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.

Tomato "Costoluto Fiorentino" – Seeds (Solanum lycopersicum)

Tomato "Costoluto Fiorentino" is a classic Italian heirloom variety, cherished for its deeply ribbed, juicy red fruits and rich, sweet flavor. Perfect for fresh salads, sauces, and canning, this variety is vigorous, high-yielding, and adds authentic Italian taste to home gardens. Its distinctive shape and vibrant color also make it a visual standout in your garden and kitchen.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors from February to April, 0.5 cm deep in seed trays or pots.

• Maintain 18–22°C until germination.

• Transplant seedlings outdoors or into greenhouse after the last frost.

• Space plants 50–60 cm apart in fertile, well-drained soil with full sun.

• Support plants with stakes or cages to handle heavy fruits.

Key Features

• Heirloom Italian tomato with deep ribbed, juicy fruits

• Rich, sweet flavor ideal for salads, sauces, and canning

• Vigorous and high-yielding

• Distinctive appearance and vibrant red color

• Suitable for outdoor gardens and greenhouse cultivation

Ideal For

• Fresh salads, sauces, and canning

• Home gardens and container growing

• Heirloom tomato collections and culinary use

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February to April

• Plant out: May to June

• Harvest: July to September

Quick Tip

• Regularly remove side shoots and support plants to maximize fruit production and maintain healthy growth.

Tomato 'Sweet Million' – Seeds (Solanum lycopersicum)

Tomato 'Sweet Million' is a hugely popular cherry tomato variety, loved for its prolific trusses of bite-sized fruits that are bursting with sweetness. Producing heavy yields of glossy, bright red tomatoes, this vigorous variety is perfect for snacking, salads, and adding fresh bursts of flavor to your dishes. A strong-growing, indeterminate (cordon) type, it thrives in greenhouses or sunny outdoor spots.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April in seed trays or pots.

• Transplant seedlings to larger pots or greenhouse borders once established.

• Plant outdoors after the last frost in a sunny, sheltered spot.

• Requires support and regular side-shoot removal (cordon type).

Key Features

• Produces masses of sweet cherry tomatoes

• High-yielding and reliable variety

• Fruits in long trusses for easy picking

• Excellent for salads, snacking & garnishes

• Indeterminate (cordon) – needs staking

Ideal For

• Greenhouse or outdoor growing

• Fresh eating straight from the vine

• Salads, pasta, and summer dishes

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February – April

• Harvest: July – October

Quick Tip

For the best flavor and continuous cropping, harvest fruits regularly and feed plants weekly with a tomato fertilizer once trusses set.

Tomato 'Black Prince' – Seeds (Solanum lycopersicum)

The Tomato 'Black Prince' is a famous Russian heirloom variety, cherished for its rich, earthy flavor and striking deep reddish-brown fruits. Medium-sized and packed with a sweet yet complex taste, this tomato is perfect for fresh eating, salads, roasting, and sauces. Hardy and adaptable, it thrives in both outdoor gardens and greenhouses, offering consistent yields of uniquely colored fruits.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors from February to April, 0.5 cm deep in trays or pots.

• Keep at 18–22°C until germination.

• Transplant seedlings into larger pots, then outdoors or greenhouse after frost.

• Support plants with canes or cages to encourage heavy yields.

Key Features

• Traditional Russian heirloom tomato

• Medium-sized fruits with deep reddish-brown skin

• Distinctive sweet, rich, and earthy flavor

• Reliable yields in greenhouse or outdoor conditions

• Excellent for fresh eating, cooking, and sauces

Ideal For

• Heritage vegetable gardens

• Fresh slicing and salads

• Cooking, roasting, and preserving

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February to April

• Plant out: May to June

• Harvest: July to September

Quick Tip

• For best flavor, allow fruits to fully ripen on the vine before harvesting.

Beefsteak Tomato 'Marmande' Seeds (Solanum lycopersicum)

Grow classic French flavor with Beefsteak Tomato 'Marmande' (Solanum lycopersicum). This heritage variety produces large, ribbed red fruits with rich, juicy flesh, perfect for slicing, salads, sandwiches, and cooking. Indeterminate and highly productive, ‘Marmande’ adds a gourmet touch to home gardens, raised beds, and greenhouses.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.

• Use fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny location.

• Sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep, keeping soil moist at 20–25°C until germination (7–14 days).

• Transplant seedlings outdoors after frost, spacing 50–60 cm apart.

• Support plants with stakes or cages and harvest fruits when fully red and firm.

Key Features

• Heritage French beefsteak variety

• Produces large, ribbed red fruits with juicy flesh

• Indeterminate and high-yielding

• Ideal for fresh eating, salads, sandwiches, and cooking

• Thrives in gardens, raised beds, and greenhouses

Ideal For

• Home gardens, allotments, and greenhouse growing

• Fresh slicing, salads, and cooking

• Gardeners seeking traditional French tomato varieties

• Continuous summer harvests

Sowing

• Best time: Indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: 50–60 cm apart

• Prefers full sun, fertile, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Prune side shoots to improve airflow and encourage larger, juicier fruits.

Tomato ‘Maskotka’ – Seeds (Solanum lycopersicum)

Tomato ‘Maskotka’ is a Polish-bred bush variety producing abundant clusters of small, juicy, sweet cherry tomatoes. Compact and naturally trailing, it is perfect for pots, hanging baskets, and containers, making it a favorite for balcony and patio growing. With its reliable crops and rich flavor, ‘Maskotka’ is an excellent choice for fresh snacking, salads, or garnishes.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April, 0.5 cm deep in seed trays or pots.

• Transplant: When seedlings are large enough, move to individual pots. Harden off and plant outdoors after the last frost.

• Position: Full sun, sheltered spot.

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained compost.

• Habit: Compact bush (no need to pinch side shoots).

Key Features

• Heavy crops of sweet cherry tomatoes

• Compact, trailing bush – ideal for containers & baskets

• Early and reliable cropping variety

• Low-maintenance: no staking or pinching required

Ideal For

• Pots, hanging baskets, and balcony gardens

• Fresh eating straight from the plant

• Salads, garnishes, and healthy snacking

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February – April

• Harvest: July – September

Quick Tip

‘Maskotka’ thrives in containers with regular feeding and watering. Perfect for those who want high yields with minimal effort.

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.

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.