Pea - Novella - 54RW
Scottish - 38RW
Indian Hannah - 80RW
Pea - Oregon Giant Sugar Pod - 138aRW
Pea - Greenfeast - 52RW
Chervil - 67RW
Moonglow - 16RW
Major cook - 123RW
Rhubarb - 162RW
Sow seed in a seed raising in small pots and plant out once seedling are 10cm tall
Daniel's Defiance - 53RW
Fennel - Florence - 86RW
Carrot - Benhorn - 60RW
Lettuce - Red Oakleaf - 27RW
Asparagus - Pacific Purple - 82RW
Skirret - 6RW
Radish - Black Spanish 'round' - 62RW
Alexander - 92RW
Crystal - 109RW
Lettuce - Devils Ears - 28RW
Cherokee Trail of Tears - 42RW
Corn Salad - 68RW
Spinach - New Zealand - 128RW
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.
Onion - Mammoth improved - 231RW
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/
Mangelbeet - 66RW
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.
Long Keeper - 20RW
Wild Chicory - 134RW
Seed extraction and processing is extremely difficult and time consuming which reflects in the price of this seed
Chard - Compactum - 21RW
Feed back from a customer living near Katikati, she sowed this variety in Sep 2020 which is still growing March 2022 having not bolted to seed during this time, being a bi-annual it should have run to seed late 2021.
Yellow current - 15RW
Parsley - Italian or flat leaf - 72RW
Leek - Portage - 94RW
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
Etollbeet - 181RW
Curly Leaf Parsley - 88RW
Radish - Qingluobo - 104RW
Radish - Pink Beauty - 96RW
Richards selection work with this cultivar involves sowing earlier than normal for this summer radish, this way it helps expose the plants that want to go into reproduction in its first growing year, as they are considered a biennial , this means any plants that bolt early sees a one way trip to the cold composting heap, what plants do make it through a Amuri Plains winter without going to seed or rotting are saved for seed production the following summer
Toconjoin - corn - 180RW
Over 200 plants are first used to achieve as much cross pollination as possible. The photo shows a selection of the best cobs from that 2020/21 crop.
13/7/2022 - During the growing season of 2020/21, one singe plant produced slightly purple kennels, those seeds were separated and grown 2021/22, this crop went on to produce around 10 plants with white kennels. No other maize or corn was grown nearby, there for there would not have been any contamination from outside of the garden. By combining a large pool of genetic diversity together, it can help in releasing genes that have been locked away from expressing themself, its possible that could go back 40-50 years.
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Richards mix- 129RW
Seed is best sown in autumn then transfer the tiny 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 their 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 cultivars are virus free.
Red Rascal seed is the latest to be added to Richards potato gene pool
Greek Gigante - 46RW
Czar White - dwarf runner 39RW
Parsnip - Kralcrown - 61RW
Kraslcrown is the result of a cross pollination carried out by Richard in 2010 between Hollow crown and Kral, hence the name Kralcrown.
The key to growing parsnips is using fresh seed. Many gardeners 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. Sentinels parsnip seed is regrown every year meaning it should give great germination results.
Lettuce - Arabic - 24RW
Chives - Garlic - 3RW
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.
Grandus 115RW
Plant autumn for northern areas, South Island sow spring and summer.
Grows up to 2 metres
Mustard Lettuce - 87RW
Pea - Onward - 55RW
Lettuce - Mescher - 25RW
Kowhai dwarf - 145RW
Flax harakeke - 218RW
Indigenous to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. Grows in a wide range of locations from lowland and coastal areas to mountain forest, will grow happily in very dry spots also. Seed needs stratification either by sowing in autumn in areas that get frosts, or 6 weeks in the fridge in frost free areas.
Flax will cross pollinate with other cultivars, Richard has only one cultivar so this seed will grow true to type.
Leek - Perennial Leek - 93RW
Cabbage - 'Tette Noire' 4RW
Butterbean - 22RW
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.
Seed should be back in stock 2024
Coprosma propinqua - 200RW
Ngaio - 121RW
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.
Ipomoea batatas - Kamote
Update 31/8/2023. First seedling up from South Island grown seed seen in the attached photo.
Known in South America where is originates as Camote, it is also known here in NZ as as Kumara or Sweet Potato in North America. This widely grown tuber crop is normally grown each year from cuttings. Camote grown from seed rather than a clone is globally rare. The government funded DSIR back in the 70's or 80's carried out a short trial but for some reason was stopped, this may have been the only Ipomoea batatas seed had grown till 2017 when Richard-Paul was gifted some seed from a passionate home gardener/breeder in the US, he then set about starting a long term breeding program with the idea crossing it with a local Kumara.
Six new cultivars were germinated from the first shipment of seed some were able to produce flowers but no seed, this following three seasons were the same till that generation of cultivars died out because they had been cloned six times.
2020 a second attempt was make where fresh seed was sent again from the US breeder and a small number of new cultivars started, but this time cutting were shared with a gardener in the North Island who managed a successful crossing and a small amount of seed was produced. This seed was gifted back and a second crop of 28 seeds was grown 2022-23 form 7 new cultivars. Plans are 2023-24 the 28 seeds will be germinated where its hopes are for at least 5 new cultivars and again more seed, maybe even enough to be made available via our website.... stay tuned by hitting the 'watch' tab
Kale - Red Ursa - 51RT
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/
Regal Lily - 149RW
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. He will be able to do selective breeding from the best performing plants.
Toms Yellow Wonder - 18RW
Saffron
Toi toi - South Island - 241RW
pepper - Trinidad Moruga Scorpion - 171RW
Tobacco - 175RW
This is a pink flowered variety that can grow to close on 2m and flowers from Dec till late autumn. It attracts bumble bees big time. 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
Wild Aster - 131RW
Kanuka - 161RW
Celtuce - 242RW
Perennial Sweet pea - 126RW
Onion - Pukekohe long keeper, Mammoth Improved cross - 36RW
When growing seed from this early cross expect diversity in type.
Caigua 1RW
Kowhai - South Island - 207RW
Seed is best sown in autumn to allow for stratification, or this can be done by placing in the fridge for 6 weeks, then a chip removed from the side of the seed with something like a steak knife, this allows moisture to enter helping germination, .
Cape Gooseberry - 81RW
Cabbage Tree - 173RW
Propagation: sow seed outside in autumn for spring germination. In warmer areas place seed in a damp paper and keep in the fridge for two months, then sow in trays. Transplant in to pots as soon as they show their first leaf.
New seed will be available again in Feb
Tomatillo - 73RT
Sunflowers - Giant Russian - 103RW
Sow in spring in colder areas, year round in warmer locations.
Four Peaks Paddocks
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.
Pink Raspberry - 5RW
Cuttings will be available during winter, hit the watch tab and a notification will be email out.
Red Giant - 2RW
Capsicum - Soroksari - 10RW
Brussels Sprout - Darkmar - 102RW
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
Calenduleae - Yellow - 41RW
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 well as drought.
Capsicum - Botinecka Zuta - 8RW
Kale - True Siberian - 51RW
Poppy - Pink Pom Pom - 191RW
Onion - Medbury Red Longkeeper - 35RW
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
True Seed Garlic (TSG)
Egyptian walking tree onions
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 giving me 23 new base onions. These were then replanted out separately and it is hoped they will produce more seed. The goal is to develop an open pollinate walking onion that is grown from seed and not bulbils.
Bulbils will be available again Jan 2024