ProSpecieRara
In the 19th century there was still an abundance of different varieties in old cottage gardens, be it crop or ornamental plants. Crops almost forgotten today were grown in them which fed the family and their staff and provided variety on the plate. Today, more and more people are growing old varieties again, and it’s good fun to see and taste the colorful diversity in your garden and on your plate.
ProSpecieRara is committed to old, culturally and historically significant plants and animals and makes a valuable contribution to the conservation work of old varieties and breeds. The foundation’s seal of approval supports the marketing of delicacies and provides guidance for consumers. It currently certifies 26 breeds of livestock, around 1,000 garden and arable plants, as well as 1,800 types of fruit and many other ornamental plants.
At Sativa you can buy around 140 types of robust pure-line seeds from rare varieties - niche varieties that cannot be found in mass outlets - regional crops, from colorful aubergines to high-yielding bean varieties, the now rare cardoon, robust outdoor lettuce, cucumbers, which can be used as gherkins, mustard cucumbers and salad cucumbers, to colorful carrots and delicate flowers. The seeds are propagated organically and responsibly in conservation breeding, for example at the Rheinau site, maintaining the varieties’ health and purity.
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Rosette-forming plant that flowers in the second year. Grows to a height of about 30cm, with burgundy, almost spherical flower heads with blue stamens and a faint scent. Popular with bees and butterflies, drought tolerant. Nice for designing natural gardens using native wild perennials. -
Traditional onion variety (seed onion) from France with an elongated, shallot-like shape. Beautiful skin color and excellent, sweet and mild taste. Also ideal as a raw food. Very firm-skinned and suitable for storage. -
Vigorously growing variety with plenty of the smallest yellow cherry tomatoes. Large multistemmed trusses.
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Traditional variety from the Lake Geneva region. Early ripening, good cropper. Vigorous growth. Fleshy red fruit.
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About 40 cm high, graceful branching perennial, in an attractive shade of bright blue. Often flowers in its first year, depending on the weather and the time of sowing. Long flowering period. Short-lived but sets seed easily.
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Pink poppies with large, densely filled flowers. These approximately 1 m tall, early summer-flowering plants are reminiscent of peonies.
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Compact growth with strong foliage. Medium-sized flat cushion-shaped fruit, reminiscent of Bernese Rose tomatoes. Well suited for cultivation on a balcony, crops early.
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Light blue kohlrabi for autumn harvesting. Vigorous growth, keeps well. If there is sufficient moisture bulbs will grow quite big, but flesh remains tender. Cultivation similar to Superschmelz.
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Cardoon (also known as 'artichoke thistle'). Decorative large plants are removed in autumn and then blanched in darkness. Attractive flowers from the 2nd year onwards. Can overwinter in sheltered locations or under cover.
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Dark-green smooth leaves with broad, white, tasty stems. Fairly bolt-resistant. Suitable for cultivation over winter in unheated polytunnel. For this, sowing in July is required.
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Flattish round-shaped variety of golden-yellow colour, keeps well. Good for making onion-plaits. Can be directly sown or planted from sets.
