This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Another name for this wonderful fruit is Cuke-a-Saurus and we think that’s the best name to describe something so odd and weird. It is also called kiwano and is a traditional food source in Africa. It is one of the few sources of water in the dry season in the…
Lemonette (lemon basil) really does have a pleasing citrusy scent. The leaves aren’t as robust as the basil that most food gardeners know, and the plants are smaller and more compact. It is, however, a welcome and aromatic addition to your garden, and plate.
Red Rubin is a compact red basil plant with delightfully dramatic red-purple leaves which have a spicy aroma. It finishes the season by making pretty pink flowers which look great in salads, and flower arrangements. Use the leaves sparingly in dishes as this variety is more pungent than other basil types. It’s wonderful to flavour vinegar.
Well, this is promising, right? Basil with large leaves? So more flavour and more pesto! Basil provides the scent of summer in a veggie garden – and delectable freshness to salads, pesto, pizza and pasta. Bonus is that large-leaf basil is apparently sweeter than the regular Genovese sweet basil that most of us are used to planting. Worth a try!
For cooks, this quick-growing basil should be a staple for the kitchen garden. It has a more pungent flavour than most basil and is used in Thai, Indian and Italian dishes. It also produces pretty burgundy flowers, and green and burgundy leaves. The seed is very small and fine so sow carefully in trays or, if you’re feeling brave, in…
This well-loved bush bean really is the business. It grows quickly to form a compact habit from which it produces a steady crop of green beans. Sow regularly to ensure that there are always strong plants available to produce for your kitchen, if the crunchy green beans don’t find your mouth before your basket! Plant in good soil for…
Carrots are basic, right? Well, not really – once you have grown your own, and tasted them fresh out the garden and straight onto your plate, you’ll be wary of buying them in the shops. You’ll notice that carrot seeds are very fine – so mix them with sand or the seed of a quick-growing plant like radish so that…
This variety is from RAW Seeds: Once upon a time, carrots came in a wide variety of colours. However, in a stroke of patriotism, 16th-century Dutch growers bred the humble carrot orange. This throwback blend is a kaleidoscope of carrots that add a dash of crazy and a whole lot of flavour to every dish. When cooked, Atomic Red develops…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Here is some spiciness from Africa! Though the name says brown, this is as close as the chocolate you'll get. The strong plants produce many well-sized green pods that colour up to an amazing mahogany brown with a faded matt effect. Broad pods are anything from 6 to 10 cm.…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'If you like so-called peppadews, you should have a look at this variety as it fits the same profile and can be used in various ways. The pods mature from green to a solid red when ripe. They are twice the size of normal peppadews and less work is required…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Our favourite pepper hands down! The weirdly-shaped pepper turns from green to red and the fruit has a spicy, but also fruity flavour that suits any dish that you don’t want to ruin by serving it too hot. Add it to pasta, curries, stews, stir fries or just about every…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Black Pearl pepper is a cultivar of Capsicum annuum. It is characterized by distinctive black leaves and fruit. It was developed by Arboretum Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit scientists Rob Griesbach and John Stommel of the Agricultural Research Service’s Vegetable Laboratory. This pepper plant is notably similar to another…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'She's blonde and she's hot! Solid white chili pods are a rare occurrence, but Blondie is as close as you'll get to it. Blondies are of the baccatum species so one can expect some sharp heat, fruitiness, and overall good fresh eating experiences. Blondie hits the SHU scale at about…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This must be one of the most beautiful peppers to grow. It's very rare and not commonly offered. The plants have dark green leaves, purple nodes, and purple flowers. The peppers start off with very attractive majestic purple pods, that turn a tan brown before it matures to their final…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This sure resembles a carrot! Also known as 'shipkas' in Bulgaria from where they originate. The plants are lower-growing and produce a surprising amount of pods that grow up to 7cm. This variety is one that most households can entertain with - they have just enough heat to elevate a…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Cherry bomb peppers are named for their Cherry/cherry tomato-shaped pods that vary from green to bright red. The pods can grow up to a golf ball-sized and they are one the best peppers to use for stuffing but can be diced and used in any dish to lighten it up…
This variety is from RAW seeds. The Bhut Jolokia is better known as the 'ghost chilli' or 'ghost pepper', and was once considered the hottest chilli in the world. It cracks a whopping 1 million units on the Scoville Scale of hotness (which has nothing to do with its looks, and everything to do with how it can burn your…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'A delightful gold version of the very popular red cayenne pepper. The plants are extremely productive and one plant will yield between 20 and 30 pods if well looked after. Considered a moderately hot variety, golden cayenne chilli peppers range from 30,000 to 50,000 SHU on the Scoville scale and…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This pepper resembles a small apple, but don’t expect the same eating experience or flavour. Hot apples belong to the C. Annuum species, but the exact origin is unknown. The pods have large cavities and are ideal for stuffing as their spiciness is low and tolerable by most (5,000 SHU).…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Molly Ornamental is one of most eye-catching ornamental peppers out there with dark green/purple foliage decorated with lots of purple and orange peppers facing upwards on the plants. The plants are very sturdy and compact and are ideal for containers if you don't have much space. The pods start off…
Paprika peppers are grown much like other peppers, and enjoy a well-draining, fertile soil in a sunny area. Fruit is mature when it is bright red in colour. Dry your peppers in mesh bags hung in full sun for three to seven days. When completely dry, 85 percent of the pod weight will have been lost. Milder than chilli powders,…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Now this is an interesting Peruvian heirloom variety in so many ways. Also known as Tree Peppers they grow as big as trees and will take up quite some space. They are some of the best overwinter varieties and are cold-hardy, producing almost all year round. The plants have slightly…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Sugar Rush Peach chilli peppers are elongated pods, averaging 5 to 8cm in length, and have a cylindrical shape that tapers to a point on the non-stem end. The skin is smooth, glossy, may appear lightly wrinkled or creased, and ripens from light green through golden yellow, to dark peach…
Slow Bolt coriander really is slow-to-bolt and thus can provide a handy supply of aromatic greens for a while before setting seed. Even then the seed is a handy spice to use in one’s kitchen, along with the yummy roots.
