were derived simply from a very ripe fruit from a greengrocer. That was over 25 years ago. Siesta now produces very reliable crops of large, thick-fleshed capsicums, even outdoors here in Scargill, North Canterbury, if started early in pots in a protected environment.
Details A large perennial that can grow to 2m with at least a 1m spread, young leaves can be eaten in salads while the roots can be cooked like parsnips. Can grow in heavy clay soils but does prefer a well drained soil in full sun, is reasonably drought tolerate.
Details As the name suggest this carrot grows into a small root of about 8-10 cm long, Nev and Sue have selected for the sweetest tasting roots, also there garden doesn't have wild carrots growing anywhere in there district so if any white rooted carrot were to show up in the seed line it would be very rare.
Details This original line of carrot dates back to the late 80's when a long time gardener gave Richard carrot seed that he had grown for most of his life, the name of this carrot had been long forgotten so it was named Benhorn in 2000. It is a large stumpy carrot which has been selected for its sweetness and flavour. This is done by tasting each carrot before being replanted back for flowering and later seed production. To add to Benhorn's genetics two new carrots - St.Valery and Kuroda were used in the 20016-17 season in cross pollinating.
Details This line of Celery started of as Nutty but was crossed with Utah Giant back in 2012, now a stable line thats less stringy than that of Nutty. Grow year round in warm areas and from Sep till Feb in cooler areas
Details Large strain of perennial celery producing red stalks and pinkish yellow blanched hearts, looks good in raw salads. Stronger tasting than green celery, good for soups and stews. Handles winter frosts better than standard celery varieties, though in heavy frost areas the stems are not eatable during these periods .
Details Ford Giant Hook is a Heirloom standard Silverbeet, it's crinkled leaves are mid green in colour with white veins the stems are broad white, ideal as a steamed vegetable or in salad as a baby leaf.
Propagation: Sow seeds directly where to grow or in a tray of seed raising mix in a warm sunny location, should germinate in 14-21 days.
Details Bloody Butcher corn is a dry corn producing beautiful rich red cobs that are quite large. These plants grow very tall, can be over 3 meters, this should be kept in mind when planting - you don't want them getting blown over in strong winds or shading out your tomato crop. The corn can be eaten fresh in the "milk stage" or left to fully mature where it has a multitude of uses from milling to make flour or cornmeal to brewing and is even used as an ornamental in flower arrangements.
My corn is grown using spray free organic methods.
Botanical name Zea Mays
Price per packet $4.00
Packet contents 50 seeds
Grower name Alice Le Brun
Out of stock
Corn - Blue Hopi - 162RG101
Details
Blue corn also known as Hopi maize, Yoeme Blue, Tarahumara Maiz Azul, and Rio Grande Blue, ground it's used to make blue tortilla chips, tortillas, corn soup and cornbread. Hopi Blue grows 1.7m tall
Details Early Gem is a NZ heirloom corn that Richard continues to select for the number of cobs per plant, the size of the cobs, and the earliest plants that produce ripe seed, grows to about 1.7m tall. Regarded as a semisweet variety while being moderately starchy.
Details The original kascade korn plants commenced life here in Scargill, in the early 80s.They grow well in our climate and under our organic regime. They are open pollinated, offering the advantage of you being able to reproduce your own seed for subsequent seasons. They are not as sweet as the super sweet types that people have got used to, but are delicious and very sustaining.
Botanical name Zea Mays
Price per packet $4.00
Packet contents 50 seeds
Grower name Nev&Sue Sinclair
Out of stock
Corn - Painted Mountain 69RT2A
Details A Native Indian decorative short season flour corn, bred from 70 American native corn varieties. Tolerant to heat, drought, high winds and cold nights. Makes superb flour, hominy and parched corn. Can be eaten fresh when young, Grows over 2 metres.
