The tender chard stalks of this jewel mix glow in sunlight - red, pink, yellow and orange with vivid green leaves. The added bonus is the role in salads and cooked dishes. Soak the seeds in warm water for an hour or two to aid germination. Sow 2 mm deep, directly into beds or containers. Expect leaves to pop through…
The Italians call it Cavolo Nero, and yes, that sounds like the name of an eccentric millionaire who wears suits on yachts. Imagine our disappointment when we found out that it actually means “black cabbage.” In an effort to never be misled by the musical beauty of their language again, we’re firmly calling it Dinosaur Kale and brainstorming T-Rex jokes…
This kale’s names - Red Russian or Ragged Jack - provide an indication of its growth habits. Burgundy red ribs extend into ragged purple blue and green leaves which are shaped in a rosette. Red Russian kale offers a mild nutty flavor that is slightly sweet and earthy with a hearty texture. It grows all year round in South Africa…
Kale has become a standard ingredient in many healthy dishes, from smoothies to soup, stir-fries and bakes. It can be dry-fried and spiced up to make chips. The nutty flavour and consistent form even when cooked sets this green (or in this case ‘blue-green’) apart from the likes of spinach and chard. Kale is easy to grow in one’s home…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Chinese Sword lettuce is an Asian loose-leaf type of lettuce also known as Taiwanese Sword, Pointed Leaf lettuce, or Oriental lettuce. The plants are medium-sized averaging 30cm in height and producing long bright green leaves that grow upright from a central stem. The leaves are slightly serrated along the edges…
This blend of lettuce is ideal for kitchen gardeners who enjoy a variety of leaves. Own-grown lettuces taste so much better than the shop product. The mix includes rocket, mustard greens and an assortment of lettuces in an array of colours, shapes, textures and tastes. Sow thinly, at regular intervals so that you have a steady supply of leaves ...…
This variety is from RAW: A tasty, colourful mix of five loose leaf varieties. They range from shades of green to red, with textures from oak leaf to tightly ruffled. Sow this exciting mix every week to ten days for a constant supply of fresh salad leaves throughout the season. Goodbye, soggy packets of store-bought fridge lettuce. Fast-growing, tender, and…
This variety is from Kirchhoffs: A classic in kitchens and gardens. A mix of red and green lettuce with varied leaf types. Can be grown year round and used as baby leaf or full grown lettuce. All varieties can be used as cut and come again. ie use older leaves and new leaves will grow from the centre.
Fact: Italian heirloom veggies are ridiculously good-looking. This beauty originated in Roman times, and its green heads begin to turn a deep red with white midribs and veins once the weather cools. Another fact: it’s an excellent autumn veggie, and the heads regenerate if cut off carefully above ground level. Final fact: we have like ten more facts about this…
Matador This is real spinach - not the usual ‘chard’ that we often call spinach in South Africa. It has less of a stem rib, and a more delicate, sweet flavour. It is ideal to grow as ‘baby’ spinach for use in salads and cooking. This variety is open-pollinated and produces deep green, smooth leaves. Baby leaves are ready in…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Red Malabar spinach is an interesting plant that has a lot to offer. It is a perennial vining plant in the Basellaceae family so it isn’t a true spinach, but the leaf shape and taste are quite similar. They are extremely ornamental and create a very pretty vine wherever they…