Root crops

These vibrant root vegetables are not only a delicious addition to a variety of dishes but also offer numerous nutritional advantages. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, known for promoting good vision and overall eye health. Cultivating carrots at home allows you to enjoy them at their peak freshness, retaining maximum flavour and nutritional content.

Additionally, carrots are relatively easy to grow, making them an ideal choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Their versatility in terms of size and variety means you can tailor your carrot crop to suit your culinary preferences.

Black Spanish 'round' - 62RW

Black Spanish 'round' - 62RW

Details   A large black skin, white flesh, winter radish, though this radish carries a recessive gene that produces a white skin as well. They can get to dinner plate size while still remaining mild tasting. Recommended not to sow before March in the South Island and April in the north as they can bolt to flower before growing its swollen stem.
Botanical name   Raphanus sativus
Date Of Seed Harvest   2017
Grower name   Richard Paul Watson
Storage Info   frozen stored
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
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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
Grower name   Nev and Sue Sinclair
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2024
Contains at least   60
Price per packet   $4.50
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Carrot - Benhorn - 60RW

Carrot - Benhorn - 60RW

Details   This original line of carrot dates back to the late 80's when a long time gardener gave Richard carrot seed that he had grown for most of his life. The name of this carrot had been long forgotten so it was named Benhorn in 2000. It is a large stumpy carrot which has been selected for its sweetness and flavour. This is done by tasting each carrot before being replanted back for flowering and later seed production. To add to Benhorn's genetics two new carrots - St.Valery and Kuroda were used in the 20016-17 season in cross pollinating.

In January 2024 the following carrots were grown and will be added to Benhorn's genetics 2024-25 - Baby Pak, Every season, Manchester Table, Touchon, Express Hybrid, Kuroda Improved and Topweight.
Botanical name   Daucus carota subsp. sativus
Grower name   Richard Watson
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2023
Contains at least   approx 100
Price per packet   $4.50
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Chinese Red Meat - 125SS

Chinese Red Meat - 125SS

Details   Chinese Red Meat Radish is a heirloom variety that hails from China. A mild radish with a slightly peppery bite, it has a white and green skin but the center is rich pink, sure to add a delightful colour to any salad.

PropagationSow seeds in the ground where you intend to grow, cover with a 2-3mm layer of soil.
Botanical name   Raphanus sativus
Grower name   Sarah Smith
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50
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Etollbeet grex - 181RW

Etollbeet grex - 181RW

Details   Photo taken 14/7/2022 of the last 15 remaining beet plants out of around 500 that were chosen for being the healthiest and most productive. These went on to provide the 2022-23 seed crop. Etollbeet is a new cross between Detroit Dark Red, Bulls Blood and a unknown dark red large beetroot given to Richard by a Takaka gardener. Mixing genetics in vegetables produces wide variation in size, shape, colour range as well as tastes, This crossing is also capable of unlocking traits that can go back many generations, this grex seed is something quite different for the home gardener and should be quite interesting to anyone who's a bit experimental.

Seed packets do contain some plant material and varying size seed.

18th July 2024 seed was sown of original Etoillbeet grex as well as - Crosbys Egyptian Flat, Rainbow Blend,Action F1 hybrid, All Sseasons F1, Derwent Globe, Baby Beets, and Cylindra. By sowing in winter this tends to expose plants that want to flower in there first season. Its only those that dont and carry on growing through to the following growing season that end up being used in the next generation grex mix. First year bolters/flowering and any weak plants will be pulled out.
Botanical name   Beta vulgaris
Grower name   Richard Paul Watson
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2023
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50
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Ipomoea batatas - Camote

Ipomoea batatas - Camote

Details   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.
Grower name   Richard Paul Watson
Price per packet   $4.50
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Mangelbeet - 66RW

Mangelbeet - 66RW

Details   Best eaten when small, while still sweet. Larger roots can be used as animal feed. Sow in early spring in colder areas, year round in northern NZ. They can bolt to seed if sown too early.
Botanical name   Beta vulgaris
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2024
Grower name   Richard Watson
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Contains at least   approx 50
Price per packet   $4.50
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parsley - hamberg 329RW

parsley - hamberg 329RW

Details   Hamburg rooted parsley looks similar to Italian parsley. Its edible greens are used the same as both Italian parsley and curled parsley are used. However, Hamburg parsley root has edible tubers that look kind of like a cross between a parsnipand a carrot. The flavor and texture is somewhere between the two as well. The tubers have a rough white-beige skin and is whiter beneath the skin.

Sow springtime and space seedlings out to 10cm apart. Likes growing in deep soils.
Botanical name   Petroselinum crispum
Date Of Seed Harvest   2020
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Contains at least   100
Price per packet   $4.50
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Parsnip - Hollow Crown - 63RG

Parsnip - Hollow Crown - 63RG

Details   The Hollow Crown dates back to the early 1820s. A long tapered white root that has been grown and selected by Rick for over twenty years. If you wish to grow this long rooted parsnip, you will need deep soil that is stone free. If parsnips hit a stone while growing they tend to fork. They grow best in a light, deep rich soil. A generous amount of compost or humus in some other form helps develop a long edible root. Parsnip is notoriously difficult to grow for many gardeners because of parsnip seeds short lifespan, so to help with good germination all our parsnip seed is grown each year meaning seed is no more than 12 months when sold.
Botanical name   Pastinaca sativa
Grower name   Rick Ginders
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Contains at least   approx 60
Price per packet   $4.50
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Parsnip - Kralcrown - 61RW

Parsnip - Kralcrown - 61RW

Details   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.
Botanical name   Pastinaca sativa
Grower name   Richard Paul Watson
Storage Info   seed regrown each year
Contains at least   approx 100
Price per packet   $4.50
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Qingluobo - 104RW

Qingluobo - 104RW

Details   Known also as Green Luobo . This is a unique radish that is sweet, crispy and slightly hot. It has green flesh. The skin is green with a white tip. Sow in spring, for summer, as it won't winter over where there are hard frosts.
Botanical name   Raphanus sativus
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Grower name   Richard Watson
Storage Info   frozen stored
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50
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Skirret - 6RW

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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spring Grex cross - 96RW

spring Grex cross - 96RW

Details   A new breeding project by Richard that involved gathering seed from many different summer radishes as possible, this mass cross grex was sown Jan 2024 which consisted of the following - French Breakfast, Scarlet Finger, Sparkler, Cherry Belle, Mila and Pink Beauty.

Photo shows the results of this first cross pollination
Botanical name   Raphanus sativus
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2025
Grower name   Richard Paul Watson
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50
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White carrot - 350ALB

Details   White carrots are not only delicious but also packed with numerous health benefits. One of the key advantages of consuming white carrots is their high antioxidant content. Another significant health benefit of white carrots is their high dietary fiber content. White carrots are also known to boost the immune system. These vibrant vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and beta-carotene. Vitamin C is essential for a robust immune system, while beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A,
Botanical name   Daucus carota subsp. sativus
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2024
Grower name   Alice Le Brun
Contains at least   100
Price per packet   $4.50
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