Details These are hardy perennial onions that are very prolific, they do best in a well-drained, moist garden bed, bulbils are best planted from March till Sep. Breeding work on the onion is currently being done, the Egyptian Walking tree onion is a F1 clone which is a cross between the Walsh and a standard brown onion, through bulbil removal and hand pollination 13 seeds were produced in 2015, from those 13 only 5 seedlings germinated, one of those later died. During that summer the four remaining plants grew and divided given me 23 new base onions, these were then replanted out separately and its hoped they will produce more seed. The goal is to develop a open pollinate walking onion that is grown from seed and not bulbils
Details Florence fennel is a cool-weather perennial grown as an annual for its swollen leaf bases or ‘bulbs’ and edible leaves. When using in salads, the flavour can be improved by slicing the bulb and putting it in a bowl of water and ice cubes in the fridge for an hour.
Details The immature flower is eaten as a vegetable. The medicinal properties of Globe Artichoke have been known for many years. The leaves were very popular between the 16th and 19th centuries when they were used to stimulate bile flow and for a variety of digestive disorders.
Details A red on green hues kale with oak leaf ruffled shapes.Very winter hardy and will handle temps as low as -20 deg, does best in soil pH of between 6.1 and 6.5
Details Red Russian kale leaves are tender, sweet and mild when picked young. The red tinged leaves are a bluish blush making them quite attractive. The leaves are flat with toothed edges. Usually grows to about half a metre tall but can reach up to 1m tall with a long stalk if left in the ground with enough time to grow.
Combines the broadleaf frills of Siberian kale with the colour of Red Russian. Great raw flavour for salads. Bolting purple stems of over wintered plants are very sweet, perfect for stir frying.
Open Source Seed Initiative Pledge: You have the freedom to use these OSSI-Pledged seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict others’ use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this Pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives. https://osseeds.org/
Details A Siberian type highly productive hardy kale. Tolerates weather and water logged soil better than most other kales. Plants are vigorous and large.
Details A pointed cabbage with intense reddish-purple leaves and high sugar content. Sow spring for summer and autumn harvest but preventative care is needed against white butterfly
Details Kumi Kumi fruit can grow to around 1kg and growing up to 30cm long. Needs plenty of space to grow as its a very rampant creeper. Once fruit is mature it stores well over winter.
Details Forms large clumps of thumb size stems which have a stronger leek flavour than standard leek though they are a bit more finicky when harvesting. Best sown in spring forming clumps by late summer/autumn, if left in the ground through the following winter the clumps will form a mass of corns meaning the perennial leek will become permanent and difficult to eradicate. Some gardeners may prefer its perpetual feature while others prefer it as a annual vegetable by insuring its harvested before winter.
Details Bred at Purau Gardens for many years and had adapted well to the coastal climate, this strain of leek may well suit warmer areas of NZ. Its a cross between three well known NZ varieties including Musselburgh.
Suggested growing method is to aim for a long length white stem of up to 40cm, sow seed late winter/ early spring close enough together aiming for a spacing of 2cm apart, by mid summer the plants should be up to 30cm tall, dig them up trying not to damage the roots too much and place in a bucket with enough water in it to cover the roots. The soil these plants go into needs to be deeply dug over then using a rake or shovel handle poke it down into the soil as deep as 40cm, wriggle it around to make a shaft to which a leek plant is dropped down, then pour a small amount of water down, its just then a matter of insuring that the growth tip can grow up and out of the shaft
Details A heritage variety that was bought into NZ by a returning WW2 oldier and has been grown in around Cooptown Banks Peninsula since. A great tasty green leafy lettuce.
Details An heirloom that dates back to the 1700s in Austria A fast-hearting spring type, green with red-tinged leaves, and small very dense heads. Currently a seed crop has been planted for seed and should be available March 2017
Details Drunken Woman is an Italian heirloom lettuce that produces bright green leaves with ruffled edges in a deep bronze color. It is a popular lettuce to grow for beginner gardeners because it is very easy to grow and slow to bolt.