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Melothria scabra, commonly known as the cucamelon, Mexican miniature watermelon, Mexican sour cucumber, Mexican sour gherkin, mouse melon, or penguins, is a species of flowering plant in the cucurbit family grown for its edible fruit. Its native range spans Mexico to Venezuela. Fruits are about the size of grapes and…
This variety is from Kirchhoffs: Dill is easy to grow and is in the same family as Parsley. Mention of dill can be found in ancient Egyptian scripts. Dill has a mild liquorice flavour. Dill leaves and seeds are used in a wide variety of dishes, traditionally dill seed is used for pickling while the leaves can be used for…
This variety is from Kirchhoffs: Parsley can be difficult to start from seed, and it can take several weeks for seed to germinate. (Top tip: place your seed packet in the fridge for a few days before sowing.) Once established, seedlings are easy, quick growers that can take sun and partial shade. Regular harvesting will encourage plants to produce new…
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…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'What a beauty. Alaska has a very upright and erect growth habit with strong stems. Sowed in spring they will flower well into late summer. The attractive flowers are not pure white, but rather an off-white/ light yellow color. Not the same as other yellow marigolds and they do stand…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'The chances of true mint seeds germinating are very low, but this variety isn't a true mint and they germinate very easily from fresh seeds. Korean mint (Agastache rugosa) is an extremely beautiful lilac purple flowering herb that will bring colour to your garden the whole summer long. Korean Mint…
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…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'The Spanish Black radish is something different to your standard supermarket radish but are also easy and quick to grow. Spanish Black radishes have been around since the 1600s and have been used for both edible and medicinal purposes. It is a globe-shaped radish that has wonderful black skin and…
This variety is from Kirchhoffs: Originating in the Mediterranean region, rocket is used widely in cooking and salads. Makes a great companion for beans, dill, lettuce, mint, nasturtium and thyme. A very easy crop to grow. As weather gets hotter flavour strengthens. Sow direct into garden or container. Young leaves are very tender and are best eaten fresh, in salads…
This bean’s name is surely ironic, and may refer to how the bean suits cooks who don’t want to bother stringing green beans. This bean is a handy addition to your kitchen garden - not only because it produces easy-to-prepare beans but also because the plants themselves create shade and shelter for other plants below when they are supported by…
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…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: ‘This is one of the most productive sweet peppers we have grown. Purple Flame produces thick-walled, juicy and crunchy fresh eating peppers that start off purple and mature to a reddish colour with some purple streaks. This is a very tasty pepper that will be perfect for salads, pizza topping,…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: ‘A dazzling heirloom jewel from Russia, this breathtaking sweet pepper wins top marks across the board for unmatched beauty, vigour and, of course, flavour. Each medium-sized heart-shaped fruit shines like stained glass. The bushy, compact plants are so loaded with fruit that they look like ornaments on a tree! The…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'The tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa) also known as the husk cherry, husk tomato, jamberry, Mexican tomato, ground cherry, tomato verde (Spanish for green tomato), tomate or milomate is a member of the Solanaceae (nightshade) family. It is closely related to the cape gooseberry, Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi) and a more distant…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'One of the best varieties out there as far as heirloom tomatoes go! The tomato has it all: early producing, gorgeous looking plant that profusely produces the best tasting tomatoes. The fruit starts green with deep purple anthocyanin shoulders and eventually matures to a peach orange with light red streaks…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Another keeper for the next season. If you are looking for a tomato to make sauces and preserves, but never seem to have enough fruit produced from other varieties, Black Dragon is your answer. No need to look further. This is a smaller plum-type tomato that is believed to originate…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Black Krim, in my opinion, is probably one of the best 'black' tomato varieties available and I'll gladly recommend them to anyone who wants to know what a good heirloom tomato is all about. The variety is believed to have been saved and distributed by soldiers who fought in the…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This cherry tomato is a combination of beauty and bounty with beautiful flavours to add to that. Blue Berries will be some of the first tomatoes that you’ll pick and you better bring a bucket as one plant that is well-taken care of can produce almost 1 kg fruit. This…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This is something different and not a variety you'll find around every corner. Blue Keys was developed by well-known tomato breeder Dean Slater, Michigan, USA. He named it after