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Cucumis sativus
Green Gem, also known as Poinsett, is a dependable open-pollinated slicing Cucumber producing long, straight, deep green fruits reaching approximately 25 cm. An old standard garden variety, it is particularly valued for its productivity, adaptability to hot conditions and resistance to mildews.
The fruits are crisp, juicy and refreshing with a classic cucumber flavour. Harvested young and tender, they are excellent sliced into salads and sandwiches, served fresh with dips or used in cold soups and other summer dishes.
Green Gem is a vigorous, heavy-bearing variety that continues producing over a long period when fruits are picked regularly. Its ability to perform well in hot climates makes it particularly useful for warmer Australian growing regions, while its mildew resistance helps plants remain productive through challenging summer conditions.
Although vines can be allowed to ramble along the ground, Green Gem performs particularly well when trained onto a trellis. Vertical growing encourages straighter fruits, improves airflow around the foliage and makes harvesting easier.
Approximately 18 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: Spring to autumn
Subtropics: Spring to summer
Mild climates: Spring after frost to early summer
Cold climates: Spring after the last frost, or start earlier under protection
Planting / Sowing
Sow directly into warm soil approximately 10â20 mm deep, or raise in pots and transplant once conditions have warmed. Space plants approximately 40â60 cm apart in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil.
Provide a sturdy trellis for best results. Keep plants consistently watered, particularly during flowering and fruit development, and mulch around the root zone to help retain moisture.
Harvest regularly while fruits are firm, green and tender, up to approximately 25 cm long. Frequent picking encourages continued flowering and heavy production.
If saving seed, Green Gem can cross-pollinate with other Cucumis sativus cucumber varieties flowering nearby, so adequate isolation is required to maintain the variety true to type.
Maturity: approximately 56â63 days.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cucumis sativus
Improved Telegraph is a classic long slicing Cucumber producing elegant, slender fruits reaching approximately 35 cm. The smooth, dark green skin is marked with lighter green colouring along its length, surrounding crisp, tender flesh with a refreshing, mild cucumber flavour.
Developed from the old Telegraph-type cucumbers traditionally grown in Britain, this variety belongs to the group commonly known as English or greenhouse cucumbers. Telegraph cucumbers became popular during the Victorian era, when growers prized exceptionally long, straight and finely flavoured fruits for the table.
The long, thin fruits are excellent for fresh eating and particularly well suited to salads, sandwiches and delicate garnishes. Harvest regularly while the fruits are firm and tender for the best flavour and texture.
Plants are vigorous climbers and perform particularly well when trained vertically onto a trellis or other support. Trellising encourages the characteristic long, straight fruits while improving airflow and keeping them clean and easy to harvest.
Improved Telegraph prefers warm growing conditions, fertile, well-drained soil and consistent moisture. Protect plants from cold conditions and avoid allowing the soil to dry excessively during flowering and fruit development.
Approximately 15 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: Spring to autumn
Subtropics: Spring to summer
Mild climates: Spring after frost to early summer
Cold climates: Spring after the last frost, or start earlier under protection
Planting / Sowing
Sow directly into warm soil approximately 10â20 mm deep, or raise in pots and transplant once conditions have warmed. Space plants approximately 40â60 cm apart in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil.
Provide a sturdy trellis or climbing support and gently train young vines as they develop. Keep plants consistently watered, particularly during flowering and fruit development.
Harvest regularly when fruits are long, slender and dark green, up to approximately 35 cm. Frequent picking encourages continued flowering and production.
If saving seed, Improved Telegraph can cross-pollinate with other Cucumis sativus cucumber varieties flowering nearby, so adequate isolation is required to maintain the variety true to type.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cucumis sativus
Japanese Climbing is a traditional heirloom cucumber prized for its long, slender fruit, tender skin, and refreshing, mildly sweet flavour. Vigorous climbing vines are ideal for trellises, fences, or vertical gardens, where the fruit grows straighter and stays cleaner. The crisp, juicy cucumbers reach around 20â25 cm long with few seeds, making them excellent for fresh eating, salads, and light pickling. Highly productive when harvested regularly and well suited to warm Australian growing conditions.
