79 items


Maize - Billard - 122RW94A

Maize - Billard - 122RW94A

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
Botanical name  Zea mays
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50
Grower name  Richard watson
Add to OrderCorn / Maize
Chervil - 67RW22

Chervil - 67RW22

Details  Chervil herb is like parsley, with a subtle flavor enhanced by a hint of anise, widely used in French dishes
Botanical name  Anthriscus cerefolium
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50 seeds
Grower name  Richard Watson
Only 8 in stock Add to OrderHerbs

Courgette - Cocozelle Bush - 105RW6A

Details  A stripped green skin Italian zucchini that is a strong and productive variety, originally from the Southern seed collection. Being grown again 2010-2021 season
Botanical name  Cucurbita pepo
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  15
Grower name  Richard Watson
Out of stock Curcurbita

Brussels Sprout - Darkmar - 102RW77

Details  Produces large deep green sweet and tasty sprouts over a long period, best sown mid summer for winter picking.
Seed due early 2019
Botanical name  Brassica oleracea
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50
Grower name  Richard Watson
Only 10 in stock Add to Order
Purslane 127RW84A

Purslane 127RW84A

Details  The health benefits of purslane are becoming better recognized as its extremely high levels in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly for a land vegetable, as well as significant amounts of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, B-family vitamins, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium, and copper. Purslane originated in the Mediterranean region. It is widely eaten throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. It is an annual succulent with a slightly sour and salty taste, making it an interesting addition to the plate and palate.
Sow seed late spring in pots and plant out once plants are established
Botanical name  Portulaca oleracea
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50 seeds
Grower name  Richard watson
Out of stock Herbs

Bean - Butterbean - 151RW92A

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.
Botanical name  Phaseolus vulgaris
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  30
Grower name  Richard watson
Add to OrderBeans

Beetroot - Ruby - 181RW

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.
Botanical name  Beta vulgaris ‘
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50
Grower name  Richard Watson
Only 6 in stock Add to Order
New Zealand Spinach - 128RW91

New Zealand Spinach - 128RW91

Details  New Zealand Spinach' can be grown as a perennial in warmer climates but is typically grown as an annual.
Soaking seeds in warm water for two to eight hours prior to sowing may help soften the seed coat and improve germination results, spinach seeds need lots of heat to germinate so start inside or wait until summer time. Plants can be wintered over indoors and planted outdoors after frosts have past.
Botanical name  Tetragonia tetragonoides
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  20
Grower name  Richard watson
Only 9 in stock Add to OrderLettuce & greens

Tomato - Moonglow - 16RW74

Details  A yellow/orange mid size tomato with good to excellent taste, shown to have  highest levels of lycopene for cancer prevention
Botanical name  Solanum lycopersicum
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  20
Grower name  Richard Watson
Out of stock Tomatoes

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
 
Botanical name  Rheum x hybridum
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  approx 30
Grower name  Richard Watson
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Curly Leaved Parsley - 88RW52

Details  Richard came across this strain in the garden of a long time gardener who use to let it self seed for over 30 years, what was notable was how thick and tightly curled the dark green leaves were in appearance.
Botanical name  Petroselinum crispum
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  40
Grower name  Richard Watson
Add to OrderHerbs

Cabbage - 'Tette Noire'

Details  NEW - A relatively rare French variety of drum head red cabbage. 

To be grown Nov 2020 as a group by some of the Sentinels growers and seed mixed together to achieve genetic diversity. Seed should become available late 2021 

Botanical name  Brassica oleracea
Price per packet  $4.00
Out of stock
Corn - Early Gem - 84RW25

Corn - Early Gem - 84RW25

Details  An early yellow cob corn that Richard has select for the number of cobs per plant,the size of the cobs, and the earliest plants that produce ripe seed.
Botanical name  Zea mays indenata
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  approx 50
Grower name  Richard Watson
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Broad beans - Scottish - 38RW10

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.
Botanical name  Vicia faba
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  approx 30
Grower name  Richard Watson
Out of stock View More
Sunflowers - Giant Russian - 75RW71

Sunflowers - Giant Russian - 75RW71

Details  Can grows to 2.5m with large seed heads.The selection work that has gone in to this line of sunflowers where plants that produce side shoots are pulled out, also once the plants have reached maturity Richard looks for those that have wide stumps which handle wind best along wind, seed heads that face vertical down so as to stop birds being able get at the seed are also selected.
Sow in spring in colder areas
Botanical name  Helianthus annuus
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  approx 50
Grower name  Richard Watson
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Bean - dwarf runner - Czar White - 39RW2

