Quick Growing Vegetables

Cucumber 'Telegraph Improved' – Seeds (Cucumis sativus)

Enjoy crisp, tender cucumbers with Cucumber 'Telegraph Improved', a classic English variety renowned for its long, slender, dark green fruits and mild, sweet flavor. Ideal for fresh salads, sandwiches, and pickling, this variety is highly productive and resistant to common cucumber diseases. Perfect for home gardens, allotments, or greenhouse cultivation.

How to Grow

. Sow indoors: March – May, 1–2 cm deep in pots
. Transplant outdoors: After last frost or grow under cloche/greenhouse for best results
. Sow outdoors: May – June in fertile, well-drained soil
. Provide support such as a trellis or frame for climbing
. Keep soil moist and feed regularly for abundant harvests

Key Features

. Classic English cucumber with long, dark green fruits
. Mild, sweet flavor suitable for salads and fresh eating
. Highly productive and disease-resistant
. Ideal for greenhouse or outdoor trellis growing
. Reliable, uniform fruits perfect for slicing

Ideal For

. Fresh salads, sandwiches, and summer meals
. Home gardeners and allotment plots
. Greenhouse cultivation for early and high-yield crops
. Pickling and culinary versatility

Sowing & Harvest

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

Quick Tip

Harvest regularly when fruits are firm and uniform in size to encourage continuous production throughout the season.

Cucumber 'Beth Alpha' – Seeds (Cucumis sativus)

Bring authentic Middle Eastern flavor to your garden with Cucumber 'Beth Alpha', a classic heirloom variety renowned for its smooth, tender skin and crisp, juicy bite. Best harvested young at 10–15 cm, these nearly seedless cucumbers are delicious fresh, in salads, or for pickling. A reliable, early-cropping plant that thrives in warm, sunny spots.

How to Grow

. Sow indoors from April to May, 1–2 cm deep in pots
. Sow outdoors from late May to June once soil is warm and frost-free
. Plant 40 cm apart, in rows 90 cm apart, or grow vertically with support
. Prefers fertile, well-drained soil in full sun
. Keep soil moist and harvest regularly to extend production

Key Features

. Smooth-skinned, tender cucumbers with sweet flavor
. Harvest young for crisp, juicy texture
. Early, heavy-yielding variety
. Great for fresh eating or pickling
. Compact plants suitable for garden beds or greenhouse

Ideal For

. Fresh snacking straight from the garden
. Crisp summer salads and sandwiches
. Homemade pickles
. Gardeners looking for reliable, tasty cucumbers

Sowing & Harvest

. Sow: April – June
. Harvest: July – September

Quick Tip

Pick fruits when small to enjoy the sweetest taste and to keep the plants producing longer.

French Bean ‘Purple Queen’ Seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Add vibrant color to your vegetable garden with French Bean ‘Purple Queen’ (Phaseolus vulgaris). This climbing variety produces glossy, deep purple pods that turn green when cooked, offering both visual appeal and tender, flavorful beans. Easy to grow and highly productive, it’s perfect for fresh eating, steaming, or freezing.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds directly outdoors after the last frost or start indoors 4–6 weeks earlier.

• Use well-drained, fertile soil in full sun.

• Plant seeds 2–3 cm deep and 10–15 cm apart, with rows 40–50 cm apart.

• Provide stakes or a trellis to support climbing growth.

• Water regularly, especially during flowering and pod development.

• Harvest pods when young and tender for best flavor.

Key Features

• Glossy deep purple pods that turn green when cooked

• Climbing, highly productive variety

• Easy to grow and maintain

• Ideal for fresh eating, steaming, or freezing

• Adds vibrant color and interest to vegetable gardens

Ideal For

• Vegetable gardens and allotments

• Fresh harvest, cooking, and freezing

• Climbing plant displays in garden beds

• Homegrown culinary use

Sowing

• Best time: After last frost outdoors or 4–6 weeks earlier indoors

• Depth: 2–3 cm

• Spacing: 10–15 cm apart, rows 40–50 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Regularly pick pods to encourage continuous production and vibrant color.