Approximately 20 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: April to August
Subtropics: August to January
Mild climates: September to January
Cold climates: After the last frost to early summer
Planting / Sowing
Sow seed directly or raise in trays, planting 2 cm deep in fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Space plants 40â60 cm apart and provide a trellis or other support for climbing. Keep the soil consistently moist and harvest fruit regularly to encourage continuous production.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cucumis sativus
Jefferson is a distinctive open-pollinated Cucumber producing plump fruits with yellow skin, reaching approximately 20 cm long and 9 cm across when fully grown. For the best eating quality, however, harvest the fruits young at around 10 cm while they are particularly crisp and tender.
The juicy flesh has a refreshing cucumber flavour and is excellent for fresh eating, slicing into salads and sandwiches or preserving through pickling. Its yellow colouring makes Jefferson an attractive alternative to conventional green cucumbers and helps make the fruits easy to spot amongst the foliage.
Jefferson is particularly useful in warmer growing regions, coping well with both heat and humidity and showing resistance to powdery mildew. It resembles Giant Russian but produces smaller fruits and is best harvested considerably earlier for fresh eating.
Plants are vigorous and productive, and regular harvesting is important once fruiting begins. Check vines daily during periods of rapid growth, as cucumbers can increase in size remarkably quickly.
Approximately 25 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: Spring to autumn
Subtropics: Spring to summer
Mild climates: Spring after frost to early summer
Cold climates: Spring after the last frost, or start earlier under protection
Planting / Sowing
Sow directly into warm soil approximately 10â20 mm deep, or raise in pots and transplant once conditions have warmed. Germination is best with soil temperatures around 18â25°C.
Space plants approximately 40â60 cm apart in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil. Vines can be allowed to ramble or trained onto a trellis to improve airflow and make harvesting easier.
Keep plants consistently watered, particularly during flowering and fruit development. Harvest from approximately 60 days, ideally when fruits are around 10 cm long for the best flavour and texture. Once production begins, harvest daily to encourage continued flowering and fruit set.
If saving seed, Jefferson can cross-pollinate with other Cucumis sativus cucumber varieties flowering nearby, so adequate isolation is required to maintain the variety true to type.
Maturity: approximately 60 days.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cucumis sativus
Lebanese Mini Muncher is a compact, highly productive cucumber that produces crisp, smooth-skinned fruit around 10â12 cm long. The mild, sweet flavour is free from bitterness, making these cucumbers ideal for fresh eating straight from the vine, lunchboxes, salads, and platters, with no peeling required. Fast growing and relatively compact, this variety is well suited to pots, raised beds, and smaller garden spaces. Harvest regularly to encourage continuous production throughout the season.
Approximately 20 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: April to August
Subtropics: August to January
Mild climates: September to January
Cold climates: After the last frost to early summer
Planting / Sowing
Sow seed directly or raise in trays, planting 2 cm deep in fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Space plants 40â60 cm apart. Plants can be grown on the ground or trained onto a trellis to improve airflow and fruit quality. Keep the soil consistently moist and harvest frequently for the best flavour and continued production.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cucumis sativus
Lemon Cucumber is a charming heirloom dating to the late 19th century, producing rounded fruits that ripen from pale green to a distinctive light lemon-yellow. Despite the name, it does not taste like a lemon. The name comes from its colour and shape, with mature fruits resembling small lemons or yellow apples.
The fruits reach approximately 8 cm long and 5.5 cm across, with thin, tender skin and crisp, juicy flesh. Sweet, refreshing and free from bitterness, they can be eaten straight from the garden much like an apple. Lemon Cucumber is excellent sliced into salads and sandwiches, served fresh with dips or preserved as pickles.
First appearing in American seed catalogues around 1894, Lemon Cucumber has remained a popular heirloom for its unusual appearance, excellent eating quality and prolific production.
Plants are vigorous, heavy producers with good drought tolerance once established and resistance to rust. The vines can be allowed to ramble across the ground or trained vertically onto a trellis to improve airflow, save space and make harvesting easier.
Approximately 20 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: Spring to autumn
Subtropics: Spring to summer
Mild climates: Spring after frost to early summer
Cold climates: Spring after the last frost, or start earlier under protection
Planting / Sowing
Sow directly into warm soil approximately 10â20 mm deep, or raise in pots and transplant once conditions have warmed. Space plants approximately 40â60 cm apart in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil.
Provide a trellis for vertical growth or allow vines sufficient room to ramble. Water regularly during flowering and fruit development for crisp, well-filled fruits, although established plants cope with periods of dry weather better than many cucumber varieties.
Harvest while fruits are crisp and pale yellow for the best eating quality. Pick regularly once production begins to encourage continued flowering and fruit set.
