Seed Subscription: Vegetable, Tropical Climate, Spring 2024

Subscriptions are an excellent way to explore new seed varieties without having to spend time choosing the seeds yourself, and are perfect for busy gardeners, delivering seeds and all the information you need to plant them directly to your letterbox. 

Each season we’ll choose a selection of seed varieties tailored to your climate, and send you the seeds plus a colour information sheet with photos, tips and sowing information - all you need to do is plant!

You are currently viewing a single season of seeds which can be purchased individually. To subscribe to a years worth of seeds click here.

Seeds included in this subscription:

• 

  Eggplant- Tsakoniki

  Popular Greek perennial, grown as annual in cool climates. Produces long cylindrical fruit up to 22cm. Firm, mild flavoured flesh, used in stews, sauces, baked, fried, stuffed, grilled. Also known as "Aubergine".

  Sow direct or raise seedlings, 5mm. Germination 7-14 days @ 24-32°C.Perennial (grown as an annual in cool climates). Rows 80cm, Height 65cm, Spacing 70cm. 75 days.

  Best months in Tropical Climates: JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Cucumber- Burpless

  Vigorous variety with smooth green fruits, 20-25cm long, mild flavour. Can grow on trellis, frame, or ground. Burpless cucumbers have thin skins, less bitterness. Ideal for pickling, slicing, salads and sandwiches.

  Sow direct or raise seedlings, 10mm. Germination 4-10 days @ 18-35°C.Annual. Rows 120cm, Spacing 40cm. 65 days.

  Best months in Tropical Climates: FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Lettuce- All Year Round

  A butterhead type of lettuce with buttery green leaves and a compact heart, growing to 20cm. Suitable for planting year-round and slow to bolt (protection from frosts is still recommended).

  Sow direct or raise seedlings, 3mm. Germination 7-14 days @ Aug-23°C.Annual. Rows 50cm, Height 20cm, Spacing 30cm. 55-75 days.

  Best months in Tropical Climates: APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Silverbeet- Golden Sunrise

  A biennial usually grown annually, reaching 60cm. Features golden yellow stalks, veins, midribs, and shiny green leaves. Thick, tender stalks. Highly productive; suitable for baby leaves or as an ornamental. Also known as "Swiss Chard".

  Sow direct or raise seedlings, 15mm. Germination 5-10 days @ 10-30°C.Biennial. Rows 50cm, Spacing 30cm. 60 days (30 days for baby leaves).

  Best months in Tropical Climates: MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

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• 

  Tomato- Yellow Pear

  Climbing. Vigorous and heavy producing plant. Small yellow pear-shaped fruit. Excellent flavour; sweet and tangy. Acid free. Good for adding colour to salads. Ideal for pickling.

  Sow direct or raise seedlings, 5mm. Germination 5-10 days @ 21-27°C.Annual. Rows 60-70cm, Spacing 50cm. 75 days.

  Best months in Tropical Climates: FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Chilli- Serrano

  Productive plants to 85cm that produce 6cm glossy green fruit, turning red when mature. Medium to thin flesh and fiery hot flavour good for sauces, pickling and salsa's. A good variety for drying. Heat: 7/10

  Sow direct or raise seedlings, 5mm. Germination 7-21 days @ 22-35°C.Perennial (grown as an annual in cool climates). Rows 100cm, Height 85cm, Spacing 50cm. 75-85 days.

  Best months in Tropical Climates: JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Pumpkin- Moranga

  Brazilian heirloom 'Moranga' produces flat, ribbed pumpkins weighing 2-4kg. Light pink to salmon skin, sweet orange flesh. Ideal for soup, roasting, and traditional 'Camaro na Moranga'. Stores well. Also known as 'Abóbora Moranga' or 'Pink Pumpkin'.

  Sow direct, 20mm. Germination 8-12 days @ 21-35°C.Annual. Rows 150cm, Spacing 60cm. 100 days.

  Best months in Tropical Climates: FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Chives

  Perennial growing to 25cm. Grows in slowly spreading clumps. Plant has green, hollow, tubular leaves that have a mild onion flavour; used as a garnish, in sauces, dips, stews, casseroles, salads and soups. Can be grown in containers.

  Sow direct, 5mm. Germination 7-14 days @ 18-21°C.Perennial. Height 25cm, Spacing 15cm. 60-90 days.

