Easy to Grow Seeds

Broccoletto 'Quarantino' – Seeds

(Brassica rapa) – Traditional Italian Spring Green

Broccoletto 'Quarantino' is a classic Italian leafy vegetable, prized for its tender, flavorful shoots and leaves. Belonging to the Brassica rapa family, this variety is fast-growing and ready to harvest in just 40 days – hence the name Quarantino (“forty days”). It is widely used in traditional Italian cuisine, either lightly steamed, sautéed with olive oil and garlic, or added to soups and pasta dishes.

Key Features

• Type: Hardy leafy green (annual/biannual)

• Growth: Vigorous, compact, fast-maturing (around 40 days)

• Flavor: Tender, slightly peppery and nutty taste

• Harvest: Young leaves and shoots for continuous picking

• Use: Italian cuisine, stir-fries, soups, pasta, and side dishes

Ideal For

• Traditional Italian cooking

• Cut-and-come-again harvests

• Quick, reliable leafy green supply

• Kitchen gardens and allotments

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–September, in rows or broadcast.

• Spacing: 20–30 cm between plants.

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost.

• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.

• Harvest: From 40 days after sowing, cut young shoots regularly to encourage new growth.

Care Tips

• Keep soil moist for tender leaves.

• Harvest frequently to prolong production.

• Best enjoyed fresh – tender shoots have peak flavor.

Savoy Cabbage 'Rocket' – Seeds

(Brassica oleracea) – Crisp, Crinkled Leaves & Fast Growth

Savoy Cabbage 'Rocket' is a vigorous, early-maturing variety prized for its tender, crinkled dark-green leaves and compact, dense heads. It delivers a mild, sweet flavor and is ideal for fresh salads, cooking, and steaming. Perfect for home gardens and small-scale cultivation.

Key Features

• Type: Biennial, grown as annual

• Heads: Medium-sized, dense, crinkled dark-green leaves

• Flavor: Mild, sweet, tender

• Harvest: Early to mid-season

• Use: Salads, cooking, steaming, stir-fries, freezing

Ideal For

• Home gardens and allotments

• Early harvest for fresh culinary use

• Succession planting for continuous supply

• Gourmet cooking and healthy meals

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April for transplanting.

• Sow outdoors: March–May for summer harvest.

• Spacing: 45–50 cm between plants, 60–70 cm between rows.

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil with added compost.

• Sunlight: Full sun for best growth.

• Harvest: When heads are firm and well-formed.

Care Tips

• Keep soil consistently moist to prevent splitting.

• Protect seedlings from cabbage root fly and caterpillars.

• Fertilize moderately for dense heads.

Romaine Lettuce 'White Dunsel' – Seeds (Lactuca sativa)

Romaine Lettuce 'White Dunsel' is a crisp, flavorful variety with pale green, elongated leaves forming a tight, upright head. Its crunchy texture and mild, sweet flavor make it perfect for fresh salads, sandwiches, and wraps.

This variety is fast-growing, reliable, and suitable for spring, summer, and autumn harvests. Ideal for home gardens, raised beds, or containers.

How to Grow

• Sow outdoors: March – July

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: 20–25 cm between plants, rows 30–35 cm apart

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained, rich in organic matter

• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist for tender, crisp leaves

Key Features

• Crisp, pale green leaves with mild, sweet flavor

• Forms a tight, upright head

• Fast-growing and reliable variety

• Ideal for salads, sandwiches, and wraps

• Suitable for home gardens, raised beds, and containers

Harvest

• Harvesting period: 6–8 weeks after sowing

• Pick outer leaves as needed or harvest entire head when mature.

Short Tip

Succession sow every 2–3 weeks for a continuous supply of fresh leaves.

Dwarf Nasturtium 'Peach Melba' – Seeds

(Tropaeolum nanum)

Dwarf Nasturtium 'Peach Melba' is a compact, low-growing annual that produces vibrant peach-colored blooms with subtle apricot tones. Its trailing habit makes it perfect for borders, containers, and hanging baskets. Easy to grow and fast-flowering, this variety also attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, adding colour and life to your garden.

