Fruit Seeds

Rooibos Afrikaans for "red bush"; scientific name Aspalathus linearis is a broom-like member of the legume family of plants growing in South Africa's fynbos. The generic name comes from the plant Calicotome Villosa, aspalathos in Greek. This plant has very similar growth and flowers to the red bush. The specific name linearis comes from the plant's linear growing structure and needle-like leaves. The plant is used to make a herbal tea called rooibos tea, bush tea (esp. Southern Africa), red bush tea (esp. UK), South African red tea, or red tea. The product has been popular in Southern Africa for generations and is now consumed in many countries. It is sometimes spelled rooibosch in accordance with the old Dutch etymology, but this does not change the pronunciation.

Bush tea, Rooibos tee", 0.3-2m shrub, yellow flowers in Spring-Summer, sandy dry areas. Sow Autumn.

USDA Zone - 9

Season to Sow - Autumn

The common strawberry is the most widely grown of the varieties. Seeds required cold treatment before sowing.

USDA Climate Zone - N/A

Season to Sow - N/A

Strawberry Spinach is one of the best-kept secrets of the herb world. A native American plant, this self seeding annual sets tiny, deliciously tender leaves that can be cooked like spinach or used fresh in salads. It also sets small red fruits in late summer and autumn that taste a bit like mulberries and are lovely fresh or cooked. You can use almost the entire plant instead of just one part, and Strawberry Spinach draws out this pleasure by setting new leaves all season long. Snip off just what you need at the moment, and harvest more later! The foliage is slender, deeply lobed, and appears in rosettes along long, slender stems. The berries are edible as well. Quite small, they resemble raspberries more than strawberries. The berries arise at the base of each stem, and a plant in full fruit is a glorious sight. Grow Strawberry Spinach in full sun (direct-sowing the seeds works best) and rich, fertile soil. It reaches about 45cm high and 30cm wide, and needs no staking or supports. Easy and trouble-free, it's an exciting new addition to the herb garden, vegetable patch, or even the flowering annual flower bed.

Physalis peruviana is the plant and its fruit, also known as Cape gooseberry (South Africa), Inca berry, Aztec berry, golden berry, giant ground cherry, Peruvian groundcherry and sometimes simply Physalis. It is indigenous to South America, but has been cultivated in England since the late 18th century and in South Africa in the region of the Cape of Good Hope since at least the start of the 19th century. Physalis peruviana is closely related to the tomatillo, also a member of the genus Physalis. As a member of the plant family Solanaceae, it is more distantly related to a large number of edible plants, including tomato, eggplant, potato and other members of the nightshades. Despite its name, it is not closely related to any of the cherry, Ribes gooseberry, Indian gooseberry, or Chinese gooseberry. The fruit is a smooth berry, resembling a miniature, spherical, yellow tomato. Removed from its bladder-like calyx, it is about the size of a marble, about 1–2 cm in diameter. Like a tomato, it contains numerous small seeds. It is bright yellow to orange in colour, and it is sweet when ripe, with a characteristic, mildly tart flavour, making it ideal for snacks, pies, or jams. It is relished in salads and fruit salads, sometimes combined with avocado. Also, because of the fruit's decorative appearance, it is popular in restaurants as an exotic garnish for desserts. A prominent feature is the inflated, papery calyx enclosing each berry. The calyx is accrescent until the fruit is fully grown; at first it is of normal size, but after the petals fall it continues to grow until it forms a protective cover around the growing fruit. If the fruit is left inside the intact calyx husks, its shelf life at room temperature is about 30–45 days. According to analyses by the USDA, a 100 g serving of Cape gooseberries is low in calories and contains modest levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1 and vitamin B3, while other nutrients are at low levels. Basic research on the cape gooseberry has provided preliminary evidence that its constituents, possibly polyphenols and/or carotenoids, may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The crude extract of the fruit-bearing plant has in vitro evidence for activity against markers of inflammation and lung cancer. It has also shown possible properties in vitro against diabetes and hypertension mechanisms. Some withanolides isolated from the plant may have anticancer activity. In folk medicine, Physalis peruviana is thought to be a medicinal herb to treat diseases, none of which has been confirmed in human clinical trials as treatable by Cape gooseberry or its extracts. In South Africa, cutworms are the most important of the many insect pests that attack the Cape gooseberry in seedbeds; red spiders after plants have been established in the field; and the potato tuber moth if the Cape gooseberry is in the vicinity of potato fields. Birds eat the fruits if not repelled. In South Africa, the most troublesome diseases are powdery mildew and soft brown scale. The plants are prone to root rots and viruses if on poorly drained soil or if carried over to a second year.

