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…
This variety is from RAW seeds. It’s basil, you guys. But it totally smells like lime. And that’s the wonderful thing about living in the 21st century – you can plant weird, rare herbs from halfway across the world and they will smell beautiful and taste even better and all of your friends will be impressed. The end. Originally from…
This selection of beet varieties is from RAW Seeds and includes Chioggia, Golden Detroit and Detroit Dark Red: Gone are the days of refusing to eat your beets: these glorious white, red, golden and Chioggia varieties are sweet and flavoursome. This isn’t something we’d say about any other life form, but they’re best eaten when they’re babies. For sexy salads,…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: ‘This bean was discovered and named by Russ Crowe in 1977. It was a natural outcross that happened in his garden. Russ attended an exhibition where he showcased his newfound Blue Jay beans. Unfortunately the whole jar was stolen from his table! He later found his beans for sale in…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This dry bean did very well in a dry bean trial we did and was one of the earlier maturing varieties. The bean was developed at Kentville, Nova Scotia's research station, specifically as a dry bean variety and was selected for early and uniform maturity - exactly what we saw…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Possibly the most beautiful dry bean there is. Also known as yin-yang bean and calypso bean. The contrasting black and white seed coats are magical and if you ask any child which one they like most, they will probably point to these. The bushes produce bumper crops of flat green…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: ‘What an attractive bean this is. When I received the original seed from a friend, there was a note with it that said ‘Very Productive’. How true that turned out to be! Rockwell is an egg-shaped white bean with maroon and tan markings around the eyes. White beans all have…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This a beautifully purple-colored bush bean from Northern Malawi, originally grown by the Tumbuka people. The dual-purpose pods have a fresh nutty flavour and a crisp, succulent bite. The beans are attractive with a navy blue seed coat decorated with cream/tan streaks. The fresh green pods also have purple mottling…
Also known as bok choy, this trendy cabbage means “soup spoon” – but trust us, it’s more exciting than that. Pak Choi is an heirloom Chinese cabbage with non-heading leaves and all the cool kids are eating it. Leave your cabbage prejudices at the door. Pak Choi has crisp, tender leaves with a slight mustard taste, which delicately flavours soups,…
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…
It’s been called “psychedelic broccoli” by some and “weirdly delicious” by others… both are true. Romanesco is a 16th-century Italian cauliflower variety that’s crisp in texture, apple-green in colour and wonderfully nutty in flavour. How to be a world-class chef: Gently steam Romanesco. Melt a magnificent swirl of butter. Drizzle over the individual heads. Pat yourself on the back for…
This variety is from RAW seeds. This slightly hot Cuban firecracker, standing at a feisty 60cm tall and flaunting rounded fruit with blunt ends and waxy skin, is not just the Cubanelle pepper; it’s the curvy mistress about to turn your garden into a spicy telenovela. The heartthrob of Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican cuisines. Whether this sweet, mild capsicum…
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…
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 RAW seeds. In one word. HOTTTTT!!!! Confirmed as the hottest pepper in the world by New Mexico State University, the Trinidad Scorpion has been described by some as giving a “high” when ingested. To give you an idea of its heat kick, it isn’t far off from pepper spray, so there’ll likely be some tears and…
Brinjal (egg plant, aubergine, melanzane ...) are long-season plants so sow your seeds as early as possible. These teardrop beauties will provide long, slim fruit, ready to slice into stir-fries or stews, baked or grilled, or popped onto a braai and slathered with olive oil and freshly-cracked pepper ... yum! The flowers turn to fruit quickly so keep an…
Eggplants are cool. Finger-shaped eggplants are cooler. These come in an array of purples, greens and whites, and the fruit is prized for it’s tender, non-bitter flesh. The best part? You’ll get a large crop that’s just as easy to grow as the average (i.e. less cool) eggplant. Fingerling eggplants are sweeter than other varieties, and best munched on when…
Looks aren’t everything, but they sure make eating your veggies easier. This Italian heirloom is popular due to its interesting colour, which ranges from a rosy lavender to cream hue. Pick ’em when the seeds are still soft and light in colour – i.e. slightly immature – for maximum personality. (By personality we mean flavour). This plant’s fruits are produced…
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 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.