Propagation: Best sown directly where to grow, in rows or scattered sections, should germinate in 7-14 days.
Details Gifted to Richard from a long grower. Billard maize produces mainly a double row cob of larger kennels on a long cob. Plants grow to about 2m tall and generally produce one cob per plant, some plants can produce two but these cobs tend to be smaller. For grinding the size of these kennels can be too large for some grinders
Details The maize Sola is the name given to it by Nev, is was derived from an old maize that was commercially available back in the early 1970s when he first began growing it. Both Sue and Nev have a long history together, as plant and grower. It has changed during that lengthy association and now looks as if the sun is shining out of it. They use it principally in ground form for making what we regard as a very sustaining porridge (cooked with milk); rich and filling. Customers have also used it to create polenta and it seems to perform well used this way.
Although the seed from which the original crop was grown from was possibly a hybrid (even back then) it is no longer so, and reliably produces consistent crops.
Botanical name Zea mays
Price per packet $4.00
Packet contents 50
Grower name Nev and Sue Sinclair
Out of stock
Nev's TPS - 136NS78B
Details You won't have met many people who have propagated potatoes by any other than vegetative means; in other words from tubers from the previous crop. You may have noticed though, that some potato plants produce flowers. Still fewer of these plants go on to develop and mature small greenish fruits. They look tomato-like and contain a stiff "pulp" holding many small white seeds. These seeds can be encouraged to germinate and with some care will grow into small plants that are easily recognised as miniature potato plants.
Even from a relatively early stage when they may only be 100mms tall, differences will be discernible between these individuals. They truly are individuals. They may not all prosper. They will each possess their own degree of disease resistance and vigour. As a propagator you will be rewarded, by those that flourish, with crops of distinctly unique potato tubers; diverse in both form, colour, flavour, texture, maturity and keeping qualities. This is a pursuit I have been involved in for at least 20 years. It is an exciting enterprise (if you are a potato Nerd!), and can result in the coming into being of very worthwhile, totally new, delicious cultivars that you can then continue into the future via the usual system of growing from tubers. But don't forget to keep seed from the best of them and continue the exploration of potatoes from true seed.
Details A super sized onion with is still sweet considering its size. This variety is one grown in the UK for competitions. Seed was imported from the UK 2019 and one generation has been grown by Richard.
Sow seed early spring in the South Island, North Islanders may be able to sow autumn through winter as well, feedback from customers would be appreciated https://www.mammothonion.co.uk/product/seeds-plants/onion-family/onion/mammoth-improved-onion/
Details History knowledge of this onion is limited, was originally given to koanga by a ex-breeder from Yates, unsure it came with a name. The selection work carried out by Richard on this large red onion strain involves, 1, aiming to achieve the longest growing season possible by sowing seed late winter and harvesting when tops start to fall over late summer early autumn. 2, the best of that seasons onions are stored in autumn, some of these onion will grow shoots through winter meaning they are discarded, its the last to start growing a green shoot in early spring are then planted out for flowering/seed. 3, selecting on the shape of onion - Richard is trying to move away from flatter type shape to more of a round or even taller upward torpedo shape. the idea is that less of the onion is sitting on the soil surface.
Sow seed early spring in the South Island, North Islanders may be able to sow autumn through winter as well, feedback from customers would be appreciated
Details This original strain of Pukekoke Long Keeperwas given to koanga by a ex-breeder from Yates, The selection work carried out by Richard is much the same as with large red onion strain, though instead aiming for a more rounded shape, Of most importance is to maintain its long keeping ability for which this variety was known for, this involves sowing seed as early as possible late winter and then harvesting when tops start to fall over late summer early autumn. The best shaped onions from each season are stored in autumn, some of these onion will grow shoots through winter meaning they undesirable there for discarded, its the last to start growing a green shoot in early spring that are then planted out for flowering/seed. Sow seed early spring in the South Island, North Islanders may be able to sow autumn through winter as well, feedback from customers would be appreciated. New seed should be available again March 2022.