Seeds per pack - 50 Seeds

Country of Origin - Proudly produced in South Africa by Sandveld Organics

Certified Organic by - KIWA BCS ÖKO-GARANTIE GmbH

About the producer - Seeds for Africa and Sandveld Organics have entered into an exclusive strategic partnership to offer a large range of South African grown certified organic seeds. Sandveld Organics are an organic farm in Lamberts Bay on the Cape West Coast. Founded in 1998 Sandveld Organics has achieved and maintained organic certification with KIWA BCS ÖKO-GARANTIE GmbH since 1998. Sandveld Organics are the ONLY South African company growing certified organic seed.

Opuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus, is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae. Currently, only prickly pears are included in this genus of about 200 species distributed throughout most of the Americas. The fruit of prickly pears, commonly called cactus fruit, cactus fig, Indian fig or tuna in Spanish, is edible, although it has to be peeled carefully to remove the small spines on the outer skin before consumption. If the outer layer is not properly removed, glochids can be ingested, causing discomfort of the throat, lips, and tongue, as the small spines are easily lodged in the skin. Native Americans, like the Tequesta, would roll the fruit around in a suitable medium (e.g. grit) to "sand" off the glochids. Alternatively, rotating the fruit in the flame of a campfire or torch has been used to remove the glochids.

Seeds per pack - 5 Seeds

Country of Origin - Proudly produced in South Africa by Sandveld Organics

Certified Organic by - KIWA BCS ÖKO-GARANTIE GmbH

About the producer - Seeds for Africa and Sandveld Organics have entered into an exclusive strategic partnership to offer a large range of South African grown certified organic seeds. Sandveld Organics are an organic farm in Lamberts Bay on the Cape West Coast. Founded in 1998 Sandveld Organics has achieved and maintained organic certification with KIWA BCS ÖKO-GARANTIE GmbH since 1998. Sandveld Organics are the ONLY South African company growing certified organic seed.

The tropical fruit tree Psidium Guajava is native to Central and South America and can grow up to 10m in ideal conditions, with dark green foliage and white flowers, followed with green sweet Guava fruits with red flesh. It is one of few tropical fruit plants which can grow to fruiting size in an indoor pot, and can make an interesting subject for a bonsai!

Huckleberries were traditionally collected by Native American people for use as food or traditional medicine. The berries are small and round, 5–10 millimetres in diameter, and look like large dark blueberries. In taste, they may be tart, with a flavour similar to that of a blueberry, especially in blue- and purple-coloured varieties, and some have noticeably larger, bitter seeds. The fruit is versatile in various foods or beverages, including jam, pudding, candy, pie, muffins, pancakes, salad dressings, juice, tea, soup, and syrup. Traditional medical applications included treating pain, heart ailments, and infections.

Small, round tomato-like fruits ripen from green to yellow with a pleasant texture and juicy pineapple flavour. Tomatillo Pineapple is excellent for fresh salads, salsas, and Mexican dishes.

Plant produces a average yield of 5 lb. sweet cantaloupes. Cantaloupes have deep salmon flesh with sweet flavour. They take an average of 85 days from transplant to harvest.

Seeds per pack - 20 Seeds

Country of Origin - USA

Certified Organic by - USDA

This watermelon variety is developed from a sister line of Crimson Sweet. All Sweet is an excellent fresh market variety. The elongated watermelon ranges from 42 to 47cm long and 11cm in diameter averaging 10 to 15kgs. Tough green rind with dark-green broken stripes. Flesh is bright red with relatively few seeds. Average water needs.

Petite yellow watermelon has a short growing season and depending on growing conditions can be ready in as little as two months. The yellow-orange fleshed melon is sweet and fruit reaches 2 to 3kg in size at maturity.