French Bean ‘Blue Lake’ Seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Harvest crisp, tender beans with French Bean ‘Blue Lake’ (Phaseolus vulgaris). This classic variety produces long, uniform, deep green pods ideal for fresh eating, steaming, or freezing. Easy to grow and highly productive, it’s perfect for vegetable gardens, allotments, and homegrown cooking.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds directly outdoors after the last frost or start indoors 4–6 weeks earlier.

• Use well-drained, fertile soil in full sun.

• Plant seeds 2–3 cm deep and 10–15 cm apart, with rows 40–50 cm apart.

• Support climbing varieties with stakes or a trellis if needed.

• Water regularly to keep soil moist, especially during flowering and pod formation.

• Harvest pods when they are young, tender, and well-filled.

Key Features

• Long, uniform, deep green pods

• Highly productive and easy to grow

• Ideal for fresh eating, steaming, or freezing

• Hardy and reliable in temperate climates

• Perfect for vegetable gardens, allotments, and homegrown cooking

Ideal For

• Vegetable gardens and allotments

• Fresh harvest, steaming, and freezing

• Companion planting with nitrogen-fixing crops

• Homegrown culinary use

Sowing

• Best time: After last frost outdoors or 4–6 weeks earlier indoors

• Depth: 2–3 cm

• Spacing: 10–15 cm apart, rows 40–50 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Pick pods regularly to encourage continuous production throughout the season.

Cucumber 'King of Salad' Seeds (Cucumis sativus)

Grow crisp, refreshing cucumbers with Cucumber 'King of Salad', a prolific variety known for its smooth, dark green fruits and excellent taste. Perfect for slicing into fresh salads, sandwiches, or enjoying straight from the vine, this variety delivers consistently high yields throughout the summer. Easy to grow outdoors or under cover, it’s a gardener’s favorite for its reliability and delicious results.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors from March to May or directly outdoors after frost has passed.

• Prefers fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position.

• Sow seeds 1–2 cm deep in pots or directly in the ground.

• Space plants 60 cm apart, with rows 90 cm apart.

• Keep soil evenly moist and feed regularly for the best yields.

Key Features

• High-yielding variety with smooth, dark green cucumbers

• Crisp, refreshing texture and mild flavor

• Great for salads, sandwiches, and fresh eating

• Suitable for outdoor or greenhouse growing

• Long harvest period through summer

Ideal For

• Fresh summer salads and light meals

• Home gardeners seeking reliable crops

• Outdoor beds, raised beds, or greenhouse growing

• Consistent harvests for the kitchen table

Sowing

• Best time: March to May indoors, May to June outdoors

• Depth: 1–2 cm

• Spacing: 60 cm between plants, 90 cm between rows

• Position: Sunny, sheltered, fertile soil

• Harvest: July to September

Quick Tip

• Harvest cucumbers regularly to encourage continuous production and enjoy fruits at their crispest.

Chives ‘Bohemia’ – Seeds (Allium schoenoprasum) – Hardy Perennial

Chives ‘Bohemia’ is a hardy perennial herb, perfect for overwintering and providing fresh growth year after year. Known for its fine, hollow green leaves and mild onion flavor, it’s a versatile kitchen herb ideal for salads, soups, sauces, and garnishes. In summer, attractive purple-pink flowers appear, loved by bees and pollinators, making this a decorative as well as useful garden plant.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April in pots or trays at 15–20°C.

• Sow outdoors: April – July in finely prepared soil.

• Thin or transplant seedlings to 20 cm apart.

• Prefers full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil.

• Cut regularly to encourage fresh growth.

Key Features

• Hardy perennial herb with overwintering growth

• Fine, mild onion-flavored leaves

• Decorative purple flowers attract pollinators

• Easy to grow in pots, borders, or herb gardens

• Reliable year-round harvests

Ideal For

• Fresh salads, soups, sauces, and garnishes

• Herb gardens, borders, and containers

• Attracting bees and pollinators

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February – July

• Harvest: May – October, with regrowth in spring

Quick Tip

Divide clumps every few years to maintain healthy growth and extend the lifespan of your chive plants.

