SUNFLOWER - Russian Giant - helianthus annuus

005 Russian Giant Sunflower 

Strong thick green stems that support a single large head, the inside where the seeds come from is browny green and the surrounding petals a lovely golden yellow.Beautiful Russian Giant sunflowers tower between 5-7 foot if well composted, watered and fed before they bud. They can get tall and the faces of them get larger which means more seeds! 

They are one of the safe-to-eat varieties, the seeds can be eaten!

Great for encouraging the kids to participate in gardening activities, as they grow and change regularly and dont take too long to grow. Also they have a high germination rate. This year we planted earlier, just as first frost passed, and planted again just in the New Year. They look spectacular when you grow them next to your corn (companion planting)

Best type of sunflower for edible seeds - great for feeding to the chooks too! Wild birds will also have a taste!
Approx 50 days to maturity 

Sow seeds  directly, depending on where you are - plant when frost is past, soil is warmer  - these are pretty strong, but may need staked against wind! 

FENNEL - Florence Fennel - Finochio

 004 Fennel FINOCCHIO - Florence Fennel 

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) 

Florence Fennel or Finocchio is a highly aromatic herb that grows well almost anywhere and is prized for culinary uses and medicinal properties. 
Tall with yellow flowers, Florence fennel has a swollen bulb-like stem that can be used in cooking - sauteed  grilled or raw. Leaves can be eaten too in salads or cooked as in a stir fry or cultural dishes from India, Pakistan or the Middle East. 
Attractive to insects, seeds valuable for medicinal syrups & tea, esp for intestinal upsets and flatulence.


Sow directly into the soil once frosts are past and soil is starting to warm up.
Very Tall  (6ft plus)- may be invasive to other plants because of its size, so plant out of the main garden alongside a fence or driveway and admire the tall graceful flower heads. 

Once seed sets, fennel will reseed easily. 

AUSTRIAN GREEN LEAF LETTUCE - Frilled

003 Sweet Frilled LETTUCE - Austrian Greenleaf

Austrian Greenleaf - Frilled looseleaf lettuce, mild and sweet - lasts well. 
Direct sow into the soil - tolerant of the cold, mine are up and growing throughout the year. 

Very adaptable lettuce - use for baby leaf or wait for larger salad leaves. 
Awesome sweet taste - our favourites! 
A compact lettuce that can be plucked and it will keep growing. 
Approx 58 days to maturity 
These guys self sow easily, dont forget to let one grow taller so you can collect seeds for next year! 
- Black Seeds.

Direct sow is possible, most lettuces tolerate cooler weather... 

Scarlet Runner Bean - Easy to grow Heirloom

002 Scarlet Runner Bean - Organic, Easy To Grow

<Phaseolus coccineus>

Scarlet Runner Beans, collected seed from my own garden, originally given to me from a friend in the West Coast. These have been around for a long time throughout NZ, a gardening staple. 
Attractive little scarlet flowers that bear big pink & black seeds, planted when the ground warms up, directly sown where you wish to grow them. 

These are prolific, will wind around everything in their bid to reach the sun, will possibly need staking and dont like the wind. Can be eaten directly from the plant (yum!) or put in stir fries, salads ... what could be easier? 
Full of natural goodies. 

Plant when the air temp is warmer, the danger of frost is passed. Staking is advised. Stagger plantings across the first couple of months of planting so your bean supply is continuous. They say the more you pick, the more they grow, but I dont know about that... Scarlet Runners in flower attract bees and bumblebees readily.

Winter Luxury Pie Pumpkin -

001 Winter Luxury Pumpkin - GREAT FOR PIE

An Heirloom variety, this Winter Deluxe pumpkin (C.pepo) grows well and produces around 6-7lb per fruit and 4-5 per vine. Flesh is webbed and sweet, perfect for pie, not so hearty for soup though.

Loves sunshine and compost, a gross feeder. 

6 organic seeds in handcrafted envelope 

Enjoy pumpkin pie, custard or cheese cake? This dessert pumpkin is something a bit special, sweet and fleshy, dont forget to keep some seeds to produce next seasons plants! 

Start seeds off indoors just before last frost, plant out when the weather is starting to warm up, and the days are lengthening. Pick when the Autumn is setting in, vine will wither with frost or extreme cold, a good sign to harvest. Wipe down and store for a few weeks, but because of their fleshy nature, they will not store as well as others.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Earth Butterfly Seeds, Avonside, Christchurch, New Zealand

Thank You for reading about Earth Butterfly Seeds. My name is Lynne, I am an organic gardener, and I save seeds. Once you start, you find it is an awesome way to learn more about the plants you are growing, and I love plants!
All my seeds are handpicked, dried and sorted and hand packed into little packets I make from 100% NZ recycled paper.
My seeds are grown as naturally as possible without too many additives. I use horse poo mainly, sometimes a dressing of seaweed, and neem oil spray IF required.
I choose to companion plant, and I am fortunate that we do not have significant losses to disease.
My family and gardening blog is here - EARTH BUTTERFLY GARDENING BLOG

Beginnings...

Earth Butterfly Seeds was born in Avonside, Christchurch in 2011.
I realized my need to grow food to sustain my family, and found gathering seeds was fascinating because of all the different types.
We had just had two major earthquakes, and whilst dealing with the aftermath, we lived from a very small square foot garden that grew silver beet,  coloured chard, lettuce, onions, beans and several herbs.
For about a month, it was really the only fresh food we had available. Not only were some supplies slow in arriving in Christchurch because of damaged info-structure and buildings, also, everywhere you went, there were huge queues and delays. It seemed the better option to be staying home, to be safe, but also picking your own produce - of course it IS the better option!
It is also thrilling to watch what you have planted  grow, and then getting the benefit of eating what you grow... so satisfying! You dont get that from going to a supermarket !

Now in 2013, my garden covers around half of my lawn space.
I have extended my food plants to include  fruit trees and berry bushes. I rent my home, so like others in my position, I have to make sure these can be shifted. It has proven difficult, but we can shift our trees if we have to. Likely this year I will shift because of EQC repairs.

Currently I have over 200 different varieties of plants, mostly food, herb or companion plants growing. We supplement each meal with our own produce, and I collect seeds to ensure a regular supply for us, and I sell the surplus to be able to extend our range. I aim to grow more with each year. My surplus last year was given away to neighbours and the school my children go to. I am learning how to propagate my trees and bushes so I can show others, then pass them along. There is always someone in need of a plant or two.

Part of my vision is to be able to use my seeds to help others with a similar need of sustainability.
Food Forests are fun! There is always something new growing, or seeding.
Gardening teaches us to have patience, explore our vision and  continue nurturing our plants through difficulties and seasonal changes.
There are insects, there are birds and there are people you can share things with. It is a source of fantastic natural education for us all.
Children need to know where their food comes from, and how they can do it for themselves!
Picking plants to eat, that you have nurtured is an awesome feeling. Being able to share your surplus is so worthwhile. With this knowledge comes an understanding of Nature, and the cycle of life.

Thanks again for reading,
Happy Gardening!

Lynne

If you would like to purchase seeds, you can find my Trademe listings HERE
If you see others you would like to purchase, but there are no listings for them, drop me a line
earthbutterflyseeds@gmail.com