Category Plant families

Plant family top level

Runner Bean

Botanical name : Phaseolus coccineus Common name : Seven year bean Images Cultivation Runner beans are not frost tolerant. They are also unlikely to grow well in high humidity and high temperatures. They are grown over summer in southern Australia.…

Lettuce

Botanical name : Lactuca sativa Synonyms : Common name : Lettuce, Romaine lettuce, Cos lettuce, open-hearted lettuce, crisp-head lettuce Images Growing for seed As lettuce plants grow a significant flower stalk, spacing them 30 to 40 cm apart will give…

Broad Bean

Botanical name : Vicia faba Common name : Broad Bean, Field bean, Horse bean, Faba or Fava Bean, Tic Bean Images Cultivation Broad Beans prefer temperatures between 15 and 25 C. In Southern Australia they will happily grow through winter in most…

Tomato

Botanical name : Solanum lycopersicum Common name : Tomato, Cherry tomato, Paste tomato Images Growing for seed When growing tomatoes for seed, the main thing we need to know about our tomato variety is whether it is one of the rare…

True Potato Seed – TPS

Images Background description Potatoes primarily come from the South and Central Americas – Peruvian and Bolivian Andes highlands –  but have been cultivated and moved around by humans for many thousands of years. True Potato Seed is the actual seed…

Bean

Botanical name : Phaseolus vulgaris Common names : Green bean, French bean, Butter bean, Pole bean, Climbing bean, Dwarf bean, Bush bean, Filet bean Images Cultivation Common beans are not frost tolerant. They are also unlikely to grow well in high…

Pea

Botanical name : Pisum sativum Synonyms :  Common name : Pea, Snap Pea, Snow Pea, Garden Pea, Podding Pea, Sugar Snap Pea Images Cultivation Peas being grown for seed should be grown in the same way as peas for eating.…

Lima Bean

Botanical name : Phaseolus lunatus Common name : Lima Bean, Madagascar bean, Christmas bean, Butter bean Images Cultivation Lima beans are frost sensitive. They are perennials but are grown as annuals in colder areas. They prefer long warm growing seasons…

Caigua

Description Botanical name : Cyclanthera pedata Synonyms : Cyclanthera pedata var edulis Common name : Caigua, Pepino Relleno, Achocha, ladies slipper, Stuffing Cucumber Images Growing for seed Selection Diseases & Pests (Optional section) Harvest Processing Cultivation History Uses Other Resources…

Pumpkin, Zucchini & Squash

Botanical name : Cucurbita spp. Common name : Zucchini, Courgette, Pumpkin, Summer squash, Winter squash, Chilacayote and some ornamental Gourds Overview Pumpkins and zucchinis can cause some confusion for seed savers as the common names may refer to varieties from…

Ground Cherry

Botanical name : Physalis pruinosa Synonyms : Multiple other closely related species including Australian Natives Common name : Ground Cherry

Cape Gooseberry

Botanical name : Physalis peruviana Synonyms : Physalis esculenta, Physalis latifolia, Physalis tomentosa Common name : Cape Gooseberry, Poha, Golden berry, Inca Berry, Uchuva, Peruvian Ground Cherry

Nasturtium

Orange nasturtiums in a mixed planting with other edibles photo: Jon Kingston

Botanical name : Tropaeolum majus Common name : Nasturtium, Indian cress, monk’s cress Images Growing for seed Nasturtiums are an easy plant to grow. There are no special requirements for seed saving unless a particular variety is being grown for seed,…

Buckwheat

Buckwheat flowering photo: BVSS/LW

Botanical name : Fagopyrun esculentum Common name : Buckwheat Images Growing for seed Buckwheat is a warm season crop. It is relatively quick and can produce mature seed in less than 3 months. Each buckwheat plant produces one of two…

Oca

Botanical name : Oxalis tuberosa Synonyms :  Common name : Oca, NZ Yam

Okra

Okra flower photo: BVSS

Botanical name : Abelmoschus esculentus Common name : Okra, Lady’s fingers Images Growing for seed While not requiring cross pollination, okra can be cross-pollinated by insects so should be isolated by at least 250 m from other okra varieties. If the…