Spring Onion 'White Lisbon' Seeds (Allium cepa)

A classic favorite, Spring Onion 'White Lisbon' is one of the most popular and reliable scallion varieties. It produces crisp, mild-flavored stems with bright white bases and vibrant green tops, perfect for salads, stir-fries, and garnishes. Fast-growing and hardy, it can be sown throughout the season for a continuous supply of fresh spring onions.

How to Grow

• Sow directly outdoors from early spring to autumn.

• Prefers light, well-drained soil in full sun.

• Sow thinly, 1 cm deep in rows 20 cm apart.

• Thin seedlings to 2–3 cm spacing.

• Harvest when stems reach pencil thickness.

Key Features

• Traditional, best-loved spring onion variety

• Mild, fresh flavor with crisp stems

• Quick to mature and easy to grow

• Can be sown successionally for year-round harvest

• Perfect for beds, borders, or containers

Ideal For

• Fresh salads and garnishes

• Stir-fries and Asian dishes

• Continuous cropping through the season

• Beginner-friendly gardens and containers

Sowing

• Best time: February to October

• Depth: 1 cm

• Row spacing: 20 cm

• Plant spacing: Thin to 2–3 cm

• Harvest: From 8 weeks after sowing

Quick Tip

• For tender, mild stems, sow little and often to enjoy fresh onions all season long.

Watercress – Seeds (Nasturtium officinale)

Watercress is a fast-growing, nutrient-packed leafy green with a peppery, fresh flavor. Perfect for salads, sandwiches, soups, and garnishes, it thrives in moist soil or near water and adds a vibrant, tangy taste to your dishes. Easy to grow, it’s an ideal addition to kitchen gardens, herb beds, or containers.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds in shallow trays or directly in moist soil from March to July.

• Keep seeds lightly covered and consistently damp.

• Prefers partial shade and consistently moist or wet conditions.

• Transplant or thin seedlings to allow 10–15 cm spacing.

• Harvest leaves when young for the best flavor.

Key Features

• Fast-growing, nutrient-rich leafy green

• Fresh, peppery flavor perfect for salads and garnishes

• Thrives in moist soil or water-adjacent beds

• Ideal for continuous cut-and-come-again harvesting

• Easy to grow in containers, garden beds, or water troughs

Ideal For

• Fresh salads, sandwiches, soups, and garnishes

• Kitchen gardens, herb beds, and small spaces

• Health-conscious and culinary gardeners

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March to July

• Depth: Lightly covered

• Spacing: 10–15 cm

• Harvest: April to October

Quick Tip

• Keep soil or growing medium consistently wet to maintain crisp, flavorful leaves.

French Bean 'Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco Nano' – Seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris)

The Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco Nano (Dwarf Firetongue Bean) is a stunning variety of French bean, prized for its vibrant red-streaked pods and delicious, creamy beans. Compact and easy to grow, this dwarf type requires no staking, making it ideal for smaller gardens, allotments, and containers. Both pods and shelled beans can be enjoyed fresh or dried for winter use.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds outdoors from late May to July after the last frost.

• Plant 3–5 cm deep, 15–20 cm apart, in rows 45 cm apart.

• Prefers fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.

• Keep soil moist but not waterlogged.

• Harvest pods when young for eating fresh, or allow to mature for drying.

Key Features

• Striking red-streaked pods with creamy beans inside

• Dwarf habit – no staking required

• Delicious fresh or dried for storage

• High-yielding and reliable cropper

• Compact plants perfect for small spaces

Ideal For

• Kitchen gardens and allotments

• Container growing

• Traditional Italian dishes

• Freezing or drying for winter use

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: May to July

• Depth: 3–5 cm

• Spacing: 15–20 cm

• Harvest: July to September

Quick Tip

• For the best flavor, harvest pods while still slightly immature, or let them mature fully for drying and storing.