Allium

Beyond their versatility in the kitchen, where they add depth and flavour to countless dishes, onions offer a host of health advantages.

Packed with essential nutrients and antioxidants, onions contribute to overall well-being and are renowned for their potential anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

Onions are remarkably easy to grow, requiring minimal space and care, making them an ideal choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.

Their ability to deter pests and enhance the flavour of neighbouring plants further underscores their value in garden ecosystems.

Growing onions at home not only ensures a readily available supply of fresh, flavourful bulbs but also allows you to savour the satisfaction of nurturing a crop from seed to harvest.

Chives - Garlic - 3RW

Chives - Garlic - 3RW

Details   Both leaves, stalks and immature unopened flower buds can be used in salads or as flavouring
Botanical name   Allium tuberosum
Grower name   Richard Paul Watson
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50
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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
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Egyptian walking tree onions

Egyptian walking tree onions

Details   These are hardy perennial onions that are very prolific. They do best in a well-drained, moist garden bed. Bulbils are best planted from March till Sep.
Breeding work on the onion is currently being done. The Egyptian Walking tree onion is a F1 clone which is a cross between the Walsh and a standard brown onion. Through bulbil removal and hand pollination 13 seeds were produced in 2015, from those 13 only 5 seedlings germinated, one of those later died. During that summer the four remaining plants grew and divided giving me 23 new base onions. These were then replanted out separately and it is hoped they will produce more seed. The goal is to develop an open pollinate walking onion that is grown from seed and not bulbils.

Bulbils will be available again Jan 2024
Botanical name   Allium cepa
Grower name   Richard Paul Watson
Contains at least   20-30 bulbils
Price per packet   $4.50
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Leek - Perennial Leek - 93RW

Leek - Perennial Leek - 93RW

Details   Forms large clumps of thumb size stems which have a stronger leek flavour than standard leek though they are a bit more finicky when harvesting. Best sown in spring forming clumps by late summer/autumn, if left in the ground through the following winter the clumps will form a mass of corns meaning the perennial leek will become permanent and difficult to eradicate. Some gardeners may prefer its feature while others prefer it as a annual vegetable by insuring its harvested before winter.

Germination testing has shown that this strain of leek to have very poor seed germination because of 200+ years of reproducing from clones, over time the cultivar loses its ability to produce seed much like garlic has become. Richard in 2024 imported a strain of perennial leek which has a high germination strike rate, The US and NZ cultivars will be cross pollinated and this should reinvigorate the local strain meaning larger plants and hopefully better. Breeding work will take until 2026, in the mean time hit the watch tap for email updates
Botanical name   Allium ampeloprasum
Grower name   Richard Paul Watson
Contains at least   30
Price per packet   $4.00
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Leek - Portage - 94RW

Leek - Portage - 94RW

Details   A young and still evolving grex/landrace variety been bred by Richard Watson and another Canadian gardener who have been mixing the seed over the last few years, so its really a collection of 15 standard leeks varieties, some grow wide large stems while others can be very tall, this is because of the strong genetic diversity.
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. The following cultivars were sown late winter 2024 and the best will be used in crossing with the original Portage line. King Richard, King Sieg, Autumn Giant, Lincoln, Bulgarian Giant, Blue De Solaize, Carantan, Lancelot, American Flag, and Mechelen Blue Green Winter,
Botanical name   Allium porrum
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Grower name   Richard Paul Watson
Storage Info   Seed stored in freezer
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
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Leek - Purau - 91RG

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
Grower name   Rick Ginders
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2021
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50
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Onion - Brown mass grex cross - 36RW

Onion - Brown mass grex cross - 36RW

Details   This is a cross between Pukekoke Long Keeper and Mammoth Improved onion carried out in 2023-24. Second stage of this breeding project will see sowing of this first cross along side original Pukekoke Long Keeper and Mammoth Improved seed to insure good genetic mixing. The idea of this cross was to mix the keep ability of the Pukekoke Long Keeper and the production of the Mammoth Improved.

When growing seed from this early cross expect diversity in type.

The following cultivars were sown late winter for the 2024/25 growing season, these will be added to this genetic mass pollination
New York Early, Fehmel Steig, Franzisco, Maria Nagy's Transylvanian Yellow, Newburg, Sweet Spanish Golorade, Texas Early Grano, Australian Brown, Yellow of Purma, Cipollini, Walla Walla, Utah Yellow Sweet Spanish, Ailsa Craig.
Botanical name   Allium cepa
Grower name   Richard Paul Watson
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2024
Contains at least   100
Price per packet   $4.50
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Onion - Mammoth improved - 231RW

Onion - Mammoth improved - 231RW

Details   A super sized onion which is still sweet considering its size. This variety is one grown in the UK for competitions and can grow as heavy as 5 kgs. Seed was imported from the UK 2019 and one generation has been grown by Richard. It is a tasty onion but not a great keeper.

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

https://www.mammothonion.co.uk/product/seeds-plants/onion-family/onion/mammoth-improved-onion/
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Grower name   Richard Paul Watson
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50
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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
Date Of Seed Harvest   2021
Grower name   Richard Paul Watson
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
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Onion - Red Bunching - 76SS

Onion - Red Bunching - 76SS

Details   Red Bunching Onion is an Evergreen red-skinned bunching Onion, grown and used in the same way as white Welsh Onions. Plants grow 70-75cm high, and 1.5-2cm in diameter, and have a mild sweet taste. This variety makes a welcome addition to any salad or culinary display with its bright red attractive stalks. Plant from early spring through to early autumn.  Maturity 120 days from direct sowing.
Propagation: Sow seeds directly where to grow in a line or in a tray of seed raising mix in a warm sunny location, should germinate in 7-14days.
Botanical name   Allium fistulosum
Grower name   Sarah Smith
Date Of Seed Harvest   Dec 2023
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Contains at least   50
Price per packet   $4.50
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Onion - Walsh - 37RG

Onion - Walsh - 37RG

Details   The true bunching onion is a perennial that does not form a bulb. Bunching onions are strong and enduring once established, they can supply a sharp and delicious punch of flavour to your cooking, year after year.
Botanical name   Allium fistulosum
Grower name   Rick Ginders
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2019
Storage Info   Seed long term stored in freezer
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
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Spring Onion - 61ASS

Spring Onion - 61ASS

Details   Spring onions are also known as green onions, scallions or sibies. They tend to have a milder taste than most other onions, they can be eaten either raw in salads or cooked. Sow in Spring through to early Autumn in the South Island or year around in Northern areas. Propagation - Sow seeds directly where to grow in a line or in a tray of seed raising mix in a warm sunny location, should germinate in 7-14 days.
Botanical name   allium fistulosum
Grower name   Sarah Smith
Date Of Seed Harvest   Dec 2023
Contains at least   50 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
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