| Rare & unusual

Asparagus - Pacific Purple - 82RW

Details A purple variety that is sweeter and less fibrous than green asparagus. Takes three years for the crowns to grow large enough before harvesting, though a small amount of light picking can be done in the second year. Seed needs 18 to 23deg for germinating, once seedling first shows itself transplant into its own 2L pot and plant out into its permanent about 12 months later, never let the first seedling spear get frosted till fully in leaf.

Botanical name Asparagus officinalis

Grower name Richard Paul Watson

Storage Info seed renewed yearly

Contains at least 30 seeds

Price per packet $4.50

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Caigua 1RW

Details From the cucumber family Caigua suits most areas of New Zealand as it 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

Grower name Richard Paul Watson

Storage Info Seed stock refreshed yearly

Contains at least 20

Price per packet $4.50

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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

Grower name Richard Paul Watson

Storage Info Seed stock refreshed yearly

Contains at least 100

Price per packet $4.50

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Red Giant - 2RW

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

Grower name Richard Paul Watson

Storage Info Seed frozen stored

Contains at least 50 seeds

Price per packet $4.50

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Skirret - 6RW

Details Skirret is a perennial vegetable which dates back to Roman times. Related to carrots, it is the bunches of skinny white roots that is the edible portion. Doesn't like to be grown anywhere too dry and are slightly vulnerable to carrot fly. Roasted its a very tasty vegetable. Sow in spring time and treat the seedling like carrot seedlings by keeping them weed free and at a spacing of 20cm apart. Roots develop their full flavour during winter. Best grown as a annual.

Skirret seed is a difficult seed to germinate, the best method appears to be surface sowing in early winter outdoors in a area where the surface stays damp, by spring the small seedlings can be transferred to there garden bed, space out by 20cm x 20cm.

Botanical name Sium sisarum

Grower name Richard Paul Watson

Contains at least 50 seeds

Price per packet $4.50

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Teasel - 7RG

Details Teasel - spiky flower heads were used for carding wool in the old days, also regarded as having some of the best bee attractant flowers. Finches love to eat the seeds.

Botanical name Dipsacus fullonum

Grower name Rick Ginders

Date Of Seed Harvest 2023

Storage Info Seed frozen stored

Contains at least 30 seeds

Price per packet $4.50

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