Sentinels Group

Caigua 1RW16

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

Contains at least  10

Grower name  Richard Watson

Price per packet  $4.00

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Cardoon - 106RW

Details  Native to the western and central Mediterranean region, this large perennial can grow to up 2m with at least a 1m spread. Young leaves can be eaten in salads while the roots can be cooked like parsnips as well as young flower stems. Can grow in heavy clay soils but does prefer a well drained soil in full sun. Considered to be reasonably drought tolerant, cardoon wont flourish to the same extent as those that receive adequate watering. 2021-22 Richard grew a few cardoon in a dry used area of land in which they received no watering, the leaf growth only grew to about .5m while the flower head reached nearly 1m. The amount of water needed grow cardoon productively would depend on soil types, those who garden on light land in dry areas of NZ, we recommend watering every second day with 5L per day.

Botanical name  Cynara cardunculus

Contains at least  20

Grower name  Richard watson

Price per packet  $5.00

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Celery - Red Giant - 2RW18

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

Contains at least  50 seeds

Date Of Seed Harvest  

Grower name  Richard Watson

Price per packet  $4.00

Out of stock

Epazote - 95RW29

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  lots and lots

Grower name  Richard Watson

Price per packet  $4.00

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Pink Raspberry - 5RW64

Details  A sweet fruit that's less tart than the red, grows into a 1.5m bush in heavy damp soils, 1m on light land. Was found growing near the Arthurs Pass village in the 1950's by a gardener who maintained this variety in Rangiora till his death in the early 90's. Richard has grown it ever since. Raspberry seed needs stratification, which can also be done in the fridge by placing the seed in damp paper on a plate then cover the plate with cling wrap. About 6-8 weeks should be enough.

Botanical name  Rubus

Contains at least  20

Grower name  Richard Watson

Price per packet  $4.00

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Rhubarb - 74RW66A

Details  Rhubarb is is a rhizomatous perennial, really easy to grow from seed and is quite vigorous growing. The plants that this seed came from were themselves seed grown. Plants love well-rotted organic matter mulched around them.
Sow seed in a seed raising in small pots and plant out once seedling are 10cm tall

 

Botanical name  Rheum x hybridum

Contains at least  approx 30

Grower name  Richard Watson

Price per packet  $4.00

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Skirret - 6RW68

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.

Botanical name  Sium sisarum

Contains at least  50 seeds

Grower name  Richard Watson

Price per packet  $4.00

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Teasel - 7RG70

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

Contains at least  20

Grower name  Rick Ginders

Price per packet  $4.00

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