Details These onions can grow quite large and will swell up into a long torpedo shape, known for its superb flavour and texture. Best sown in spring in the South Island, those in the warmer parts of the North Island might be able to autumn sow.
Details The true bunching onion is a perennial that does not form a bulb. Bunching onions are strong and enduring once established, they can supply a sharp and delicious punch of flavour to your cooking, year after year.
Details Pak Choi orBok Choyis Chinese cabbage native to Hong Kong and Southern China, ideal in stir-fries, soups or salads.
Pak Choi is a cool weather crop that is easy to grow and grows quick, can be grown during winterin areas that see little or no frosts, doesn't do so well in summer as it tends to bolt.
Propagation: Best sown directly where to grow, in rows or scattered sections, should germinate in 7-14 days.
Details Hamburg is grown for its very tasty roots that are good raw and cooked, divine oven roasted also great with mashed potatoes,leaves can also be eaten.
Sow in spring in deep free draining soil as it takes a full growing season to reach full size and can be eaten during that winter.
Details The Hollow Crown dates back to the early 1820s, a long tapered white root that has been grown and selected by Rick for over twenty years, if you wish to grow this long rooted parsnip, you will need deep soil that is stone free. If parsnips hit a stone while growing they tend to fork. They grow best in a light, deep rich soil. A generous amount of compost or humus in some other form helps develop a long eatable root.
Parsnip is notoriously difficult to grow for many gardeners because of parsnip seeds short lifespan, so to help with good germination all our parsnip seed is grown each year meaning seed is no more than 12 months when sold.
Details The key to growing parsnips is using fresh seed, many gardens say they have no luck growing parsnips which is normally because of using old seed, parsnip seed only remains viable for two years at room temperature, so having our seed frozen keeps the seed from aging, as well as its regrown every two years.
This cross pollination carried by Richard in 2010 was between Hollow crown and Kral, hence the Kralcrown. The selection work that's carried out with this new variety involves growing it for one full season, seed is sown Aug, a year later they are dug up and only the healthiest, longest widest roots are replanted again for flowering/seed in spring.
Parsnip is notoriously difficult to grow for many gardeners because of parsnip seeds short lifespan, so to help with good germination all our parsnip seed is grown each year meaning seed is no more than 12 months when sold.
Details Grown by Nev for about 20 years, when this variety was gifted to Nev, this black hilum forage pea was at the time being exported crop to India, an ideal pea for making into hummus. Grows about 30 cm tall and is quite productive
Details A tall climber that can get as high as 3m, has large pods and peas, The Alderman pea variety is known to date back to 1893 and was a common site in Victorian kitchen gardens. Its long-cropping time made it ideal for using fresh and any excess crops were dried, stored and used later in the year for soups, stews and other dishes. The Americans have their own version of the Alderman variety which they call the Tall Telephone in honour of Alexander Graham Bell who invented the telephone.
Details Dates back to the 1870's England, needs support to grow up, has large pods. Plant autumn for northern areas, South Island sow spring and summer. Grows up to 2 metres
Seed that was donated must have been quite old as only three seeds germinated out of a 100+, its taken two years to build up enough seed to now offer it for sale.
Details Original old strain of shell out dwarf pea, mildew can be a problem if sown late summer, some growing support is ideal for this variety to grow up
Details A hyper tendril shell out dwarf pea ,selected over the last 20 years to produce pods over a longer period, tendrils cling together holding the plant upright but some staking is needed .
Details Heirloom pea originating from Southland, this pea grows a multi coloured flower and grows to about a meter tall, does need support to grow up. Pick the whole seed pod before the seeds form, use in salads and stir fries.