one of his friends, Rev Michael Keyes, and this blue version is one of a 'Keys' series that includes another coloured…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This is another gem from Brad Gates of Wildboar Farms. This is a larger version from the same selection as Brad's Atomic Grape. The plants are heavy producers of exotic-tasting tomatoes with beautiful colours, each bringing something different to the table. The fruit starts green with some anthocyanins on the…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This is an unusual yet stunning tomato variety that will catch everyone's attention. Brad's Atomic Grape is bred by no other than Brad Gates from Wild Boar Farms. Brad breeds the most exotic and amazing type of tomatoes one can imagine. This variety isn't just a stunner in the looks…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Chestnut Chocolate is a good producer of almost perfectly round medium-sized fruit with an amazing chocolate/khaki colour, the depth of which varies with the amount of direct sunlight they receive. The bottoms will eventually colour up to a red when ripe. Bred by Brad Gates from Wild Boar Farms, USA,…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This is a good choice if you are considering replacing the boring red cherry types with something that looks better and tastes better. Chocolate Cherry produces just as big vines as any other cherry type and usually is loaded with these very attractive brown-red fruits. The flavour is really good…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This rare productive variety from California grows vigorously to 180 cm. The golf ball sized fruit weighs 85 to 100 g. The fruits start and end with dramatic colours and will be a standout, fitting in well with other coloured tomatoes. Dark Galaxy tomatoes have good flavour and produce moderate-sized…
This variety is from RAW: Oh Mother Nature, you clever thing. This beauty has exquisite emerald skin, dark green vertical stripes and gently flavourful flesh. It’s a rich tomato with a sweet, sharp bite and requires staking for support. For best flavour, keep Green Zebras at room temperature. The acidity of green tomatoes works well in different dishes, but they’re…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'The Indigo Rose tomato, with its enticing true purple fruit, has been developed, without genetic modification, to contain higher levels of anthocyanin, a very potent anti-oxidant with great health benefits. As a result, this eye-catching addition to your garden is both beautiful and very healthy! The fruit does take slightly…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'One of the most beautiful tomatoes in the world! 'Mar Azul' means blue sea in Spanish and this tomato has some serious amounts of blue in it. The fruit is medium-size, flattened and is slightly ribbed. The fruit will vary in colour depending on the amount of direct sunlight they…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'A native of Mexico, this robust and sprawling cherry tomato is loved for the rich flavour of its sweet fruits. An early producer, Matt's is resistant to early blight and has some resistance to late blight. Matt’s Wild cherry tomatoes are tiny, marble-size tomatoes that are relatively easy to grow.…
This variety is from RAW: Tomayto, tomahto… nope, definitely tomahto. Sorry America. This plum-shaped variety is an Italian heirloom, and its meaty fruits are best when sundried. Plant marigold lemon drop nearby to prevent nematode infection of the soil, and stake plants for support. (How smart did we sound there?). In dry areas, hang up branches of these tomatoes until…
This variety is from RAW: This is our special magical mix of cherry tomatoes: red, yellow, orange, pink, white, green, brown, bi-colour. Juicy, sweet and colourful! Impress family and friends with this and make meals and snacks more fun. This mix of small tomatoes will add interest and taste to a whole host of tomato dishes. The fruits have a…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'What joyful little treats these are! The Bumblebee series of cherry-type tomatoes brought much excitement to the tomato world and they have become very popular. These attractive bi-coloured fruits are produced on long vines and have a great taste for a cherry type. They did very well in the taste…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This is one of the best tomato varieties on offer. Thorburn's Terracotta is in my Top 5 and is one that I can highly recommend! Introduced in 1893 by James Thorburn of New York, this 130-year-old variety still produces some of the best tomatoes I've had and, in my opinion,…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'What is not to love about these small to medium-sized red fruit with yellow stripes all over them are produced in vast amounts, as in serious quantities? They have a sweet flavor with some citrus notes to them. If making impressive salads is your thing, this should be one to…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This is a Chinese heirloom. Topaz (or Huan U) was our first tomato and from what we have experienced, it will probably be the last. The fruit starts off lime green with darker green stripes, then they turn yellow with the lighter green stripes still vaguely visible. From there they…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'The toothache plant is something different - it’s also known as buzz buttons, electric daisy, and many others. It is in the Asteraceae family and grows no higher than 15cm. It’s a really cool plant as all parts are edible, and the young leaves are used in salads. Here is…
