Heirloom Vegetables

Our vegetable selections are almost entirely heirlooms from the rich gardening traditions of Italy, France and America as well as here in Australia.

Through years of trialing, we present the very best heirloom vegetables for backyard gardeners.

2020 Heirloom Annual & Seed Directory Out now!

With over 350 vegetable and flower seeds, perennials, growing advice and accessories to get your garden growing, the 2020 Heirloom Annual is a must-have resource for every Australian gardener. Shop now.

seeds to sow now - cool zone
Seeds to sow this month if you live in areas like Tasmania, Bendigo, Ballarat, Canberra, Orange and Armidale or places that have less than 5 months a year with temperatures over 15°C.

seeds to sow now - warm zone
Seeds to sow this month if you live in areas like Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide and inland NSW or places that have between 21 and 38 weeks a year above 15°C.

seeds to sow now - hot zone
Seeds to sow now if you live in areas like Geraldton, Warburton, Mt Isa and Longreach or places where there are 39 weeks a year or more with temperatures over 15°C.

seeds to sow now - tropical zone
Seeds to sow now if you live in areas like Broome, Darwin, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Mackay and Cairns or places where there are 39 or more weeks a year with temperatures over 15°C and high summer rainfall.

diggers heirloom legends
These heirloom legends are the best of the best. If you're just starting to discover heirloom seeds, you can't go wrong with these varieties. 2020 Heirloom Annual & Seed Directory Out now! With over 350 vegetable and flower seeds, perennials, growing advice and a...

legends of italian cuisine
The Italians were the first to adopt tomatoes, hundreds of years before the rest of Europe and they don't use the word 'heirloom' because they have never replaced their varieties with multinational hybrids. Their revolutionary cuisine has swept the world.

artichokes
Artichokes take up quite a bit of space, so plant them in a separate bed. They are also very ornamental.

australian heirlooms
Iconic Australian Heirlooms. A great place to start your heirloom adventure!

asparagus
Asparagus is a delicious perennial crop that tastes all the better when picked fresh from the garden. Best of all, growing asparagus is easy. Asparagus can be grown from seed, or more commonly, from asparagus crowns purchased in winter while the plants are barerooted (without soil). It is from this crown that your crop will develop, but be patie...

asian greens
Create your own stir-fry! Sow these greens every couple of weeks for a continual supply and keep well fed and watered to avoid 'bolting'.

beans
These fast growing annuals need to be sown after the risk of frost has past. Climbing beans will need a trellis or teepee for support.

beetroot
Delectable, sweet roots are topped with leaves that can be cooked liked silverbeet. Sow beetroot seeds directly into the ground, then thin seedlings as they grow.

broad beans
High in protein, broad beans are grown over the cooler months and begin to form pods when the weather reached 18 to 20 degress. They will need some support while they are growing.

broccoli
Heirloom broccoli has succulent, sweet stems and easy-to-harvest heads that once cut, will send out side shoots and keep on producing for months. Watch out for cabbage white butterfly in the warmer months.

brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts do best in frosty ares and seeds must be sown before February for the plants to grow over winter and form 'sprouts' up the stem.

cabbages
We plant cabbages in the Heronswood parterre for their ornamental value as well as their appeal in winter dishes.

capsicum and chilli
Capsicums need a warmer summer than tomatoes to ripen. Seeds are best started indoors on a heat bed, then transplanted into larger pots and left to grow before finally being planted into the garden after the chance of frost has past.

carrot
Carrots must be sown from seed to avoid disturbance to the roots. The seed is fine, so mix with sand to make it go further. Thin seedlings and water as they grow stop the roots from splitting.

cauliflower
Cauliflower is best grown over the cooler months when the Cabbage White Butterfly is inactive. Harvest heads when young, or leave to mature.

celery / celeriac
Celery and Celeriac are essential ingredients in soups and stocks. The roots of these plants resents drying out so give them constant moisture and a thick layer of mulch

corn
Most gardeners grow sweet corn, as this has a higher sugar content than the heirloom varieties. Whatever your taste, be sure to plant them in blocks, not rows for the most effective pollination.

cucumbers
Cucumbers grow quickly over summer and are easy to get going. Train up a trellis or let ramble amongst corn stalks. Pick the fruit constantly to encouarge more to set.

eggplant
Eggplants require more heat than tomatoes, but grow in very similar conditions. Being slow growing, they require a long, hot growing season.

fennel
Fennel is a versitile plant to grow. The swollen bulbs are delicious chopped up fresh in salads or roasted. The fine, feathery foliage adds an ornamental appeal to the garden.

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Heirloom Vegetables

kale
Kale is the superfood of the moment. With the highest level of antioxidants and an undemanding nature, why not grow your own?

lettuce
Heirloom lettuces are a checkboard of colour. Sow seeds every few weeks for a constant supply year round. Best kept well watered and well fed to avoid bitterness.

melons
The flavours of heirloom melons ripened by the sun and freshly picked are sublime. All of our varieties have cropped well in Melbourne. An estimated 90% of melons have been lost from cultivation, so by growing these treasures you are helping their survival.

microgreens
Chefs use microgreens for their delicate flavours, so why not grow your own gourmet mix! Sow in punnets or seed trays and they will be ready to pick in about 4 weeks.

onions, leeks and shallots
Onions to best in well drained, open soils and are grown over winter. Spring onions can be planted year round and left in the garden to harvest as needed.

parsnip and other root crops
Root crops need an open, well drained soil and make a wonderful addition to winter stews and soups.

peas
Peas are a cool weather crop and enjoy soils that have just grown tomatoes or potatoes. Climbing peas will nned to be trained up a trellis or teepee and the dwarf peas will need a short support.

potatoes & other tubers
At the Diggers Club, we only sell certified seed potatoes that are handpicked and disease free unlike potatoes sold in supermarkets. From classic heirloom varieties such as Dutch Cream and Nicola to the striking Burgundy Blush for a burst of colour in your salads and casseroles. For the ultimate stash of spuds, choose our Combo Collection of ...

pumpkins
Pumpkins need a long warm season to ripen. Hand pollination will ensure a good set of fruit if there are not many bees around. Harvest when the stalk is dry, leaving about 5cm of stalk attached to the fruit.

radish
Radishes are very easy to grow from seed and can be planted year round in the garden. They are fast to mature- being ready in just 3-4 weeks!