  Best months in Tropical Climates: JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Zucchini- Black Beauty

  Upright bush. Popular home garden variety producing dark green cylindrical fruit with tender cream/white flesh. Delicious flavour. Quick growing.

  Sow direct, 20mm. Germination 7-14 days @ 21-35°C.Annual. Rows 100cm, Spacing 75cm. 50-65 days.

  Best months in Tropical Climates: FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Bush Bean- Royal Burgundy

  Dwarf (bush) bean. Round purple pods with green interior that grow to 15cm and turn green when cooked. High yielding. Good variety for cooler climates.

  Sow direct, 20mm. Germination 7-10 days @ 20-26°C.Annual. Rows 50cm, Spacing 10cm. 60 days.

  Best months in Tropical Climates: FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

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Tips for gardening in spring:

Spring Gardening

Spring cleaning: Use this checklist to carry out a garden inspection. 

• Plant damage - look for plants damaged by winter rains, cold temperatures, frost, snow, or wind. 
• Tidy up plants and provide stakes or support where necessary. Make a note of which plants will need protection from winter weather for next year. Also look for rodent or deer damage on woody plants, evidence of new rabbit burrows or new shoots being eaten by rabbits. Protect plants with wire cages where appropriate.
• Hardscaping and outdoor living areas - check paving and decking for algae and mould and give it a good clean. Sweep patios and paths, and clean outdoor furniture. Gravel paths might need resurfacing. Check decks, benches, sheds, fences and wooden trellises for rotting timber. Walls that have become bowed may need fixing or reinforcing, and stepping stones or paving that has shifted may cause a trip hazard.
• Check gutters and drains - clearing out leaves and twigs reduces potential fire hazards and ensures rainwater can run off easily. 
• Irrigation system - check for leaks and parts that need to be repaired and unclog sprinkler heads that have become clogged with debris.
• Clean up garden beds - rake up old plant debris and matted fallen leaves if you didn’t do this in autumn. Doing so keeps pests and diseases at bay that thrive under such conditions. 
• Clean out bird baths and remove debris from water features and ponds.

Soil preparation: Boost soil structure and fertility by sprinkling with a slow-release organic fertiliser and topdressing with well-rotted compost or well-aged manure. Take extra care if using chicken manure, and use it sparingly, as it can be high in ammonia which can burn your plants. 

It is helpful to test your soil every 3-5 years to check if it is becoming deficient (or too rich) in any particular nutrient. The pH of the soil can sometimes limit the uptake of certain nutrients, so checking the pH is a good place to start. If necessary, amend the soil accordingly.  

Refresh the soil in pots and containers. Over time, nutrients are used up and soil may become compacted or hold less water. Repot suitable plants (divide if appropriate) into fresh potting mix, or simply remove the top few centimetres of soil and replace with fresh mix.

Get planting: If you haven’t already planned your garden, sort through your seeds and decide what you want to plant and where. If it’s still a bit cold in your area, you can start seeds indoors on a heat mat or in a mini greenhouse. If sowing directly in the garden, try the scatter method of sowing for a more informal approach this year.

If any of the flowers or vegetables you are planning on planting require support like stakes or trellises, set them up when you sow your seeds. This avoids disturbing the roots of newly emerging seedlings and young plants later on. 

Pests and diseases to look out for in spring:

Slugs and snails: Snail and slug eggs that have overwintered begin to hatch as the weather warms up. Baby snails and slugs start feeding immediately and cause as much damage to flowers and vegetable seedlings as the adults. Control and reduce their number by picking them off and removing weeds and places that provide refuge for them. If you choose to use bait, do so with caution as most baits can be toxic to pets and other wildlife.

Sap-sucking insects: Infestations of aphids and whitefly can detrimentally affect your plants. Female aphids can give birth to live young without the need to mate, and colonies multiply very rapidly when conditions are favourable. Adult whiteflies are usually only seen when they are disturbed and fly up in a cloud. Try physically removing these pests by squirting with a garden hose, or use a homemade pyrethrum spray or eco oil.

Fruit fly: Set up fruit fly traps and get ready to protect young tomatoes and other susceptible fruit using appropriate bags and nets.

Product code: SS_VEG_TROP_SPR_2024