Details Marconi Red pappers are sweet and mild with a heat rating of 1-1000 Scoville Units. The fruits start out dark green, change to red, and then mature to a solid bright red. Maturation is 62-80 days. They can be eaten at any stage but are the sweetest when fully red. If you keep the peppers picked, the plants will continue producing until frost.
Details A hot chilli that is a very heavy producer, the chilies have a medium thick, dark green flesh that ripens to a bright red. A bushy upright plant that loves warm sunny positions. Can be planted in patio tubs or into the garden/greenhouse. A basket of Wildfire Chilies are hot! rated 80,000 on the Scoville scale.
Propagation: Sow seeds from September to October in seed raising mix, transplant out (undercover) in October to November, seeds should germinate in 14-21 days.
Details Mini Black popcorn produces miniature cobs of corn on multiple tillers (stems). Allow the corn to fully mature on the plant and leave them to dry as long as possible, the kernels should be hard and the husks completely dry. Once harvested pull back the husks and continue drying the corn in a dry well ventilated area, tied together and hung indoors works well for me.
My seed is grown using spray free organic methods.
Botanical name Zea Mays
Price per packet $4.00
Pumpkin - Kumi Kumi - 177NS
Details A NZ heirloom variety with a sweet, buttery flavour. Best eaten when immature
Details A cross between Whangaparoa Crown, Green Chestnut and a unknown very large crown like pumpkin. This current generation of seed is 5 years into selection and stabilization, its starting to become quite uniform in both colour/size and in taste, though do expect some variation The idea behind using these three varieties was, green Chestnut had wonderful flavour but thin flesh, Whangaparoa Crown had thick flesh but average to good flavour while the unknown had size, Richard thought combining all three could produce an outstanding new variety. Between 50 -60 plants are grown each year and about 140 fruit harvested, seed from the only best flavoured, large and thick fleshed fruit are used for breeding over the successive growing seasons.
Details Originates from France, can grow from 5 - 15 kg and stores well, thin skinned so can be peeled as well. Are green when younger mature to a rich brown colour, (can be different shades of colour depending on how much light they are exposed to). A very nice pumpkin to grow
Botanical name C. moschata
Price per packet $4.00
Packet contents 30
Grower name Carla McKnight
Out of stock
Pumpkin - Rouge Vif d'Etampes - 208CMK
Details This pumpkins a old French heirloom, moderately sweet, easy to grow, plant in the spring, maturity is 95 - 105 days. Also known as the Cinderella pumpkin
Details A large black skin white flesh winter radish, though this radish carries a recessive gene that produces a white skin as well. The can get to dinner plate size while still remaining mild tasting. recommended not to sow before March in the South Island and April in the north as they can bolt to flower before growing its swollen stem
Details Known also as Green Luobo . This is a unique radish has sweet, crispy and slightly hot, has a green flesh. The skin is green with a white tip. Sow in spring for summer as it wont winter over where there are hard frosts.
Details Richard was fortunate to be given two bulbs from an old strain of highly fragrant Regal Lily that produces compact flower heads that all open at about the same time. All bulb production will be grown from seed and not from cloning scales or splitting up of the bulbs meaning he will be able to do selective breeding from the best preforming plants.
SEED SHOULD BE IN STOCK FEB 2022
Botanical name Lilium regale
Price per packet $4.00
Packet contents 50
Grower name Richard Watson
Out of stock
Rhubarb - 74RW66A
Details Rhubarb is is a rhizomatous perennial really easy to grow from seed and is quite vigorous growing. The plants that this seed came were themselves seed grown. plants love well-rotted organic matter mulched around them. Sow seed in a seed raising in small pots and plant out once seedling are 10cm tall
Details In this mix of seed are varieties that range in colours from purple fleshed, white and red, expect the likes of a licorice allsorts types of colour combination.
