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: 'Since the early 1900s this bean has been grown by the Lohrey family in northwestern Tasmania. It is also called Lohrey's Zebra, Lohrey's Special, and Natural Salt (as it reputed to have a naturally salty flavour). The plants are of pole type and will be more productive when offered a…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This is an extremely productive pole bean that was bred in Australia as a green cut bean. I think it can be used in many more ways, including as a shelling bean and dried if you don't get to them in time. The purple streaks on the thick, 12 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 one of the most beautiful beans we offer. They make fantastic dried beans, but they are almost too pretty to eat. The plants have a climbing habit and need a trellis to grow to their full potential. The green flattish pods have light mottling to them and can…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'Originally from Portugal, Papa de Rola means “dove breast”. This is one of the prettiest dry beans out there - round with half-white and tan with maroon streaks. This is a pole bean that needs trellising as it reaches heights of 1.8 m. Expect bumper crops of beautiful plump beans.…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'These purple beans grow to between 30 and 50 cm long! They are in the Vigna (cowpea) genus, but the taste to me is even better than normal green beans. They are climbers and will need a trellis to vine on and support the great number of beans they produce. They…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This is probably one of the most popular and widely grown runner beans around. The quick-growing plants vine up to anything they can get hold of and reach heights of 3.5 m in no time. As the name suggests, this variety produces red/orange flowers in masses that in turn form…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This is very good-looking pole bean. Skunk beans have been grown by the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people for many generations in North America. Each bean is uniquely mottled black and white. The name is self-explanatory once you see the bean up close. The vines like a taller trellis and can easily…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'A personal favourite of mine for very good reasons. These Snowcap beans are probably the biggest dry beans that I offer and they really produce beautiful large beans that are a good option for stretching meals and especially stews with a bacon/tomato base. The pole beans have will find their…
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 variety’s original seeds were apparently found in a wild turkey’s craw ... hence the name. The mature seed is brown with tan flecks. The plants have a pole habit and produce fat stubby 10 cm pods from the ground right up to the top of the plant. The pods…
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…
These neat raku pots with crackle glaze are handmade in South Africa, and are excellent for herbs, edible flowers and all sorts of other plants in your collection. Height 10.5 cm, approx width 13 cm.
These shallow stoneware 'ring' bowls measure about 9 cm across. There are a variety of finishes available including protea or bee motifs, with colour glazing.
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: 'This is probably our favourite runner bean. Friar Antonio de Arrabida described this species in Flora of Rio de Janeiro in 1827. The painted lady's incredibly beautiful blossoms are very attractive. This variety is less affected by warmer temperatures than other runner beans and is a prolific bloomer. The beans…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'This beautiful variety is rather hard to find in South Africa. Runner beans are perennial and will grow out each year. They will thus be some of your first beans in their second year. The attractive salmon-coloured flowers will lure various pollinators into your garden. Though often grown as an…
We're all for sowing one's own seed (we sell seed too, after all) but often you don't have space in your garden or hydroponics system for 500 cabbages and 20 artichokes ... or you don't want the responsibility (yes, as plant parents we all feel this at some stage) for seedlings that you've propagated from seed. And even if you…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: ‘This is one of the most sought-after beans in the world right now. The short bushy plants send out an occasional runner that ends up growing to 1.2m tall. The medium-sized pods mature from green to a stunning red, which is a very rare colour for a pod. Unfortunately at…
These shallow stoneware plates measure 10 cm across. They are available standard as textured natural cream, finished with satin glaze. However, the plates can be supplied in other colours, to order, with a surcharge applicable.
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…
This bush squash’s growth habit saves space that would otherwise be lost to sprawling squash vines. You’ll still need to allocate each plant a square metre or so as this excellent producer seems determined to show off. Caserta produces beautiful flowers (edible, of course) and then gorgeous zucchini/courgettes/baby marrows which have an almost varigated appearance. Of course, if you don’t…
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…
Susan Torrance of Gouna Gardens is a legend in the southern Cape and beyond. This is what she says about food gardening: 'Gardening allows you to know where your food comes from – and that is empowering! Not growing your own food is leaving one of the most important and basic aspects of human life to someone else. For me,…
These neat terracotta pots with burnout designs are handmade in South Africa, and are excellent for herbs, edible flowers and all sorts of other plants in your collection.
These neat terracotta pots with flower motifs are handmade in South Africa, and are excellent for herbs, edible flowers and all sorts of other plants in your collection.
These slip-decorated terracotta pots, handmade in South Africa, provide a classic base for plantings of herbs, edible flowers etc. Height 21 cm, width approx 17 cm.
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…
Every garden should have a supply of turmeric growing each year. Not only is tumeric a superfood, with many health benefits and culinary uses, but it is also a stunning addition to the garden as it produces beautiful flowers (which are edible too). Plant these tubers from the beginning of September to mid-October, before daytime temps get too warm. Harvest…
Tyvek paper is recycleable but is also reuseable and strong for craft projects and, for potters and ceramic artists: stencil making. These sheets are 55 gsm in weight and can be beautifully cut with any Cricut or Silhouette cutter, or by hand. One can also print on Tyvek with an Inkjet. (Don't use a laser printer though - it'll melt…
These slip-decorated terracotta pots, handmade in South Africa, provide a classic base for plantings of herbs, edible flowers etc. Height 21 cm, width approx 17 cm.
Waterblommetjies have found themselves on the menu of many well-known, and not-so-well-known, South African restaurants and family tables. If you have a pond, or are thinking of creating one, growing this flowering water 'weed' will take your food gardening adventure in another direction.