If saving seed, Lemon Cucumber can cross-pollinate with other Cucumis sativus cucumber varieties flowering nearby, so adequate isolation is required to maintain the variety true to type.
Maturity: approximately 58â70 days.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cucumis sativus
Long White is a distinctive open-pollinated Cucumber producing attractive pale cream to white fruits with crisp, refreshing flesh. A fast-growing and productive variety, it offers something a little different from the usual dark green slicing cucumbers while remaining wonderfully versatile in the kitchen.
The crisp flesh has a mild, sweet flavour sometimes described as having an appealing âapple-likeâ quality. Fruits are excellent eaten fresh, sliced into salads and sandwiches or served with dips, and their firm texture also makes them well suited to pickling and preserving.
Long White is a vigorous warm-season grower with useful tolerance to powdery mildew, helping plants remain productive when conditions favour this common cucumber disease. Regular harvesting will encourage the vines to continue flowering and setting new fruit.
Plants can be allowed to ramble along the ground or trained vertically onto a trellis. Trellising saves space, improves airflow around the foliage and helps produce straighter, cleaner fruits.
Approximately 16 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: Spring to autumn
Subtropics: Spring to summer
Mild climates: Spring after frost to early summer
Cold climates: Spring after the last frost, or start earlier under protection
Planting / Sowing
Sow directly into warm soil approximately 10â20 mm deep, or raise in pots and transplant once conditions have warmed. Space plants approximately 40â60 cm apart in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil.
Provide a trellis for vertical growth or allow vines sufficient room to ramble. Keep plants consistently watered, particularly during flowering and fruit development, and mulch around the root zone to help retain moisture.
Harvest regularly while fruits are pale, firm and crisp for the best flavour and texture. Frequent picking encourages continued flowering and production.
If saving seed, Long White can cross-pollinate with other Cucumis sativus cucumber varieties flowering nearby, so adequate isolation is required to maintain the variety true to type.
Maturity: approximately 63â70 days.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cucumis sativus
Marketmore is a dependable heirloom cucumber producing dark green, tapered fruit around 22 cm long and 6 cm wide. Renowned for its sweet, mild flavour and crisp texture, it is ideal for slicing, salads, and fresh eating. Vigorous, productive plants mature in approximately 60â70 days and continue to produce heavily when fruit is harvested regularly.
Approximately 25 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: April to August
Subtropics: August to January
Mild climates: September to January
Cold climates: After the last frost to early summer
Planting / Sowing
Sow seed directly or raise in trays, planting 2 cm deep in fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Space plants 40â60 cm apart. Grow on the ground or train onto a trellis for straighter fruit and improved airflow. Keep the soil consistently moist and harvest regularly to encourage continuous production.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cucumis sativus
Muncher Burpless is a tender, productive slicing Cucumber producing smooth green fruits approximately 17 cm long. Crisp, juicy and pleasantly mild, the fruits are free from bitterness and are particularly good for gardeners looking for a sweet, easy-eating cucumber.
The thin, tender skin means fruits can be eaten without peeling, while the crisp flesh is excellent sliced into salads and sandwiches, eaten straight from the garden or served with dips. Muncher is also suitable for pickling, particularly when the fruits are harvested young and small.
The term âburplessâ is traditionally used for mild cucumber varieties with low bitterness and tender skin. Muncher combines these eating qualities with good garden performance and useful resistance to cucumber mosaic virus.
Plants are vigorous and productive through warm weather and can be allowed to ramble along the ground or trained vertically onto a trellis. Trellising improves airflow, saves space and helps produce clean, straight fruits that are easy to harvest.
Approximately 22 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: Spring to autumn
Subtropics: Spring to summer
Mild climates: Spring after frost to early summer
Cold climates: Spring after the last frost, or start earlier under protection
Planting / Sowing
Sow directly into warm soil approximately 10â20 mm deep, or raise in pots and transplant once conditions have warmed. Space plants approximately 40â60 cm apart in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil.
Provide a trellis for vertical growth or allow vines sufficient room to ramble. Keep plants consistently watered, particularly during flowering and fruit development.
Harvest regularly while fruits are smooth, green and tender, up to approximately 17 cm long. Pick smaller if intended for pickling. Frequent harvesting encourages continued flowering and fruit production.
If saving seed, Muncher Burpless can cross-pollinate with other Cucumis sativus cucumber varieties flowering nearby, so adequate isolation is required to maintain the variety true to type.
