Kohlrabi - Early Purple Vienna - 105SS
Propagation: Sow Purple Vienna Kohlrabi seeds directly onto a firm bed of seed raising mix and press in well. Cover with a light layer of mix. Seedlings usually appear in 7-14 days.
Parsnip - Hollow Crown - 63RG
Spinach - Bower - 25RW
It is grown for edible leaves and can be used as food or as an ornamental plant for ground cover. As some of its names signify, it has similar flavor and texture properties to spinach and is cooked like spinach. Like spinach, it contains oxalates. Its medium to low levels of oxalates needs to be removed by blanching the leaves in hot water for one minute, then rinsing in cold water before cooking. It can be found as an invasive plant in North and South America and cultivated along the East Asian rim. It thrives in hot weather and is considered an heirloom vegetable. Few insects consume it, and even slugs and snails do not seem to feed on it.
The thick, irregularly-shaped seeds should be planted just after the last spring frost. Before planting, the seeds should be soaked for 12 hours in cold water or 3 hours in warm water. Seeds should be planted 5 to 10 mm deep and spaced 15 to 30 cm apart. The seedlings will emerge in 10 to 20 days, and they will continue to produce greens through the summer.
Poppy - Papaver
Please be aware not all poppy seeds are edible.
Sweet Cicely - 5SSPH
Fennel - Florence - 86RW
salsify - 60RS
Salsify is grown similarly to that as other root vegetables such as parsnip and carrots, sow spring time and harvest roots during winter.
Skirret - 6RW
Alexander - 92RW
Corn Salad - 68RW
Sarah Smith
Sarah developed an interest in seed saving from a young age and also being a hobbyist bee keeper for 5+ years has made her more aware of the importance of flowers as a food source for our pollinators and retaining these pollinated seeds for future use.
Sarah also has a keen interest in NZ Native Plants and how they provide shelter and food for wildlife and support pollinators. She is keen to promote the biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.
Florence Fennel
Florence fennel is a cool-weather perennial grown as an annual. Grow fennel in full sun. a wonderfully ornamental vegetable, is grown 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. Plant fennel in well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Prepare the bed in advance by working in aged compost. Fennel prefers a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.8.
Spilanthes - 71RW
Given it is an annual native to the tropics care is needed against frost. Flowers from Dec through to winter.
Read more at Gardening Know How: Spilanthes Herb Care: How To Grow Spilanthes Toothache Plant https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/spilanthes/growing-spilanthes-plants.htm
Read more at Gardening Know How: Spilanthes Herb Care: How To Grow Spilanthes Toothache Plant https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/spilanthes/growing-spilanthes-plants.htm
Read more at Gardening Know How: Spilanthes Herb Care: How To Grow Spilanthes Toothache Plant https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/spilanthes/growing-spilanthes-plants.htm
Morning Glory - Crimson - 28RS
Globe Artichoke - 89RG
Purau Sweet Cherry - 99RG
Purau large red - 30RG
Purau Gardens
Rick Gender's Purau Gardens is located in Purau by the Lyttleton Harbour. Well known as an historic early market garden for Christchurch with a great climate and rich volcanic soil. No chemicals or fertilisers are required for the production of fantastic fruit and vegetables and its relative isolation makes this a great area for specialist seed production and development.
Leek - Purau - 91RG
Medbury Gardens
Richard-Paul Watson started growing seed when he was given what was later to be renamed the Benhorn carrot.This was in the late 1980's and two years later he joined up with Kay Baxter who had only just set up Koanga Gardens, as a volunteer heirloom seed grower.
Through the 1990's he leased land in around Rangiora area which helped build his knowledge and understanding of the complexities of growing seed but it wasn't until he and his family bought 5.1 hectares in the Amuri basin that he was able to increase both the number and the volume of seed lines. In more resent years Richards interest has shifted more to developing landrace cultivars and working towards enabling clone grown cultivars to reproduce from true seed such as garlic and sweet potatoes.
Red Ruffled Kale - Medbury Gardens & Neville Sinclair
Giant Alderman - 57RG
Sara Pepers-Hiltrop
Gardening and growing is my life. This is a picture of me in my 3 year old garden which was rank, clumpy cocksfoot grass and heavy clay in March 2020 when we moved here. I've worked really hard to build up the soil and am a firm believer in the no dig and chop and drop methods, to mimic nature. So far I’ve scoped out about an acre of food forest with fruit trees, berries, root crops, perennials, natives, shrubs, bulbs and flower gardens, vegetable beds and tunnel houses. I'm looking forward to sharing what I have grown here and spreading the love of seeds and gardening.
Carla McKnight
At age 15 she had at least 40 plants in her room, some rather large.
Still keen on house plants, just a few more than 40 now, she believes a house without plants is an empty shell.
Now married to husband Paul, together they have three grown children with seven young grand kids, on an eleven acres in the Waikato with three Clydesdales, two miniature horses and a Quarter horse x, two cats and a dog.
Carla has spent most of her life working in gardens, has always had a keen interest in growing indoor and outside plants especially interested in native plantings. Now has big vegetable gardens/fruit trees and a small mostly native nursery keeping her busy. Wanting to make that little bit of difference for our environment and wildlife, the more people plant trees and grow their own produce the better.
Epazote - 154RW
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 can be poulticed on arthritic joints, athlete’s foot, and insect bites.
Soil improvement for gardens, fields or pasture Soil fertil...
Brassica Brassica plants, such as kale, cabbage, and broccol...
Why you should grow your own
So maybe you're wondering if now is the time to start to grow a few for your self and see what all the fuss is about?