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Kale - Red Ruffled - 51NS

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
Botanical name   Brassica napus pabularia
Grower name   Nev&Sue Sinclair
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2018
Storage Info   Seed long term stored in freezer
Contains at least   60
Price per packet   $4.50
Lettuce, Drunken Woman - 205SS

Lettuce, Drunken Woman - 205SS

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.

Botanical name   lactuca sativa
Grower name   Sarah Smith
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2022
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50

Kale - Red Ursa - 51RT

Details  
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/

Botanical name   Brassica napus
Grower name   Richard Tew
Date Of Seed Harvest   2018
Storage Info   Seed long term stored in freezer
Contains at least   60
Price per packet   $4.50
Kale - Red Russian - 51RG

Kale - Red Russian - 51RG

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.
Botanical name   Brassica oleracea var. sabellica
Grower name   Rick Ginders
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2019
Storage Info   Seed long term stored in freezer
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
Kale - True Siberian - 51RW

Kale - True Siberian - 51RW

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
Grower name   Richard-Paul
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2019
Storage Info   Seed long term stored in freezer
Contains at least   60
Price per packet   $4.50
Kohlrabi - Early Purple Vienna - 105SS

Kohlrabi - Early Purple Vienna - 105SS

Details   Purple Vienna Kohlrabi is an heirloom, open-pollinated variety that is an ideal staple crop for cool-weather gardening. It is one of the easiest and most productive continuous harvests throughout autumn and winter months. Plants grow to 30cm tall and produce edible greens (leaves) in addition to the beautiful purple bulbs. The leaves taste similar to kale greens. Bulbs grow above the soil and have a purple exterior with a white flesh. The texture is crunchy and is excellent prepared raw as a slaw or an addition to salads, these should be harvested at about 7.5cm in diameter. 
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.

Botanical name   Brassica oleracea
Grower name   Sarah Smith
Date Of Seed Harvest   Dec 2022
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
Medbury Gardens

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.

Onion - Medbury Red Longkeeper - 35RW

Onion - Medbury Red Longkeeper - 35RW

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


Botanical name   Allium cepa
Grower name   Richard Paul
Date Of Seed Harvest   2021
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50

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.

Details   Purau Gardens is a 7 acre block of prime volcanic silt loam situated at the bottom of the Purau Valley in Lyttleton Harbour. The land was purchased by Ric and Aileen Ginders in 2005 and had been a campground for many years. Prior to that it was a market garden supplying early tomatoes, strawberries and other produce to Christchurch. Historic records show that this area has a long history of early vegetable production due to the area having a unique microclimate and very fertile soil. This also makes it a great area for specialist seed production  as it is relatively isolated. I am dedicated to producing good quality seed that thrives in our country and is a joy to grow and welcome any feedback.

Giant Alderman - 57RG

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.
Botanical name   Pisum sativum
Grower name   Rick Ginders
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2022
Storage Info   Seed long term stored in freezer
Contains at least   40
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 6 in stock   Order
Sara Pepers-Hiltrop

Sara Pepers-Hiltrop

Hi, Im Sara. I live in Mosgiel, Dunedin with my husband Kris and our 2 children. I have always loved plants, flowers and gardens from a very young age. My photographic memory helps with names and working in a garden center, I have access to lots of interesting plants to add to my collection. (I have a bit of a plant problem lol!)

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

Carla McKnight

Details   Carla was born in Holland, moved to NZ with her family at age 9 and has always worked in gardens from a young age.
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.

Leek - Purau - 91RG

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
Botanical name   Allium porrum
Contains at least   50
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2021
Grower name   Rick Ginders
Price per packet   $4.50
Epazote - 154RW

Epazote - 154RW

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 can be poulticed on arthritic joints, athlete’s foot, and insect bites.
Botanical name   Dysphania ambrosioides
Contains at least   100
Grower name   Richard Watson
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Price per packet   $4.50
Why you should grow your own

Why you should grow your own

Details   If you already grow your own plants and vegetables you know how satisfying it is. Whether you enjoy the taste, smell, sight or knowledge of good healthy produce...

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?
Sue and Nev Sinclair

Sue and Nev Sinclair

Sue - I have been a gardener since before marrying Nev, 40 years ago. I am not experimental but love to grow our own food using varieties that have proved to be suitable for our light alluvial soil and harsh climate in the Scargill Valley.

Nev - We have been using gardening techniques that we feel are supportive of nature and seek to further our understanding of the way in which forces and organisms interact. I am very observant of any novelty that becomes evident in the plants I am growing. I have bred a couple of unique lines of plants and am developing new strains of potatoes and apple varieties.

