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Out of stockElettaria cardamomum Lush edible & ornamental foliage ‘cardamom’ flavour in leaves. Add to currys as whole leaf or use for wrapping ingredients for barbecue. Doesn’t produce seed. Enhances all Asian curries.
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Solanum lycopersicum L. Perfectly round dark red/black fruits with rich, sweet flavour growing on indeterminate plant that needs staking. Research show its origins start in Florida and has been very popular here for the last 5 years. If you have problems with birds these are great because they cant see them! When green fruit starts getting a red hue you know they're ready.
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Lagenaria siceraria You’ll note by the unusual seed that this is not of the pumpkin or squash family and should be eaten when young like a zucchini. And it’s delicious by all the taste tests. Creamy with great texture. Growing conditions are much like the ‘squash’ Tromboccini and again watching these vigorous plants grow is a delight. Highly recommended and rare.
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Cucurbita moschate An unusual ‘pumpkin’ in that it’s delicious while still young, picked and eaten like a squash or zucchini. Allowed to mature the skin hardens then Tromboccini should be eaten like a pumpkin. Not as sweet as some it still has great flavour and texture. When baked we added herbs and spices which it absorbed beautifully. Great watching the vines spread either on ground where squashes will ‘curl’ or on fence lines where squashes will hang straight.
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Out of stockZea Mays This multicoloured corn is beautiful to look at and lovely steamed. Open pollinated ancient, multi coloured actual sweet corn growing 2 metres & more. Has good sugar levels and ready to eat in 90 days after planting. Reportedly found by archaeologists in the Anasazi ruins. Plant as all corn - full sun, rich organic soil and plenty of water.
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Zea mays This corn is blue to the eye and truly remarkable to grow. This is a rare seed. Blue Hopi corn has so much anthocyanins in it that some say that it is has more antioxidant potential than blueberries. Limited quantities. Considered a staple corn of the Hopi people, this corn can be eaten as a sweet corn when young, or allowed to dry it can be used to make flour. Hopi Blue has a higher protein content than a dent corn and makes wonderful tortillas. The 7 inch, dried blue ears also make great autumn decorations. Plants are 2 metres tall.
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Out of stockBrassica oleracea A rare combination of cauliflower colours that will all taste delicious yet with subtle differences.
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Phaseolus coccineus Originally from the mountains of Central America, Scarlet Runners are often grown as an ornamental as the flowers with contrasting green leaves are dramatic & beautiful. Planted in spring the climber can produce flowers all summer till autumn when the beans begin to set in the cooler weather. Beans when picked young are long flat tender and very tasty. Or let beans dry on plant and are considered tasty.
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Phaseolus vulgaris This lovely ‘politically incorrect’ bean derives its name for its ease of growing and one of the first stringless beans making preparation much easier…for the housewife nearly 200yrs ago! Tender, productive fleshy broad green climber up to 2 metres. Rare now and needing reviving as its flavour compares well with today's good green bean.
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Phaseolus vulgaris This bean was a gift from a gentleman in Pearcedale who gave us a handful literally. It took the next year to grow out and realize what a lovely gift it was. Tall climber with pink beautiful flowers, then long 30cm truly flat pods very tender even at the early stages of the seed swelling. Great cooked with onions, garlic, tomatoes, bay leaves seasoning and the beans thrown in whole and cooked for the last 10 minutes.
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Phaseolus vulgaris We’d been after this climber for a long time and are very grateful. Up to 2 metres needing staking or strong trellis the rich green leaf contrasts beautifully with the streaks of red/pink/cream that makes this bean productive, ornamental and delicious. Unlike other beans pick when swollen with seeds then dry or better still steam while green and tender, a very sort after delicacy.
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Phaseolus vulgaris Once the most popular bean in the south of America this bean has been first mentioned in 1864 as Texas Pole. A green climber it can grow very tall producing pods up to 20cm long. Fleshy, curved and broad-oval pods with seeds filling to the tip and edge but not crowded. Very reliable, flavoursome, abundant and early maturing. Can be picked fresh or allow pods to dry and save beans.
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Out of stockCucurbita maxima French heirloom with unusual ornamental ‘warty’ skin and deep orange flesh. Despite lighter texture has a lovely flavour and used mostly for soups and sauces. Allow lots of drying time to enhance sweetness and deepen texture. Plant in full sun spring.
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Capsicum pubescens Our Rocoto Chilli plant never stops producing and despite looking exhausted by the end of winter starts greening up and amassing beautiful purple flowers soon as spring starts. Remarkable chilli of good heat and great flavour. Plant spring-summer in trays and transplant in protected area full sun.
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Out of stockApium graveolens var. secalinum Side picking celery more like Italian Parsley in look but definitely celery in flavour. Great if you can’t be bothered with all the fuss of blanching celery plants. Plant all year round in trays and transplant when no frosts.
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Lycopersicum esculentum This beautiful cherry size tomato was voted top in taste tests in the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show in 2015. It has good disease resistance, producing trusses of classic red tomatoes with a sweet and juicy flavour. We love this one! Mulch and stake well. 60 seeds.
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Matricaria recutita Daisylike flowers on this erect annual with green feathery leaves, looks great in any cottage garden. Chamomile flowers are used for a medicinal tea known amongst many things as a calmative and soothing on the stomach. Very fine dust like seeds can be broadcast in the garden or carefully planted on seed trays from Sept onwards when soil is warm. Seeds need light to germinate so sow on surface and water well.
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Artemisia absinthium Tall bush with dusty green feathery leaves wormwood is grown in cottage gardens as a beautiful backdrop to the more colourful flowers. Known as an effective wormer amongst its many medicinal qualities. Often grown just outside the pen so chickens can self medicate. Plant on surface of trays sparingly ( Wormwood needs light to germinate) & water till germination in 2-4 weeks. Transplant 70cm apart.
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Out of stockTanacetum vulgare Herbaceous perennial flowering plant native to temperate Europe and Asia. Tall 100cm plant with segmented leaves and fernlike appearance. Then a display of golden flower heads. Many good medicinal qualities for external use including skin purifying and joint pain Tansy is not recommended for internal use except by physicians. Great insect repellent and often grown near entrances for this reason.
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Out of stockPycnanthemum virginianum Herbaceous plant with strong spearmint smell and flavour when leaves are brushed against or crushed. Great in drinks or used moderately as flavouring in salads or coleslaws.
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Geranium robertianum Of the Geranium family feathery leaves with pretty pink flowers this remarkable little annual will spread through your garden. And let it. "Herb Robert is a supreme, therapeutic herb. This herb’s action is one of the most outstanding herbs that we can use regularly, as an enhancer of the immune system. Research has revealed herb Robert is a source of germanium, a valuable element to the body, as it has the ability to make oxygen available to the cells. More oxygen, at cell level, means the body has the opportunity to fight disease by its own powers, and healing can take place quickly. Lack of oxygen, available to the cells, can be caused by free radicals and a toxic state around the cells: meaning the cells cannot get the required oxygen, or the nutrients, to regenerate." Quote Herbs are Special. Refer to Isabell Shiphard for more.