Bean - dwarf runner - Czar White - 39RW2

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.
Botanical name  Phaseolus coccineus
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  30 seeds
Grower name  Richard Watson
Add to OrderBeans

Parsley - Hamburg root parsley - 64RW53

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.
Botanical name  Petroselinum crispum
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  approx 50
Grower name  Richard Watson
Add to orderRoot crops
Mustard Lettuce - 87RW49

Mustard Lettuce - 87RW49

Details  Has a distinct horseradish-mustard flavour. Regarded as one of the most nutritious green-leafy vegetables available around. Its lovely top greens have actually more vitamin A, carotenes, vitamin K, and flavonoid anti-oxidants than some of typical fruits and vegetables.
Botanical name  Brassica juncea
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50
Grower name  Richard Watson
Add to OrderLettuce & greens
Alexander - 92RW1A

Alexander - 92RW1A

Details  Grows over one metre in height. Known for its edible young shoots, leaf stalks, stems, roots, flowers and seeds. This frost tolerate plant was cultivated for many centuries and was widely grown by the Romans who introduced it into western and central Europe including the British Isles.
Botanical name  Smyrnium olusatrum
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  30
Grower name  Richard Watson
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Bean - Crystal - 109RW11A

Bean - Crystal - 109RW11A

Details  This climbing bean was given to Richard 2017 under the name 'Crystal', grows to 2 -3 metres tall and produces a black seed.
Botanical name  Phaseolus vulgaris
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  40
Grower name  Richard Watson
Only 6 in stock Add to OrderBeans
Calenduleae - Yellow - 169RW103A

Calenduleae - Yellow - 169RW103A

Details  

Also known as African daisy, South African daisy and Cape daisy, it comes in a range of different colours. Plants prefer a warm and sunny position and rich soil, although they can  tolerate poorer soils as we as drought.
Botanical name  Dimorphotheca Ecklonis
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  30
Grower name  Richard watson
Add to OrderFlowers

Tomato - Cherry Mix - 175-103

Details  Collection of different cherry type varieties
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  20
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Radish - Black spanish 'round' - 62RW65

Radish - Black spanish 'round' - 62RW65

Details  A large black skin white flesh winter radish that can get to dinner plate size while still remaining mild tasting. This radish does carry a recessive gene that produces a white bulb.
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
Botanical name  Raphanus sativus
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50 seeds
Grower name  Richard Watson
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Wild Chicory - 134RW79

Wild Chicory - 134RW79

Details  The original seed was given to Richard as part of a seed order from the UK and was said to have being sourced from plants growing wild. A perennial member of the dandelion family Asteraceae. Ideal for salad leaves or roots which can be baked, ground, and used as a coffee substitute.

Seed extraction and processing is extremely difficult and time consuming which reflexes in the price of this seed
Botanical name  Cichorium intybus
Price per packet  $5.00
Packet contents  15
Grower name  Richard Watson
Out of stock Herbs
Cardoon - 106RG9A

Cardoon - 106RG9A

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.
Botanical name  Cynara cardunculus
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  20
Grower name  Richard watson
Out of stock
Radish - Qingluobo - 104RW92

Radish - Qingluobo - 104RW92

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.
Botanical name  Raphanus sativus
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50
Grower name  Richard Watson
Add to OrderRoot crops

Pea - Grandus 115RW13

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.
Botanical name  Pisum sativum
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  40
Grower name  Richard Watson
Add to OrderPeas
Caigua 1RW16

Caigua 1RW16

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.
Botanical name  Cyclanthera pedata
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  10
Grower name  Richard Watson
Add to OrderCurcurbita

Onion - Mammoth improved

Details  Currently growing this onion with the plan to have seed early in 2021
http://www.mammothonion.co.uk/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_ONP1
Grower name  Richard Watson
Out of stock Allium

Florence fennel - 86RW31

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.
Botanical name  Foeniculum vulgare
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  40 seeds
Grower name  Richard Watson
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Capsicum - Mallard - 9RW15

Capsicum - Mallard - 9RW15

Details  A red capsicum which has been grown by Tony Mallard ,a well known retired market gardener from CHCH
Botanical name  Capsicum annuum
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  30 seeds
Grower name  Richard Watson
Out of stock Capsicum
Celery - Karaka - 83RW19

Celery - Karaka - 83RW19

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
Botanical name  Apium graveolens
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50 seeds
Grower name  Richard Watson
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Kale - True Siberian - 49RW36

Kale - True Siberian - 49RW36

Details  A Siberian type highly productive hardy kale. Tolerates weather and water logged soil better than most other kales. Plants are vigorous and large.
 