Key Features

• Type: Half-hardy annual

• Height: 15–25 cm

• Spread: 25–35 cm

• Flowering: June–September

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile

Ideal For

• Containers and hanging baskets

• Borders and edging

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Cottage-style planting

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April at 18–22°C

• Sow outdoors: May, after frost risk has passed

• Germination: 7–14 days

• Thin or transplant to 20–25 cm spacing

• Deadhead to encourage continuous flowering

Panic Grass / Violet Millet Seeds (Panicum violaceum)

Panic Grass, also known as Violet Millet, is a stunning ornamental grass with a strong, upright habit and arching leaves tipped with violet tones. The plant produces dark purple seed heads that add bold color, structure, and movement to borders and mixed plantings. Highly versatile, it can be used as a striking centerpiece in containers, or as a cut-and-dry feature for floral arrangements.

What Makes It Special

• Striking violet-purple flower spikes

• Strong, upright growth habit – adds height and structure

• Excellent for cut and dried arrangements

• Easy to grow and quick to mature

Key Features

• Botanical name: Panicum violaceum

• Common names: Panic Grass, Violet Millet

• Seed count: Approx. seeds per pack

• Height/Spread: 60–120 cm tall, 30–50 cm spread

• Position: Full sun; tolerates a wide range of soils

• Flowering period: Summer to early autumn

• Lifespan: Annual grass

Ideal For

• Borders and background planting

• Containers and patio pots

• Adding contrast in mixed plantings

• Cut flowers and dried arrangements

• Ornamental grass displays

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: March–May indoors, or April–June outdoors after frost danger has passed

2. How to sow:

   • Sow thinly in trays or directly outdoors in finely prepared soil

   • Cover lightly with soil (seeds need some light for germination)

   • Keep moist until seedlings appear (10–21 days)

3. Transplant/Thin: Space plants 30–40 cm apart

4. Care: Thrives in sun and well-drained soil; minimal maintenance needed

Sunflower 'Big Smile' Seeds (Helianthus annuus)

The Sunflower 'Big Smile' is one of the earliest and most compact sunflower varieties, growing just 25–40 cm tall. It produces cheerful, golden-yellow blooms with dark centers, making it ideal for containers, borders, and small gardens. Despite its size, it flowers profusely and brings a burst of sunshine to any space.

What Makes It Special

• Extra compact dwarf variety – perfect for pots and small spaces

• Early flowering, bringing color sooner than most sunflowers

• Bright golden blooms with strong stems

• Low-maintenance, easy to grow

Key Features

• Botanical name: Helianthus annuus

• Variety: 'Big Smile'

• Seed count: Approx. seeds per pack

• Height/Spread: 25–40 cm tall, 20–30 cm spread

• Position: Full sun; well-drained, fertile soil

• Flowering period: June–September

Ideal For

• Patio containers and window boxes

• Small gardens and borders

• Children’s gardens and beginner growers

• Quick, cheerful summer color

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: March–May indoors; April–June outdoors

2. How to sow:

   • Sow seeds 1.5 cm deep in pots or direct outdoors after frost risk has passed

   • Germination in 7–14 days at 15–20°C

3. Transplanting: Thin or transplant seedlings to 20–30 cm apart

4. Care: Water regularly; no staking required due to dwarf habit.

🥒 Cucumis sativus Cucumber ‘Piccolo di Parigi’ – Traditional French Pickling Cucumber with Crisp Texture

‘Piccolo di Parigi’ is a classic French heirloom cucumber variety prized for its short, cylindrical fruits with dark green skin and crisp, firm flesh. Traditionally grown for pickling and gherkins, it is equally delicious when harvested young for fresh eating. Fast-growing and very productive, this variety produces an abundance of uniform fruits throughout summer and performs well in greenhouses, polytunnels and warm outdoor positions.