This variety is from RAW: “Mesclun” is the French Provencal word for “mixture,” and it makes salads look as posh as they sound. This particular blend is perfect for sowing all year round, which means you’ll always have freshly-picked salad leaves, and that’s all anyone really needs in life. This attractive mix (sorry, mesclun) includes Arugula, Mizuna, Tatsoi and Red…
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 seed. 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 is…
This variety is from RAW: There aren't many naturally blue foods out there, so here's one to get excited about. This Dutch heirloom pea* can be picked young and eaten raw as a colourful snap pod, or left to swell on the vines and harvested as a plump pea for cooking. It's not easy being a blue pea – give…
If you don’t plant these purely for their cute name, plant them because they grow so beautifully in containers. Tom Thumb pods can be harvested very young, which is great for those of us too impatient to finish reading this paragraph. This variety of pea excels when tucked into small spaces around the garden, and makes a great addition to…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Black Nightfall originated as a cross in the gardens of Russel Crowe in the States, one of the world's leading bean collectors. Black Nightfall is without a doubt one of the most beautiful beans I have in my collection. The plants send out runners but won't take over your garden.…
Very important: The green beans inside the pods should always be cooked and not eaten raw as they do contains toxins that may be harmful when raw. This variety comes from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Hyacinth beans also known as Lab-lab bean is native to Africa and are a favourite in Indian communities where they are referred to…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'One of the best-yielding beans and a keeper for years to follow. These beans didn’t impress me at first as they were some of the last to start producing, but oh boy when they got going I was rather impressed. I pulled the plants in autumn while they were still…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: ‘This is a personal favourite of mine for good reason. Snowcap beans are probably the biggest dry beans that I offer and they produce beautiful large beans that are a good option for stretching meals, especially stews with a bacon/tomato base. The vines will find their way up and around…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This is the dry bean you want! From customer feedback, this has performed very well for almost everyone who tried it. From Africa for Africa is how I'd describe this bean. This Zambian heirloom is sought after in Africa. For me, this is the benchmark for what dry beans should…
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,…
Looks aren’t everything, but they sure make eating your veggies easier. This Italian heirloom is popular due to its interesting colour, which ranges from a rosy lavender to cream hue. Pick ’em when the seeds are still soft and light in colour – i.e. slightly immature – for maximum personality. (By personality we mean flavour). This plant’s fruits are produced…
This variety is from RAW: In the world of tomatoes, we just know the Bumble Bee Mix is strutting its stuff in Prada. Each one is a striped sensation, outside and in, comprising pink, purple, and sunrise Bumble Bee tomatoes – it’s a blend that’s as unique as it is stylish. Just like fashion icons, these cherry tomatoes are big…
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: ‘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. Production…
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 RAW: Just look at how small it is! The Gold Rush is the garden’s little dynamo – boasting heavy clusters of countless golden-orange, sweetly flavoured grape-sized fruit. And you know what they say about dynamite in small packages – this baby is packed with flavour, and it makes up for its size as a high-yielding plant;…
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 RAW: Give a man tomatoes, feed him for a day. Give him the seeds to grow them, and he’ll frolic in a rainbow-coloured field of this tasty heirloom variety forever. This mix includes purple, green, red, pink, yellow, black, orange and a white variety, all of which were originally grown by Thomas Jefferson, the USA statesman…
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 it…
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: ‘What is not to love about Tigerella’s small to medium-sized red fruit with yellow stripes all over them. They are produced in vast amounts, as in serious quantities. Tigerellas have a sweet flavour with some citrus notes. If making impressive salads is your thing, this should be one to consider.…