Maturity: approximately 65 days.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cucumis sativus
Poona Kheera is an extraordinary Indian heirloom Cucumber, traditionally grown around Pune in western India. Unlike most cucumbers, its appearance changes dramatically as it matures, beginning pale green to creamy white, developing through golden yellow and eventually ripening to a distinctive russet-brown skin.
At every stage the flesh remains crisp, juicy and pleasantly tangy. Young pale fruits are excellent eaten fresh, sliced into salads and sandwiches or used for pickling, while the more mature golden and russet fruits develop a fuller flavour while retaining their crunch.
Poona Kheera is particularly valued for its toughness in the garden. Early producing and remarkably tolerant of hot weather, it continues cropping over a long period when many cucumber varieties begin to struggle. Plants are vigorous, productive and show good natural disease resistance, making this an excellent variety for warm Australian climates.
The vines can be allowed to ramble across the ground or trained vertically onto a trellis. Trellising improves airflow, saves space and makes the changing colours of the fruits easy to spot and harvest.
Approximately 18 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: Spring to autumn
Subtropics: Spring to summer
Mild climates: Spring after frost to early summer
Cold climates: Spring after the last frost, or start earlier under protection
Planting / Sowing
Sow directly into warm soil approximately 10â20 mm deep, or raise in pots and transplant once conditions have warmed. Space plants approximately 40â60 cm apart in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil.
Provide a trellis for vertical growth or allow vines sufficient room to ramble. Keep plants consistently watered during flowering and fruit development, although Poona Kheera handles hot conditions particularly well once established.
Harvest young while pale for a fresh, crisp cucumber, or experiment with the different stages as fruits change through golden yellow to russet brown. Pick regularly to encourage continued flowering and production.
If saving seed, Poona Kheera can cross-pollinate with other Cucumis sativus cucumber varieties flowering nearby, so adequate isolation is required to maintain the variety true to type.
Maturity: approximately 55 days.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cucumis sativus
Richmond River Green Apple is an old Australian heirloom cucumber producing distinctive rounded, apple-shaped fruits with smooth green skin and crisp, juicy flesh. A classic variety with a long history in Australian home gardens, it is well suited to our warm growing conditions and remains popular for its flavour and productive nature.
The rounded fruits are best harvested young while the skin is tender and the flesh crisp and sweet. Their refreshing, mild flavour makes them excellent eaten straight from the garden, sliced into salads and sandwiches or served with dips. They are also suitable for pickling when harvested small.
Apple-type cucumbers have been favourites in Australian gardens for generations, particularly in warmer regions where their vigorous growth and generous cropping make them reliable summer vegetables. Richmond River Green Apple is an excellent choice for gardeners wanting to preserve and grow an Australian heritage variety.
Plants are vigorous and productive through warm weather. Allow vines to ramble across the ground or train them vertically onto a trellis to improve airflow, save space and make harvesting easier.
Approximately 25 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: Spring to autumn
Subtropics: Spring to summer
Mild climates: Spring after frost to early summer
Cold climates: Spring after the last frost, or start earlier under protection
Planting / Sowing
Sow directly into warm soil approximately 10â20 mm deep, or raise in pots and transplant once conditions have warmed. Space plants approximately 40â60 cm apart in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil.
Provide a trellis for vertical growth or allow vines sufficient room to ramble. Keep plants consistently watered, particularly during flowering and fruit development.
Harvest regularly while fruits are young, green, firm and crisp for the best eating quality. Frequent picking encourages continued flowering and fruit production.
If saving seed, Richmond River Green Apple can cross-pollinate with other Cucumis sativus cucumber varieties flowering nearby, so adequate isolation is required to maintain the variety true to type.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cucumis sativus
Straight Eight is a classic open-pollinated slicing Cucumber producing smooth, straight, cylindrical fruits with rounded ends and deep green skin. Introduced in the United States in the 1930s, it became a popular home garden variety for its reliable production, attractive uniform fruits and excellent eating quality.
The crisp, fine-grained flesh has a small seed cavity and a mild, sweet, refreshing flavour. Fruits are excellent for fresh eating, salads, sandwiches and slicing, and can also be harvested younger for pickling.
Plants are vigorous, prolific and relatively early to begin producing. Straight Eight also shows useful resistance to cucumber mosaic virus, helping plants remain productive through the growing season.