Lobella - 47NS

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.
Botanical name   Solanum lycopersicum
Contains at least   20
Grower name   Nev and Sue Sinclair
Price per packet   $4.50
Kascade Korn - 85NS

Kascade Korn - 85NS

Details   The original kascade korn plants commenced life 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
Contains at least   50 seeds
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2023
Grower name   Nev&Sue Sinclair
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 2 in stock   Order
Dill - 217NS

Dill - 217NS

Details   Dill is a herb that’s used in many European and Asian cuisine. The leaves have a sweet grassy flavour but its the seeds that are more aromatic with a slightly more citrus flavour similar to that of caraway seeds.
Botanical name   Anethum graveolens
Contains at least   40
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2023
Grower name   Nev and Sue Sinclair
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Price per packet   $4.50
Coriander - 117NS

Coriander - 117NS

Details   To maintain a good supply of fresh coriander sow seeds every few weeks from spring right though until the end of autumn. Coriander does not like soil that is too dry and too warm

Coriander can be used for digestion problems including upset stomach, loss of appetite, hernia, nausea, diarrhea, bowel spasms, and intestinal gas. It is also used to treat measles, hemorrhoids, toothaches, worms, and joint pain, as well as infections caused by bacteria and fungus.
Botanical name   Coriandrum sativum
Contains at least   50
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2020
Grower name   Nev and Sue Sinclair
Storage Info   Seed stored in freezer
Price per packet   $4.50

Borlotti - 77NS

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
Botanical name   Phaseolus vulgaris
Contains at least   30
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2022
Grower name   Nev and Sue Sinclair
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 6 in stock   Order
GG - 34NS

GG - 34NS

Details   This variety was gifted to Nev which he has now grown for over 20 years. A black hilum forage pea was at the time being exported to India. They have found it to be an ideal pea for making into hummus. Grows about 30-45 cm tall and is quite productive.
Botanical name   Vigna unguiculata
Contains at least   40 seeds
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2022
Grower name   Nev&Sue Sinclair
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 4 in stock   Order

Broccoli - white - 101NS

Details   This particular old strain of broccoli takes longer to grow than the modern types while also being a larger plant, so give seedlings a half meter spacing when planting out
Botanical name   Brassica oleracea
Grower name   Nev&Sue Sinclair
Date Of Seed Harvest   2020
Storage Info   frozen stored
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50

Kumi Kumi pumpkin - 177NS

Details   Kumi Kumi fruit can grow to around 1kg and grow up to 30cm long. Needs plenty of space to grow as its a very rampant creeper. Immature fruit can be eaten as a courgette and tastes great. Once fruit is mature it stores well over winter but has a very hard skin.
Botanical name   Cucurbita pepo
Contains at least   20
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Grower name   Nev and Sue Sinclair
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 3 in stock   Order
Maize - Sola - 79NS

Maize - Sola - 79NS

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
Grower name   Nev and Sue Sinclair
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2021
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 8 in stock   Order

Japanese Black Trifele - 19NS

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.
Botanical name   Lycopersicon esculentum
Contains at least   20
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Grower name   Nev&Sue Sinclair
Price per packet   $4.50
Anise Hyssop - 164NS

Anise Hyssop - 164NS

Details   Anise hyssop is a hardy perennial growing to nearly a meter, it is an attractive and aromatic plant that is great for attracting bees.
Botanical name   Agastache foeniculum
Contains at least   30
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2020
Grower name   Nev and Sue Sinclair
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Price per packet   $4.50
Only 7 in stock   Order
Nev's TPS - 136NS

Nev's TPS - 136NS

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.
Botanical name   Solanum tuberosum
Contains at least   100
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2023
Grower name   Nev and Sue Sinclair
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Price per packet   $4.50
El Beano -138NS

El Beano -138NS

Details   This broad bean has pure white flowers. The pods enclose beans that are sweet, and which remain green once cooked and are nice eaten raw. Nev selected this cultivar from a random mutation over 35 years ago that he noticed had produced pure white flowers and so over the following years carried on selecting for that trait. he much preferred the flavour and colour.  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. Best sown in spring to early summer.

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.

Botanical name   Vicia Faba
Grower name   Nev&Sue Sinclair
Date Of Seed Harvest   Nov 2022
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Contains at least   30
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Out of stock

Capsicum - Czech Beauty - 11NS

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.
Botanical name   Capsicum Annuum
Grower name   Nev&Sue Sinclair
Contains at least   30 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
Evening Primrose - 70NS

Evening Primrose - 70NS

Details   Native to North America, this herb is now commonly found in many temperate zones around the world. It thrives in open dry areas. The roots can be eaten and oil can be extracted from the seeds which are rich in Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid. Omega-6 oils are one of the two "good" fats essential for health. Evening-primrose oil is being studied as a supplement for those who don't get enough omega-6 fat from their diet and also is showing some  promising results in reducing nerve damage caused by diabetes.
Botanical name   Oenothera biennis
Contains at least   50 seeds
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2021
Grower name   Nev&Sue Sinclair
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Price per packet   $4.50
Carrot - Baby Slenderette - 32NS

Carrot - Baby Slenderette - 32NS

Details   As the name suggests this carrot grows into a small root of about 8-10 cm long. Nev and Sue have selected for the sweetest tasting roots. Their garden doesn't have wild carrots growing anywhere in their district so it would be rare for any white rooted carrot to show up in the seed line.
Botanical name   Daucus carota subsp. sativus
Contains at least   60
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2022
Grower name   Nev and Sue Sinclair
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Out of stock

Sub-Arctic Maxi - 13NS

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.
Botanical name   Lycopersicon Esculentum
Contains at least   20
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2022
Grower name   Nev&Sue Sinclair
Price per packet   $4.50

Bean Feast - dwarf - 40NS

Details   Flavourful, flat podded, white-seeded bean, one of the best flavoured dwarf bean cultivar that Nev saved from oblivion in 1974 and has grown ever since.
Botanical name   Phaseolus Vulgaris
Contains at least   30
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2023
Grower name   Nev&Sue Sinclair
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 3 in stock   Order