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Okra
H
syn. Lady's Fingers; Gumbo; kok-tau, jiao dou (Chinese); kopi arab (Indonesian); kacang bendi (Malaysian); kachieb (Thai); dau bab (Vietnam)
Abelmoschus esculentus syn. Hibiscus esculentus Okra grows as a vigorous, annual bush to 1-1.5m tall. It is a truly heritage vegetable having been grown by the ancient Egyptians. Sow okra direct, after frost, it needs a warm soil to germinate. Keep soil moist. It grows best in a fertile, well-drained soil, slightly acid pH 6.00 - 6.5, prepared with plenty of organic matter. Plant bushes in full sun 30-40 cm apart. Soak seed for 12 hours before planting to improve germination. Sow seed 2 cm deep. For continuous production harvest pods every day, when about 8 cm long. Sow spring and summer. Suitable for temperate (if started early), subtropical and tropical areas. |
![]() Okra 'Mammoth Spineless' is highly productive tall bush, up to 2m tall with green stems and leaves. The slightly ribbed, vibrant green pods are best harvested small, less than 10 cm long. SO142approx. 30 seeds SO143 SO202 |
![]() Okra 'Red' is high yielding with rich scarlet, tender pods to 15-17 cm long, that turn green once cooked. SO190approx. 30 seeds SO191 SO192 |
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Onion
Allium cepa Onions are slow to germinate and slow growing, requiring close attention to weeding and watering. They do best on fertile soils and are suitable for temperate and subtropical areas. They prefer an open, sunny site, with free drainage and a pH above 6.5. The flowers of onions are attractive to bees and other useful insects. Onions are mostly grown as a winter crop. In southern Australia onions are sown (depending on variety) from mid-May to August; in Queensland onions are usually sown from March to June. Seed is hard to germinate in hot weather. Seed germinates best at 10 - 23°C soil temperature. Sow seed 1 to 2 cm deep, cover with soil and firm down. Space rows 25 - 30 cm apart. Seed takes 7 - 10 days to germinate. Thin to 8 - 10 cm apart in the rows to produce a good-sized bulb. It takes 12 weeks for seeds sown in trays to be ready to transplant. To transplant, trim the tops and avoid planting them too deeply, less than 1 cm deep. Onions are ready to harvest when the tops shrivel just above the bulb and bend over. You can lift them early while the tops are still green but they will not keep well. Mature onions can be stored in open mesh bags in a cool, dark, well-ventilated position. |
![]() Allium cepa 'Early White' is an excellent, early, 'short day' onion grown mainly in Queensland. They are only a 'fair' keeper and are used mainly as a 'fresh' or 'spring' onion. The bulbs are globe-shaped with an attractive white skin and pungent flavour. 'Early White' can be planted from late February to May in Queensland. Unsuitable for Tasmania. Days to harvest: 165 - 195. SO120approx. 200 seeds |
![]() Allium cepa An open pollinated, mild-flavoured white onion that produces large, circular bulbs with low pungency. Useful for salads or cooking and suitable for short term storage. A short-day onion suitable for warmer areas. Days to harvest: 100. SO206approx. 200 seeds |
![]() Allium cepa 'Gladalan Brown' is an open-pollinated, productive, medium to large brown onion up to 15 cm in diameter, with good keeping qualities. It is a medium-short day type, so suited to warmer climates. It has a mild flavour and can also be grown as a spring onion. Days to harvest: 110 - 130. SO117approx. 200 seeds SO118 |
![]() Allium cepa 'Golden Brown' is a 'short day', early maturing variety. It is an excellent onion for warmer areas and a very good keeper. The bulbs are globe-shaped with an attractive golden skin and pungent flavour. Days to harvest: 165-195. SO114approx. 200 seeds SO115 |
![]() Allium cepa Also known as 'Tropeana Lunga', 'Tropea Rossa Tonda'. An Italian heirloom traditionally grown in Italy and France. It is a intermediate-day onion with torpedo shaped bulbs up to 15 cm long. The bulbs have red skins and sweet, rosy flesh. It is ideal for eating raw in salads due to its mild flavour and high sugar content. It can be picked young as an attractive bunching onion. It will store for up to 3 months. In cool temperate and highland areas sow in July; in warm temperate areas sow May - June; in subtropical areas Lockyer cultivars will do better; it is unsuitable for tropical areas. Days to harvest: 90 - 110. SO144approx. 200 seeds SO145 SO146 |
![]() Allium cepa 'Mini Purplette' is a pearl or cocktail onion with glossy, rich burgundy skin, 2.5 - 5 cm across. It is suited to both warm and cool areas. The bulbs are golf-ball size and shape with a sweet, delicate, mild flavour. Mini onions do not store well but are one of the easiest onions to grow. This is a good choice as a pickling onion, it turns pale pink when cooked or pickled. SO186approx. 200 seeds SO187 SO188 |
