Sentinels Group

Chives - Garlic - 3RW24

Details  Both leaves and the stalks and immature unopened flower buds can be used in salads or as flavouring

Botanical name  Allium tuberosum

Price per packet  $4.00

Packet contents  50

Grower name  Richard Watson

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Chives - Standard - 31RG23

Details  Perennial growing to 50cm. Grows in slowly spreading clumps. Plant has green, hollow, tubular leaves that have a mild onion flavour; used as a garnish, in sauces, dips, stews, casseroles, salads and soups. Can be grown in containers.

Botanical name  Allium schoenoprasum

Price per packet  $4.00

Packet contents  50 seeds

Grower name  Richard Ginders

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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

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Leek - Perennial Leek - 93RW38

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.

Botanical name  Allium ampeloprasum

Price per packet  $4.00

Packet contents  30

Grower name  Richard Watson

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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

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Leek - Purau - 91RG39

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

Price per packet  $4.00

Packet contents  50

Grower name  Rick Ginders

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Onion - Mammoth improved - 119RW

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/

Price per packet  $4.00

Grower name  Richard Watson

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Onion - Medbury Red Longkeeper - 35RW48

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

Price per packet  $4.00

Packet contents  50 seeds

Grower name  Richard Watson

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Onion - Pukekohe long keeper - 36RW50

Details  This original strain of Pukekoke Long Keeper was 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.

Botanical name  Allium cepa

Price per packet  $4.00

Packet contents  50

Grower name  Richard Watson

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Onion - Rossa Lunga - 141RG85A

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.

Botanical name  Allium fistulosum

Price per packet  $4.00

Packet contents  50

Grower name  Rick Ginders

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Onion - Walsh - 37RG51

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.

Botanical name  Allium fistulosum

Price per packet  $4.00

Packet contents  50 seeds

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Spring Onion - 61ASS

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.

Botanical name  allium fistulosum

Price per packet  $4.00

Packet contents  50 seeds

Grower name  Sarah Smith

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