Carrot - Benhorn - 60RW17

Carrot - Benhorn - 60RW17

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.
Botanical name  Daucus carota subsp. sativus
Contains at least  approx 100
Grower name  Richard Watson
Price per packet  $4.00
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Parsnip - Kralcrown - 61RW55

Parsnip - Kralcrown - 61RW55

Details  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, so having our seed frozen keeps the seed from aging. Also seed is regrown every two years.

This cross pollination carried out by Richard in 2010 was between Hollow crown and Kral, hence the Kralcrown. The selection work that's carried out with this new variety involves growing it for one full season. Seed is sown in Aug, a year later roots are dug up and only the healthiest, longest and  widest roots are replanted for flowering/seed in spring.  

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
Contains at least  approx 100
Grower name  Richard Watson
Price per packet  $4.00
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Beet - Mangelbeet - 66RW9

Details  .

Best eaten when small, while still sweet. Larger roots can be used as animal feed. Sow in late summer for winter harvest. They can bolt to seed if sown too early.
Botanical name  Beta vulgaris
Contains at least  approx 50
Grower name  Richard Watson
Price per packet  $4.00
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Salsify - 65RW67

Details  The roots when cooked have a mild oyster-like flavour. The leaves can also be used in salads and have a nutty lettuce like flavour. Best sown in the spring and eaten the following winter.
Botanical name  Tragopogon porrifolius
Contains at least  40 seeds
Date Of Seed Harvest  
Grower name  Richard Watson
Price per packet  $4.00
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Parsley - Hamburg root parsley - 64RW

Details  Hamburg is grown for its very tasty roots that are good raw and cooked, divine oven roasted also great with mashed potatoes. Leaves can also be eaten.

Sow in spring in deep free draining soil as it takes a full growing season to reach full size and can be eaten during that winter.
Botanical name  Petroselinum crispum
Contains at least  approx 50
Date Of Seed Harvest  2012
Storage Info  Seed long term stored in freezer
Grower name  Richard Watson
Price per packet  $4.00
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Radish - Pink Beauty - 96RW

Radish - Pink Beauty - 96RW

Details  A beautiful round pink radish that is sweet and tasty, less of a hot and spicy radish than most other summer radishes
Botanical name  Raphanus sativus
Contains at least  50
Storage Info  Seed long term stored in freezer
Grower name  Richard Watson
Price per packet  $4.00
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Skirret - 6RW68

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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Parsnip - Hollow Crown - 63RG56

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
Contains at least  approx 60
Date Of Seed Harvest  2022
Storage Info  Seed stock refreshed yearly
Grower name  Rick Ginders
Price per packet  $4.00
Only 6 in stock Add to Order
Cardoon - 106RW

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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Radish - Qingluobo - 104RW92

Radish - Qingluobo - 104RW92

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
Contains at least  50
Grower name  Richard Watson
Price per packet  $4.00
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Carrot - Baby Slenderette - 32NS89B

Carrot - Baby Slenderette - 32NS89B

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  100
Grower name  Nev and Sue Sinclair
Price per packet  $4.00
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Radish - Black spanish 'round' - 62RW65

Radish - Black spanish 'round' - 62RW65

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
Contains at least  50 seeds
Grower name  Richard Watson
Price per packet  $4.00
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Etollbeet - 181RW

Etollbeet - 181RW

Details  Etollbeet is a new cross between Detroit Dark Red, Bulls Blood and a unknown dark red large growing beetroot given to Richard by a Takaka gardener. Mixing genetics in vegetables produces wide variation in size, shape, colour as well as tastes, This crossing is also capable of unlocking traits that can go back many generations, this seed is something quite different for the home gardener and should be quite interesting to anyone who's a bit experimental.

Photo taken 14/7/2022 - Seed from these plants should available March 2023.
Botanical name  Beta vulgaris
Contains at least  50
Grower name  Richard Watson
Price per packet  $4.00
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Radish - Chinese Red Meat - 125SS

Radish - 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 centre is rich pink, sure to add a delightful colour to any salad.
Botanical name  Raphanus sativus
Contains at least  50
Date Of Seed Harvest  Feb 2021
Grower name  Sarah Smith
Price per packet  $4.00
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