Where in New Zealand can I get Heritage Seeds?
Vegetable seeds are relatively easy to obtain, my local supermarket, for example, has a small selection of seeds (as do many). Another good source of heritage vegetables is local school fairs - I got some excellent white apline strawberries at one, and some raspberries at another.
MAJOR SUPPLIERS
Kings Seeds
http://www.kingsseeds.co.nz/
I get many of my seeds via mail order from Kings Seeds. They have a good web site and an excellent catalogue. If you order more than $40 (excluding shipping) they give you two free packets of seeds. If you purchase enough (not sure how much, but $40 is certainly enough) you get a free catalogue the following year. Kings seeds are also available at Nichols, but the selection there is limited.
Yates Seeds
http://www.yates.co.nz/
Go to your local garden centre or supermarket and take a look. The Yates selection is not as good as the Kings selection, but it is right there. If you want something now then just got an get it. This advantage should not be underestimated, if there's a good day you need to take advantage of it.
McGregor's
http://www.mcgregors.co.nz
Herbs, vegetables, tools, and more. So far this season (2010-2011) I've seen two fund raising groups selling McGregor's seeds (and online you'll see Plant Me doing the same. The Warehouse sells McGregor's seeds and online subscriptions for New Zealand Gardener appear to be promoting McGregor's too.
SMALLER SUPPLIERS
Niche Imports
PO Box 8, Ashhurst, NZ (Ph:0800 115 343)
Niche have a great selection of unusual heritage seeds. The first place If ound hem was the gerden center in Oamaru, but Mitre 10 Mega and also Red Barn (both in Dunedin) now also carry a selection. Niche don't appear to have a web site. They also favour mixes.
Koanga Institute
http://www.koanga.org.nz/shop/vegetables
The Koanga Institute is a charety set up to preserve heritage food plants in New Zealand. This includes those food plants brought by European settlers. They have and excellent selection of seeds not available elsewhere. If you're looking for heritage seeds this is the plage to go. As they're all organic you sometimes see their seeds at the organic shops. The organis shop over the road from the Dunedin Casino has a selection.
Egmont Seeds
http://www.egmontseedsshop.co.nz/
Egmont seeds are a smaller supplier that occasionally run 2-page ads in gardening magazines. Their selection does not appear to be very diverse, and I've never tried them.
Italian Seeds Pronto
http://www.italianseedspronto.co.nz/
Importer of italian seeds under the name of "Franchi Sementi del 1783". According to their marketing material this is the preferred brand of some of the leading European chefs including Jamie Oliver!
AUCTION SITES
TradeMe
Be careful. Seeds on TradeMe are not necessarily cheaper than the same seeds from a major supplier. You also don't know where the seed came from and there's no guarantee on germinate rates.
Kaiotes Seeds in Balcluta has a wide selection of seeds. They were reliable and their seeds germinated at expected rates. I stopped using them because they were more expensive than Kings!