Seed is best sown in autumn then transfer the tinny seedlings to pots and grow through winter in a frost free area, in areas that get frosts even green houses can freeze inside. Springtime plant out and allow each of these new varieties to grow till there tops die down late in the season, then its a matter of digging up each plant and assessing which plant has produced the best yield and for desirable shape and colours. The first year tubers are not always the largest but instead its normally when they are replanted in the second season that they will produce far greater yield. It's worth remembering that new TPS cultivarsare virus free
Details The roots when cooked have a mild oyster-like flavour. The leaves can also be used in salads and have a nutty lettuce like flavour. Best sown in the spring and eaten the following winter.
Skirret is a perennial vegetable which dates back to Roman times. Related to carrots its the bunches of skinny white roots that is the edible portion. Doesn't like been grown anywhere too dry and are slightly vulnerable to carrot fly. Roasted its a very tasty vegetable. Sow in spring time and treat the seedling like carrot seedlings by keeping them keep weed free and at a spacing of 20cm apart, they seem to take for ever to get to a descent size. Roots develop there full flavour during winter.
Details Spring onions are also known as green onions, scallions or sibies. They tend to have a milder taste than most other onions, they can be eaten either raw in salads or cooked. Sow in Spring through to early Autumn in the South Island or year around in Northern areas.
Propagation: Sow seeds directly where to grow in a line or in a tray of seed raising mix in a warm sunny location, should germinate in 7-14 days.
Details This grex cross Richard Watson used Early Gem, Golden, Bantam and as many F1 hybrids as he could find, also added was another grex mix given to him by Peter Clarke who had mixed up many varieties years earlier. The idea of this cross breeding was to aim for a corn that had the 'sweet' of the modern F1's and more substance or starch of that of the heirlooms. Over 200 plants are used to achieve as much cross pollination as possible. The photo shows a selection of cobs from the 2021 crop
Details This old strain of tobacco is suppose to be a Virginian strain, it had been grown by an man long passed away who lived near Kaiapoi. The pink flowered variety grows to close to 2m and flowers form Dec till late autumn which attracts the bumble bees. The second year after the plants have died they become quite useful for growing peas as the stems remain sturdy in the ground. Tobacco is very good as a carbon crop given its extensive root systems
Details An old variety, very popular in the UK originating from Scotland in 1908. Named after the island Ailsa Craig near the mouth of the Clyde river. A vigorous grower with good disease resistance, medium size and good flavour.
Details A small yellow currant tomato with a pleasant fruity flavor that is not overly sweet, this heirloom came from Indiana, USA and dates back to the 1900s. It was discovered by John Hartman of Indianapolis, who found it growing in cracks in the street, and it was named for the creek that runs through the area
A great tomato with history. This tomato is a large fleshy one (up to 600 grams ) ,low in acid with very few seeds. Of the 50 plus tomatoes I grow this is number one.
It was given to Duncan by an Italian sailor sometime in the 50's and grown by him for many years and eventually was forgotten. I attained a few old seeds of which only two grew and have a good inventory of seeds now.
Details Pear-shaped fruit that are a strange red/orange/purple colour with very good taste. Strong, vigourous plants, that should be allowed to carry 3 or 4 leaders. So put in several stakes for each plant. Excellent yields.
Details Lobella, is yellow and hollow very like a capsicum to look at. It is a delicious cooking tomato, which can be stuffed and baked or baked only. It is a low acid tomato and a good cropper. It was bought from a NZ seed company originally but they no longer stock it.
Details A French Heirloom very popular in Northern Italy with great pest and disease resistance. Fast growing producing early season fruit . Harvest 12-14 weeks from sow
Details Determinate - bush - This strain tends to produce variable shapes and sizes, but most are round red from small to mid size fruit makes it ideal for preserves and sauce
Details Early-cropping bush tomato, these are the earliest-fruiting tomatoes that I've ever had the pleasure of growing.No pruning, no staking; ultra easy care.
Details This variety dates back to the 1800s and is a vigorous indeterminate tomato producing generously with an abundance of small yellow pear-shaped tomatoes that are sweet and mild in flavour.
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