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.

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
Contains at least   60
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2022
Grower name   Nev and Sue Sinclair
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.
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
Etollbeet - 181RW

Etollbeet - 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 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. Seed packets do contain some plant material and varying size seed.  
Botanical name   Beta vulgaris
Contains at least   50
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2023
Grower name   Richard Watson
Price per packet   $4.50

Ipomoea batatas - Kamote

Details  
Update 31/8/2023. First seedling up from South Island grown seed seen in the attached photo.



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.
Six new cultivars were germinated from the first shipment of seed some were able to produce flowers but no seed, this following three seasons were the same till that generation of cultivars died out because they had been cloned six times.
2020 a second attempt was make where fresh seed was sent again from the US breeder and a small number of new cultivars started, but this time cutting were shared with a gardener in the North Island who managed a successful crossing and a small amount of seed was produced. This seed was gifted back and a second crop of 28 seeds was grown 2022-23 form 7 new cultivars. Plans are 2023-24 the 28 seeds will be germinated where its hopes are for at least 5 new cultivars and again more seed, maybe even enough to be made available via our website.... stay tuned by hitting the 'watch' tab

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

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
Grower name   Richard Watson
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2024
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored bottom of freezer
Contains at least   approx 50
Price per packet   $4.50

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
Radish - Black Spanish 'round' - 62RW

Radish - 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
Grower name   Richard Watson
Date Of Seed Harvest   2017
Storage Info   frozen stored
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
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.
Propagation:
Sow seeds in the ground where you intend to grow, cover with a fine layer of soil.

Botanical name   Raphanus sativus
Grower name   Sarah Smith
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2021
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50
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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.


Richards selection work with this cultivar involves sowing earlier than normal for this summer radish, this way it helps expose the plants that want to go into reproduction in its first growing year, as they are considered a biennial , this means any plants that bolt early sees a one way trip to the cold composting heap, what plants do make it through a Amuri Plains winter without going to seed or rotting are saved for seed production the following summer

Botanical name   Raphanus sativus wood drills11
Grower name   Richard Watson
Storage Info   Seed long term stored in freezer
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50
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Radish - Qingluobo - 104RW

Radish - 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
Grower name   Richard Watson
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Storage Info   frozen stored
Contains at least   50
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
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.

Botanical name   Sium sisarum
Grower name   Richard Watson
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50