For the best quality, harvest regularly while fruits are firm, straight and deep green. Cut rather than pull the fruit from the vine, leaving approximately 2 cm of stem attached. This helps reduce moisture loss and can improve storage life after harvest.
Approximately 20 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: Spring to autumn
Subtropics: Spring to summer
Mild climates: Spring after frost to early summer
Cold climates: Spring after the last frost, or start earlier under protection
Planting / Sowing
Sow directly into warm soil approximately 10â20 mm deep, or raise in pots and transplant once conditions have warmed. Space plants approximately 40â60 cm apart in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil.
Allow vines sufficient room to ramble or provide a trellis for vertical growth. Trellising improves airflow, saves space and encourages clean, straight fruits. Keep plants consistently watered, particularly during flowering and fruit development.
Harvest frequently once production begins to encourage continued flowering and fruit set. Cut fruits from the vine with approximately 2 cm of stem attached for improved storage.
If saving seed, Straight Eight can cross-pollinate with other Cucumis sativus cucumber varieties flowering nearby, so adequate isolation is required to maintain the variety true to type.
Maturity: approximately 52â75 days.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cucumis sativus
Suyo Long is a traditional Chinese heirloom Cucumber producing exceptionally long, slender fruits reaching approximately 38 cm. The dark green fruits have distinctive ribbed skin and often develop gentle curves as they grow, particularly when allowed to ramble along the ground.
The flesh is crisp, sweet and refreshing, with tender skin and excellent flavour. Suyo Long is considered a burpless variety and is notably free from bitterness, making it particularly good for fresh eating. Slice into salads and sandwiches, serve with dips, add to Asian-style salads or use young fruits for pickling.
One of the great strengths of Suyo Long is its ability to perform through hot weather. The vigorous vines remain productive in conditions that can challenge many conventional cucumber varieties, making it an excellent choice for warmer Australian climates.
For the longest and straightest fruits, grow Suyo Long vertically on a sturdy trellis and allow the cucumbers to hang freely as they develop. Trellising also improves airflow around the foliage and makes the prolific fruits easier to find and harvest.
Approximately 20 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: Spring to autumn
Subtropics: Spring to summer
Mild climates: Spring after frost to early summer
Cold climates: Spring after the last frost, or start indoors approximately 4â5 weeks earlier
Planting / Sowing
Sow directly into warm soil approximately 10â20 mm deep, or raise in pots and transplant once conditions have warmed. Cucumbers dislike root disturbance, so handle seedlings carefully when transplanting.
Space plants approximately 40â60 cm apart in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil. Provide a sturdy trellis for best results, allowing the long fruits to hang freely and develop straighter.
Keep soil consistently moist during flowering and fruit development. Harvest regularly while fruits are crisp and tender, up to approximately 38 cm long. Frequent picking encourages continued flowering and production.
If saving seed, Suyo Long can cross-pollinate with other Cucumis sativus varieties flowering nearby, so adequate isolation is required to maintain the variety true to type.
Maturity: approximately 61 days.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Cichorium intybus
Also known as Italiko Rosso or Ruby Chicory, Red Dandelion is a striking Italian heirloom prized for its deep crimson stems and midribs contrasted against finely cut, frilly dark green leaves. The plants form a dense, upright rosette with a bold appearance that is as attractive in the garden as it is on the plate.
Its pleasantly bittersweet flavour makes it an excellent choice for baby leaf salads, gourmet salad mixes and cooked greens. Uniquely, the vivid red colouring is retained after cooking, making it one of the few leafy vegetables to hold its rich crimson tones when sautĂŠed or braised. Both frost and heat tolerant, this versatile chicory can be harvested as baby leaves from around 35 days or grown on to full size in approximately 55 days.
Approximately 600â700 seeds per gram
Approximately 120 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: April to August
Subtropics: March to August
Mild climates: March to September
Cold climates: September to November and February to April
Planting / Sowing
Sow seed 5 mm deep into fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny position. Thin or transplant seedlings to 20â30 cm apart. Keep the soil consistently moist to encourage tender growth and reduce bitterness. Harvest baby leaves from around 35 days or allow plants to mature for larger leaves and full-sized rosettes.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Angelica polymorpha var. sinensis
Dong Quai, also known as Chinese Angelica, is a traditional medicinal herb native to Eastern Asia and one of the most highly regarded herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Often considered alongside Ginseng and Liquorice as one of the foundational tonic herbs, Dong Quai has been used for centuries, particularly to support women's health. It forms a graceful clump of divided green foliage topped with airy clusters of creamy white flowers in its second year, making it an attractive addition to both medicinal and ornamental gardens.
