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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
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
Contains at least   approx 100
Grower name   Richard Watson
Price per packet   $4.50
salsify - 60RS

salsify - 60RS

Details   Salsify is a common biennial wildflower, native to southeast Europe and north Africa, today in its a plant that's cultivated for its ornamental flower and edible root. The plant grows to around 1.2 m in height.
Salsify is grown similarly to that as other root vegetables such as parsnip and carrots, sow spring time and harvest roots during winter.
Botanical name   Tragopogon porrifolius
Grower name   Rachael Stott
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2024
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50
Fennel - Sweet/common - 239SPH

Fennel - Sweet/common - 239SPH

Details   Sweet or common fennel is part of the Apiaceae (umbellifers) family, along with carrot, dill, anise, parsley, parsnip, celery and angelica. These plants have umbrella shaped flowers and aromatic flavours and hollow stems. Many are medicinal herbs and attractors of predator insects to the garden. Most of the fennel plant can be used. Fennel has traditionally been used for digestive, endocrine, reproductive, lactation and respiratory systems.
Botanical name   Foeniculum vulgare
Contains at least   50 seeds
Date Of Seed Harvest   Autumn 2023
Grower name   Sara Pepers-Hiltrop
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Price per packet   $4.50

Lobella - 47NS

Details   Lobella, is yellow and hollow very like a capsicum to look at. It is a delicious cooking tomato, which can be stuffed and baked or baked only. It is a low acid tomato and a good cropper. It was bought from a NZ seed company originally but they no longer stock it.
Botanical name   Solanum lycopersicum
Contains at least   20
Grower name   Nev and Sue Sinclair
Price per packet   $4.50
Chives - Standard - 31RG

Chives - Standard - 31RG

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
Grower name   Rick Ginders
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2024
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 9 in stock   Order
Valerian - 59SPH

Valerian - 59SPH

Details   Valerian is a medicinal perennial flowering herb, native to Asia and parts of Europe.
It produces umbrella shaped flowers of pure white borne on tall hollow stems with thick fern like foliage. Valerian has been used medicinally for centuries by many different cultures as a sedative and nervous system relaxant. Harvest roots in the winter during dormancy. Grows naturally in damp grasslands but can tolerate a wide range of soils. Flowers in late spring early summer.
Botanical name   Valeriana officinalis
Contains at least   50
Date Of Seed Harvest   2023
Grower name   Sara Pepers-Hilltrop
Storage Info   seed in herb bag
Price per packet   $4.50
Crown Pumpkin - 226CMK

Crown Pumpkin - 226CMK

Details   Crown pumpkin has a bluish/grey skin, with orange flesh. Great for soups, roasts and in baking. Grows well in a drained site
Botanical name   Cucurbits maxima
Contains at least   20
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Price per packet   $4.50
Only 3 in stock   Order
Crownchestnut - 90aRW

Crownchestnut - 90aRW

Details   A cross between Whangaparoa Crown, Green Chestnut and an unknown very large crown-like pumpkin. This current generation of seed is 6 years into selection and stabilization. It is starting to become quite uniform in both colour, size and taste, though do expect some variation. The idea behind using these three varieties was, green Chestnut had wonderful flavour but thin flesh, Whangaparoa Crown had thick flesh but average to good flavour while the unknown had size. Richard thought combining all three could produce an outstanding new variety. Between 50 -60 plants are grown each year and about 140 fruit harvested. Seed from only the best flavoured, large and thick fleshed fruit are used for breeding over the successive growing seasons.

Botanical name   Cucurbits maxima
Contains at least   30
Date Of Seed Harvest   seed refreshed yearly
Grower name   Richard-Paul
Price per packet   $4.50
Scarlet Runner - 43RG

Scarlet Runner - 43RG

Details   It's fast growing perennial climbing up to 3 metres in a season. Plants will produce a profusion of pretty red and white flowers, amidst a heavy cover of leaves, in colder climates it pays to cover root crown with mulch so as to stop frost penetrating the soil killing the crown .
Botanical name   Phaseolus coccineus
Grower name   Rick Ginders
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2024
Storage Info   frozen stored
Contains at least   30
Price per packet   $4.50
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Asparagus - Pacific Purple - 82RW

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 Watson
Storage Info   seed renewed yearly
Contains at least   30 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
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Medbury Gardens

Medbury Gardens

Richard-Paul Watson started growing seed when he was given what was later to be renamed the Benhorn carrot.This was in the late 1980's and two years later he joined up with Kay Baxter who had only just set up Koanga Gardens, as a volunteer heirloom seed grower.