Melothria scabra is a vine grown for its edible fruit. Fruit are about the size of grapes and taste like cucumbers with a tinge of sourness. They are also known as mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkin, cucamelon, Mexican miniature watermelon and Mexican sour cucumber. This plant is native to Mexico and Central America, where it is called sandiita (little watermelon). It is believed to have been a domesticated crop before western contact began. These plants are relatively slow-growing when they are establishing themselves, but can eventually grow up to ten feet under proper conditions. They are drought resistant and pest-resistant relative to other cucumbers. Similar to the cucumber, these plants are monoecious, producing both male and female flowers on the same plant. These plants can pollinate themselves, but the individual flowers are not self-fertile. Flowers are small and yellow, about four millimeters in diameter. Fruits develop at the base of the female flower.

Seeds per pack - 10 Seeds

Country of Origin - CANADA

Certified Organic by - ECOCERT CANADA

Musa ochracea is a plant in the banana and plantain family native to tropical Asia (in India). This very rare and hard to obtain seed produces a plant perfect for use in the landscape for their ornamental appeal. This variety was not commonly known until the late 1950's. Green to yellow green narrow trunks grow about 3 meters if grown as a specimen plant outdoors and about 1-2m as a potted plant. Long, slender green leaves are graced by intense yellow - brown flower bracts followed by seeded fruit.

USDA Zone - 12

Season to Sow - Spring

These are beautiful melons with luscious deep-orange golden flesh that is sweet, juicy and fragrant. Rinds are thin, heavily netted and medium ribbed. Vigorous, prolific plants bear nearly round, medium-sized, 1kg fruits that are ready to pick 90 days from sowing. An heirloom introduced around 1900.

Opuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus, is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae. Currently, only prickly pears are included in this genus of about 200 species distributed throughout most of the Americas. The fruit of prickly pears, commonly called cactus fruit, cactus fig, Indian fig or tuna in Spanish, is edible, although it has to be peeled carefully to remove the small spines on the outer skin before consumption. If the outer layer is not properly removed, glochids can be ingested, causing discomfort of the throat, lips, and tongue, as the small spines are easily lodged in the skin. Native Americans, like the Tequesta, would roll the fruit around in a suitable medium (e.g. grit) to "sand" off the glochids. Alternatively, rotating the fruit in the flame of a campfire or torch has been used to remove the glochids.

A productive and extremely sweet-tasting creamy-white fruited alpine strawberry. Plants will crop for several years. Looking for something different - this may be it!

This watermelon variety is developed from a sister line of Crimson Sweet. All Sweet is an excellent fresh market variety. The elongated watermelon ranges from 42 to 47cm long and 11cm in diameter averaging 10 to 15kgs. Tough green rind with dark-green broken stripes. Flesh is bright red with relatively few seeds. Average water needs.