Traditionally, Dong Quai has been used to support healthy menstrual function and circulation and has also been valued as a cardiovascular tonic. While widely respected in traditional herbal medicine, it should only be used under the guidance of a suitably qualified healthcare practitioner.
Approximately 180â250 seeds per gram
Approximately 40 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: April to July
Subtropics: March to August
Mild climates: March to September
Cold climates: September to November
Planting / Sowing
Sow seed on the surface or cover very lightly with fine seed-raising mix, as light assists germination. Fresh seed generally germinates best, and a period of cold stratification may improve germination if sowing older seed. Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Space plants 60â90 cm apart and keep the soil consistently moist. Dong Quai is a biennial, with roots typically harvested in the second or third year.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Solanum melongena
Black Beauty is a classic heirloom eggplant that has remained a favourite for generations. The bushy, spreading plants grow to around 80 cm tall and produce smooth, oval fruits up to 16 cm long with glossy purplish-black skin and tender, fine-flavoured flesh. Well suited to a wide range of Australian climates, including cooler southern regions, this reliable variety matures in approximately 72â85 days and is ideal for roasting, grilling, baking, and curries.
Approximately 40 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: March to September
Subtropics: August to December
Mild climates: September to December
Cold climates: After the last frost
Planting / Sowing
Sow seed in trays 5 mm deep in a warm, well drained seed-raising mix. Maintain temperatures between 22â30°C for reliable germination. Transplant seedlings into full sun once the soil has warmed, spacing plants 50â60 cm apart. Harvest fruit while the skin is glossy and firm for the best flavour and texture.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Solanum melongena
Black Beauty is a classic heirloom eggplant that has remained a favourite for generations. The bushy, spreading plants grow to around 80 cm tall and produce smooth, oval fruits up to 16 cm long with glossy purplish-black skin and tender, fine-flavoured flesh. Well suited to a wide range of Australian climates, including cooler southern regions, this reliable variety matures in approximately 72â85 days and is ideal for roasting, grilling, baking, and curries.
Approximately 60 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: March to September
Subtropics: August to December
Mild climates: September to December
Cold climates: After the last frost
Planting / Sowing
Sow seed in trays 5 mm deep in a warm, well drained seed-raising mix. Maintain temperatures between 22â30°C for reliable germination. Transplant seedlings into full sun once the soil has warmed, spacing plants 50â60 cm apart. Harvest fruit while the skin is glossy and firm for the best flavour and texture.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
Solanum melongena
Casper is a beautiful white-fruited Eggplant producing smooth, elongated fruits approximately 5 cm wide and 15 cm long. The creamy-white skin surrounds tender, pale flesh with a mild flavour and less of the bitterness sometimes associated with older purple eggplant varieties.
Originally developed in France, Casper is valued for both its unusual appearance and excellent eating quality. The fruits have a delicate, almost mushroom-like flavour and creamy texture when cooked, making them excellent roasted, grilled, fried or baked. They can also be used in curries, stews, ratatouille and Mediterranean-style dishes.
Casper is relatively quick to begin producing and crops generously in warm conditions. The striking ivory fruits are best harvested while the skin is still smooth and glossy and before the seeds inside become overly developed.
Eggplants are warm-season plants and need plenty of sun and warmth to perform well. They prefer fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost or well-rotted organic matter and benefit from consistent moisture throughout flowering and fruit development.
Approximately 40 seeds per packet
When to Plant (Australia)
Tropics: Most of the year, avoiding the coolest period
Subtropics: Late winter to summer
Mild climates: Spring to early summer
Cold climates: Start indoors in late winter to spring and transplant after all danger of frost
Planting / Sowing
Sow approximately 5 mm deep into trays or pots and keep warm and consistently moist. Eggplant germinates best with soil temperatures around 24â30°C.
Transplant seedlings once the weather and soil have warmed and all danger of frost has passed. Space plants approximately 50â60 cm apart in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil.
Water consistently during flowering and fruit development, avoiding prolonged periods of dry soil. Harvest Casper while fruits are approximately 15 cm long and the white skin remains smooth and glossy. Cut fruits from the plant with secateurs rather than pulling them from the stems.
Maturity: approximately 90 days.
Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.
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