Through the 1990's he leased land in around Rangiora area which helped build his knowledge and understanding of the complexities of growing seed but it wasn't until he and his family bought 5.1 hectares in the Amuri basin that he was able to increase both the number and the volume of seed lines. In more resent years Richards interest has shifted more to developing landrace cultivars and working towards enabling clone grown cultivars to reproduce from true seed such as garlic and sweet potatoes.

Onion - Medbury Red Longkeeper - 35RW

Onion - Medbury Red Longkeeper - 35RW

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
Grower name   Richard Paul
Date Of Seed Harvest   2021
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50

Purau Gardens

Rick Gender's Purau Gardens is located in Purau by the Lyttleton Harbour. Well known as an historic early market garden for Christchurch with a great climate and rich volcanic soil. No chemicals or fertilisers are required for the production of fantastic fruit and vegetables and its relative isolation makes this a great area for specialist seed production and development.

Details   Purau Gardens is a 7 acre block of prime volcanic silt loam situated at the bottom of the Purau Valley in Lyttleton Harbour. The land was purchased by Ric and Aileen Ginders in 2005 and had been a campground for many years. Prior to that it was a market garden supplying early tomatoes, strawberries and other produce to Christchurch. Historic records show that this area has a long history of early vegetable production due to the area having a unique microclimate and very fertile soil. This also makes it a great area for specialist seed production  as it is relatively isolated. I am dedicated to producing good quality seed that thrives in our country and is a joy to grow and welcome any feedback.

Giant Alderman - 57RG

Details   A tall climber that can get as high as 3m, has large pods and peas, The Alderman pea variety is known to date back to 1893 and was a common site in Victorian kitchen gardens. Its long-cropping time made it ideal for using fresh and any excess crops were dried, stored and used later in the year for soups, stews and other dishes. The Americans have their own version of the Alderman variety which they call the Tall Telephone in honour of Alexander Graham Bell who invented the telephone.
Botanical name   Pisum sativum
Grower name   Rick Ginders
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2022
Storage Info   Seed long term stored in freezer
Contains at least   40
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 6 in stock   Order
Sara Pepers-Hiltrop

Sara Pepers-Hiltrop

Hi, Im Sara. I live in Mosgiel, Dunedin with my husband Kris and our 2 children. I have always loved plants, flowers and gardens from a very young age. My photographic memory helps with names and working in a garden center, I have access to lots of interesting plants to add to my collection. (I have a bit of a plant problem lol!)

Gardening and growing is my life. This is a picture of me in my 3 year old garden which was rank, clumpy cocksfoot grass and heavy clay in March 2020 when we moved here. I've worked really hard to build up the soil and am a firm believer in the no dig and chop and drop methods, to mimic nature. So far I’ve scoped out about an acre of food forest with fruit trees, berries, root crops, perennials, natives, shrubs, bulbs and flower gardens, vegetable beds and tunnel houses. I'm looking forward to sharing what I have grown here and spreading the love of seeds and gardening.
Carla McKnight

Carla McKnight

Details   Carla was born in Holland, moved to NZ with her family at age 9 and has always worked in gardens from a young age.
At age 15 she had at least 40 plants in her room, some rather large.
Still keen on house plants, just a few more than 40 now, she believes a house without plants is an empty shell.
 
Now married to husband Paul, together they have three grown children with seven young grand kids, on an eleven acres in the Waikato with three Clydesdales, two miniature horses and a Quarter horse x, two cats and a dog.
 
Carla has spent most of her life working in gardens, has always had a keen interest in growing indoor and outside plants especially interested in native plantings. Now has big vegetable gardens/fruit trees and a small mostly native nursery keeping her busy. Wanting to make that little bit of difference for our environment and wildlife, the more people plant trees and grow their own produce the better.

Leek - Purau - 91RG

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
Contains at least   50
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2021
Grower name   Rick Ginders
Price per packet   $4.50
Epazote - 154RW

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
Contains at least   100
Grower name   Richard Watson
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Price per packet   $4.50
Why you should grow your own

Why you should grow your own

Details   If you already grow your own plants and vegetables you know how satisfying it is. Whether you enjoy the taste, smell, sight or knowledge of good healthy produce...

So maybe you're wondering if now is the time to start to grow a few for your self and see what all the fuss is about?