Botanical name  Brassica napus
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  60
Grower name  Richard Watson
Add to OrderBrassicas
Egyptian walking tree onions

Egyptian walking tree onions

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
Botanical name  Allium cepa
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  20-30 bulbils
Grower name  Richard Watson
Out of stock
Epazote - 95RW29

Epazote - 95RW29

Details  Epazote, once cultivated on a large scale as a medicinal herb, is now grown in few herb gardens. A roadside weed in much of North America and central and southern Europe, its herbal uses are barely recognized today outside its native Mexico and South America.
Various native peoples in the American and Mexican West today drink epazote tea or eat the plant to facilitate childbirth and ease painful menstruation as well as to expel worms and relieve gastrointestinal disorders (some of which might be brought on by the worms). Epazote leaves also have been poulticed on arthritic joints, athlete’s foot, and insect bites.
Botanical name  Dysphania ambrosioides
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  lots and lots
Grower name  Richard Watson
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Lettuce - Mescher - 25RW43

Lettuce - Mescher - 25RW43

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
Botanical name  Lactuca sativa
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  40
Grower name  Richard Watson
Add To OrderLettuce & greens
Corn Salad - 68RW27

Corn Salad - 68RW27

Details  Winter hardly edible leaf vegetable with a characteristic nutty flavor, dark green color, and soft texture, popularly served as salad greens.
Botanical name  Valerianella locusta
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50 seeds
Grower name  Richard Watson
Out of stock Lettuce & greens
Bean - Major cook - 123RW72A

Bean - Major cook - 123RW72A

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.
Botanical name  Phaseolus vulgaris
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  30
Grower name  Richard Watson
Add to OrderBeans
Wild Aster - 131RW75A

Wild Aster - 131RW75A

Details  Tall, spindly, straight-stemmed almost hairless annual or short-lived perennial herb up to 1.8 m tall, with small pale purple flowers produced on a many-branched flower stalk. An amazing bee magnet in autumn. Seed originally given to Richard from a hobby grower in the US.
Botanical name  Aster subulatus
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  lots
Grower name  Richard Watson
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Leek - Portage - 94RW40

Leek - Portage - 94RW40

Details  A young and still evolving grex/landrace variety been bred by Richard Watson and another Canadian gardener who have been mixing the seed over the last few years, so its really a collection of 15 standard leeks varieties, some grow wide large stems while others can be very tall, this is because of the strong genetic diversity.
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 
Botanical name  Allium porrum
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50 seeds
Grower name  Richard Watson
Add To OrderAllium
Bean - Greek Gigante - 46RW5

Bean - Greek Gigante - 46RW5

Details  Unlike Scarlet Runners they have pure white flowers and huge white seeds. Flowers over a long period and grows up to 3m tall. Will be grown again 2020-2021 growing season
Botanical name  Phaseolus coccineus
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  30 seeds
Grower name  Richard Watson
Out of stock Beans
Celery - Red Giant - 2RW18

Celery - Red Giant - 2RW18

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 .

 

Botanical name  Apium graveolens var. dulce
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50 seeds
Grower name  Richard Watson
Add to OrderRare & unusual

Beet - Mangelbeet - 66RW9

Details  .

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.
Botanical name  Beta vulgaris
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  approx 50
Grower name  Richard Watson
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Radish - Pink Beauty - 96RW66

Radish - Pink Beauty - 96RW66

Details  A beautiful round pink radish that is sweet and tasty, less of a hot and spicy radish than most other summer radishes
Botanical name  Raphanus sativus
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50
Grower name  Richard Watson
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Onion - Pukekohe long keeper - 36RW50

Onion - Pukekohe long keeper - 36RW50

Details  An old strain of long storing brown skin onion that can grow up to 800grams.

Selection work involves sowing seed early spring so as to give the onion the longest possible growing season, this way the idea is to expose any onions that have a undesirable tendency to bolt to seed in its first year, its the second year that the onion is used seed production. After the first years growth, only onion that have excellent size and shape are stored for winter, springtime the first 50% that start to grow green shoots while still in storage are discarded and the remain 50% slow bolters planted back out from seed production. The slower the bolters the better the keeping ability.
Botanical name  Allium cepa
Price per packet  $4.00
Packet contents  50
Grower name  Richard Watson
Out of stock Allium