Key Features

● Traditional French pickling cucumber variety
● Short, dark green fruits with crisp flesh
● Excellent for gherkins and pickling
● High-yielding and fast-growing plants
● Suitable for greenhouse and outdoor growing

How to Sow & Grow Cucumber ‘Piccolo di Parigi’ (UK)

Sow indoors: IV (April)
Transplant outdoors: V–VI (May–June) after last frost
Direct outdoors: V–VI (May–June) in warm soil
Harvest: VII–IX (July–September)
Life cycle: Annual
Germination temperature: 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
Average germ time: 7–10 days
Depth: 2–3 cm (1 in)
Light required: Yes
Moisture: Regular watering; keep soil evenly moist
Environment: Full sun (warm, sheltered position)
Soil type: Fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter
Plant spacing: 40–50 cm (16–20 in)
Fruit length: 8–12 cm (3–5 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Harvest fruits young and regularly to encourage continued cropping.
● Feed weekly once flowering begins for best yields.
● Grow vertically with support to save space and improve fruit quality.
● Avoid cold conditions and protect from frost.
● Ideal for traditional homemade pickles and gherkins.

Special Features

● Authentic French pickling cucumber
● Crisp texture and mild flavour
● Heavy cropping throughout summer

Courgette 'Stiato d'Italia' – Seeds (Cucurbita pepo)

Add authentic Italian flavor to your garden with Courgette 'Stiato d'Italia', an heirloom variety renowned for its striped green fruits and tender, sweet flesh. Perfect for summer harvests, these elegant courgettes are ideal for grilling, roasting, stuffing, or fresh salads. Prolific and easy to grow, 'Stiato d'Italia' combines visual appeal with gourmet taste.

How to Grow

. Sow indoors: March – May, 1–2 cm deep in pots
. Transplant outdoors: After last frost, spacing 70–90 cm apart
. Sow outdoors: May – June in fertile, well-drained soil
. Prefers full sun and regular watering
. Harvest fruits 15–20 cm long for the best flavor and texture

Key Features

. Italian heirloom zucchini with striking striped green skin
. Tender, mild-flavored flesh for versatile cooking
. Prolific and early-bearing variety
. Perfect for grilling, roasting, stuffing, or salads
. Decorative, uniform fruits ideal for home gardens

Ideal For

. Fresh summer cooking and Italian dishes
. Gardeners seeking unique and attractive courgettes
. Small vegetable beds, allotments, or containers
. Gourmet recipes including stuffed or roasted zucchini

Sowing & Harvest

. Sow: March – June
. Harvest: June – September

Quick Tip

Harvest regularly when fruits are young and slender to encourage continuous production throughout the season.

Lettuce 'Red Salad Bowl' Seeds (Lactuca sativa)

Brighten your salads with Lettuce 'Red Salad Bowl' (Lactuca sativa), a stunning loose-leaf variety producing deeply cut, oak-leaf shaped leaves in rich red-bronze tones. Tender, flavorful, and non-hearting, it offers a continuous supply of leaves when harvested regularly. Perfect for cut-and-come-again growing, this lettuce adds both color and taste to the summer garden.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds outdoors from spring to late summer.

• Use fertile, moist, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.

• Sow thinly at 0.5 cm depth in rows 25–30 cm apart.

• Thin seedlings to 20 cm spacing for best growth.

• Harvest young leaves regularly to encourage new growth.

Key Features

• Loose-leaf lettuce with oak-shaped red leaves

• Tender texture and mild, pleasant flavor

• Cut-and-come-again for continuous harvests

• Heat-tolerant and slow to bolt compared to other lettuces

• Attractive color for salads and garnishes

Ideal For

• Fresh salads and sandwiches

• Continuous harvesting through summer

• Containers, raised beds, and garden borders

• Gardeners seeking a colorful, easy-to-grow lettuce

Sowing

• Best time: Spring to late summer

• Depth: 0.5 cm

• Spacing: 20 cm apart

• Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Sow little and often for a steady supply of fresh, colorful leaves all season.