![]() Allium cepa syn. Pukekohe Longkeeper 'NZ Creamgold' is a long-day length onion, suitable for cooler areas. In cool areas sow July; in temperate areas sow mid May - August; it is not suitable for Qld or coastal NSW. The bulbs are globe-shaped with a light brown skin and pungent flavour. It is one of the longest keeping onions, stores 6 - 8 months. Days to harvest: 195 - 225. SO173approx. 200 seeds SO174 SO175 |
![]() Allium cepa 'Red Creole' is a short-day, medium-sized red onion especially suited for warmer, subtropical areas. The flattened, globe-shaped bulbs have a pungent, spicy purple-red flesh. It is excellent for storing; use in cooking or salads. Sow in temperate areas from late May to July; in subtropical areas late March to end of May; it is unsuitable for wet, tropical areas. Days to harvest: 110. SO160approx. 200 seeds SO161 SO167 SO178 |
![]() Allium cepa 'Red Shine' is a beautiful, bright-red, globe-shaped onion suited to areas from mid NSW south to TAS; stores better than most red types. In temperate areas sow from late May to July; in subtropical areas Lockyer cultivars are better suited; it is unsuitable for tropical areas. Days to harvest: 195 - 225. SO176approx. 200 seeds SO177 SO201 |
![]() Allium cepa An heirloom variety from Texas; it is a 'short day', early maturing 'Vidalia' type. It is an excellent onion for warmer areas but only a short to moderate keeper. The bulbs are large, with a thin, pale yellow skin, white flesh and sweet, mild flavour. In warmer areas sow late March to the end of May. In cooler areas 'New Zealand Creamgold' is a better choice. Days to harvest: 110. SO196approx. 200 seeds SO197 SO198 SO199 |
Welsh or Bunching Onion
Allium fistulosum Also known as Welsh onion; Japanese bunching onion; evergreen bunching onion; taai tsung, qing cong, xiao cong (China); bawang daun (Indonesia); atasuki, negi (Japan); bawang daun (Malaysia); ton horm (Thai); hanh (Vietnam). Welsh onions are a hardy, non-bulbing, often perennial, spring onion with a mild, sweet flavour. It has tube-like, hollow, green leaves above white stems; the white shaft plus a few cm of the green leaves are eaten. It is a versatile plant, extremely hardy and pest resistant, that will generally grow from cold regions right through to hot, tropical areas. The seeds can also be sprouted. Older varieties will form a clump; some modern cultivars are best grown as annuals and will fail to clump up very much at all. Welsh onions prefer an open, sunny site, with free drainage and a pH above 6.5. The flowers of Welsh onions are attractive to bees and other useful insects. Sow seed in autumn or spring; it germinates best at 10 - 24°C soil temperature; in warmer areas try germinating the seed tray in the bottom of the fridge to get it started. Sow seed into a seedling tray, 5mm deep, cover with soil and firm down. Transplant the seedlings once large enough to handle. Space rows 30 - 70 cm apart with 15 - 30 cm between plants. Seed takes 7 - 21 days to germinate. Established clumps can be divided to for propagation material. |
![]() Allium cepa 'Crimson Forest' is an unusual bunching onion with deep red to purple stalks and a slightly bulbous base. The flavour is mild and very tasty with a crisp texture. The deep red colour is useful as a garnish, micro-vegetable or to brighten up a salad. Sow seed in autumn or spring; it germinates best at 10 - 24°C soil temperature. It prefers a neutral to slightly alkaline soil and is hardy and pest resistant. It prefers to grow in full sun. SO193approx. 200 seeds SO194 SO195 |
![]() Allium fistulosum 'Ishikura' is a popular variety in Japan for its long, white stems and excellent flavour. It has a very long 45 cm of white stalk; 75 cm overall in length. It is a vigorous, non-bulbing spring onion with tube-like, hollow, blue-green leaves. Use it in salads, stir-fries and soups. It will grow from cold regions right through to subtropical areas. It is hardy, frost tolerant and pest resistant. 'Ishikura' is best grown as an annual and is unlikely to form a clump. Sow seed in autumn or spring; it germinates best at 10 - 24°C soil temperature. 66 days to begin harvest. This is an F1 hybrid so is not suitable for seed saving. SO154approx. 200 seeds SO155 SO156 |
![]() Allium fistulosum Syn. Evergreen Bunching Nebuka, Japanese bunching onion A reliable and useful heirloom vegetable, 'Nebuka' is a non-bulbing, open-pollinated spring onion which readily forms a clump to 30 - 40 cm high. It has a mild, sweet flavour; the green shaft plus a few cm of the green leaves are eaten. The flowers are attractive to bees and other useful insects. This is a versatile plant with tube-like hollow leaves; it will grow from cold regions right through to hot areas. Sow seed in autumn or spring; it germinates best at 10 - 24°C soil temperature. It prefers a neutral to slightly alkaline soil and is extremely hardy and pest resistant. Grow it in full sun. They can be propagated from offsets once clumps are established. Days to harvest: 60 - 70. SO136approx. 200 seeds SO137 |
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