Seeds per pack - 15 Seeds

Country of Origin - USA

Certified Organic by - USDA

Physalis peruviana is the plant and its fruit, also known as Cape gooseberry (South Africa), Inca berry, Aztec berry, golden berry, giant ground cherry, Peruvian groundcherry and sometimes simply Physalis. It is indigenous to South America, but has been cultivated in England since the late 18th century and in South Africa in the region of the Cape of Good Hope since at least the start of the 19th century. Physalis peruviana is closely related to the tomatillo, also a member of the genus Physalis. As a member of the plant family Solanaceae, it is more distantly related to a large number of edible plants, including tomato, eggplant, potato and other members of the nightshades. Despite its name, it is not closely related to any of the cherry, Ribes gooseberry, Indian gooseberry, or Chinese gooseberry. The fruit is a smooth berry, resembling a miniature, spherical, yellow tomato. Removed from its bladder-like calyx, it is about the size of a marble, about 1–2 cm in diameter. Like a tomato, it contains numerous small seeds. It is bright yellow to orange in colour, and it is sweet when ripe, with a characteristic, mildly tart flavour, making it ideal for snacks, pies, or jams. It is relished in salads and fruit salads, sometimes combined with avocado. Also, because of the fruit's decorative appearance, it is popular in restaurants as an exotic garnish for desserts. A prominent feature is the inflated, papery calyx enclosing each berry. The calyx is accrescent until the fruit is fully grown; at first it is of normal size, but after the petals fall it continues to grow until it forms a protective cover around the growing fruit. If the fruit is left inside the intact calyx husks, its shelf life at room temperature is about 30–45 days. According to analyses by the USDA, a 100 g serving of Cape gooseberries is low in calories and contains modest levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1 and vitamin B3, while other nutrients are at low levels. Basic research on the cape gooseberry has provided preliminary evidence that its constituents, possibly polyphenols and/or carotenoids, may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The crude extract of the fruit-bearing plant has in vitro evidence for activity against markers of inflammation and lung cancer. It has also shown possible properties in vitro against diabetes and hypertension mechanisms. Some withanolides isolated from the plant may have anticancer activity. In folk medicine, Physalis peruviana is thought to be a medicinal herb to treat diseases, none of which has been confirmed in human clinical trials as treatable by Cape gooseberry or its extracts. In South Africa, cutworms are the most important of the many insect pests that attack the Cape gooseberry in seedbeds; red spiders after plants have been established in the field; and the potato tuber moth if the Cape gooseberry is in the vicinity of potato fields. Birds eat the fruits if not repelled. In South Africa, the most troublesome diseases are powdery mildew and soft brown scale. The plants are prone to root rots and viruses if on poorly drained soil or if carried over to a second year.

A classic oblong heirloom watermelon, Charleston Gray has red, fibreless flesh and a tough, medium-thick grey-green rind often used for making watermelon rind pickles. At one time this was the predominant watermelon in home gardens and markets. It is not a seedless variety. Give vines plenty of room to run.

Lime Green Flesh, with a perfect texture. This is very sweet bearing fruits around 20cm in diameter. It is at home in a fruit salad, and makes the perfect accompaniment to Pama or Black Forrest Ham on an Italian Antipasti Platter. Harvests at 110 days and produces great results every time.

A spectacular watermelon, with fine flavour, introduced by the Henderson seed company in 1926. The skin is deep green, speckled with hundreds of red stars and a few round shaped moons. Even the foliage has "stars". The fruit is red. Melons are medium sized 10kg. and slightly oblong.

A spectacular watermelon, with fine flavour, introduced by the Henderson seed company in 1926. The skin is deep green, speckled with hundreds of golden yellow stars and a few round shaped moons. Even the foliage has yellow "stars". The fruit is red. Melons are medium sized 10kg. and slightly oblong.

The oblong Crenshaw fruits are a pale, creamy yellow. The flesh is orange, creamy, sweet, and very aromatic, among the very best of all melons types.

This form of Musa itinerans was discovered in India. It likes shade and grows to 10 metres tall. It has a red or purple pseudostem and on the upper side deep green leaves with a dark red midrib. The red colour runs into the leaves, in the juvenile stage the leaf undersides are also purple red. The fruit are not considered to be edible and it is grown for its ornamental tropical appearance.

USDA Zone - 12

Season to Sow - Spring

Round striped with pink flesh, this is a rather long keeping varietal. It has tasty juicy flesh. Great blended in a smoothy or cocktail, or sliced chilled and eaten as it is.

Plant produces a average yield of 5 lb. sweet cantaloupes. Cantaloupes have deep salmon flesh with sweet flavour. They take an average of 85 days from transplant to harvest.

Musa yunnanensis, commonly known as either Yunnan banana or wild forest banana, is a recently described plant in the banana and plantain family native to Yunnan in southern China. Although M. yunnanesis grows in montane tropical forest, it is both shade and frost tolerant, and sensitive to direct sunlight, and so is essentially an understory plant. Individuals typically reach about 5?–?5.25 meters in height at maturation. Bark on pseudostems is coated in wax that is white with a bluish cast. The upper surface of the leaves are also bluish, though their undersides are red hued. M. yunnanensis has value to local wildlife; its summer fruits are consumed by birds, bats, and possibly elephants. It is not considered to be edible for human consumption.

USDA Zone - 12

Season to Sow - Spring