Quick Growing Vegetables

Cucumber ‘Obelix’ F1 – Seeds (Cucumis sativus)

Cucumber ‘Obelix’ F1 is a strong, reliable hybrid variety producing long, smooth, dark green fruits with a crisp bite and refreshing taste. Ideal for slicing and salads, this cucumber offers excellent disease resistance and a heavy yield over a long season. Perfect for both outdoor beds and greenhouse cultivation, it’s a gardener’s favorite for consistent quality.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: April – May in pots at 20–25°C.

• Transplant outdoors or into greenhouse after last frost.

• Space plants 60 cm apart.

• Train up supports or trellis for straighter fruits.

• Keep soil fertile and well-watered for best results.

Key Features

• F1 hybrid with vigorous growth

• Long, smooth, dark green fruits

• Crisp, mild, refreshing flavor

• Excellent disease resistance

• Suitable for outdoor or greenhouse growing

Ideal For

• Fresh salads and healthy snacking

• Summer-long harvests

• Home gardens, polytunnels, and allotments

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: April – May

• Harvest: June – September

Quick Tip

Harvest regularly to encourage continuous cropping and prevent fruits from becoming oversized.

Courgette 'Bolognese' – Seeds (Cucurbita pepo)

Bring the taste of Italy to your garden with Courgette 'Bolognese', a prolific heirloom variety prized for its slender, dark green fruits and tender, flavorful flesh. Perfect for summer kitchens, these versatile courgettes are ideal for sautéing, grilling, stuffing, and fresh salads. Easy to grow and highly productive, 'Bolognese' is a favorite among gardeners seeking reliable yields and gourmet flavor.

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 with regular watering
. Harvest: 15–20 cm long for the best texture and flavor

Key Features

. Italian heirloom zucchini with dark green skin
. Tender, mild-flavored flesh suitable for a variety of dishes
. High-yielding and early-producing variety
. Ideal for sautéing, grilling, stuffing, or salads
. Compact plant suitable for home gardens

Ideal For

. Fresh summer cooking and Italian cuisine
. Home gardeners seeking reliable yields
. Gourmet dishes including stuffed or roasted courgettes
. Small vegetable beds or allotments

Sowing & Harvest

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

Quick Tip

Pick courgettes when young and slender to ensure the most tender flesh and to encourage continued fruiting.

Chinese Cabbage 'Hilton' – Seeds (Brassica oleracea)

Chinese Cabbage 'Hilton' is a highly productive, reliable variety that produces large, barrel-shaped heads with crisp, pale green leaves and a sweet, mild flavor. Popular in Asian cuisine, it’s perfect for stir-fries, soups, salads, and traditional dishes like kimchi.

Fast-growing and versatile, 'Hilton' is ideal for both spring and late-summer sowings, offering gardeners a quick and rewarding crop.

How to Grow

. Sow indoors from March to May or directly outdoors from April
. For autumn crops, sow again from July to August
. Space plants 30–40 cm apart in fertile, moist soil
. Prefers cooler growing conditions for best results
. Protect young plants from pests such as flea beetles

Key Features

. Large, dense heads of sweet, tender leaves
. Quick-growing variety, ready in 60–75 days
. Excellent for stir-fries, salads, soups, and kimchi
. Can be grown in spring or late summer for staggered harvests
. High yields and reliable performance

Sowing & Harvest

. Sow from March to May or July to August
. Harvest from June to October

Short Tip

For the best flavor, harvest before heads become too mature, as older leaves can turn bitter.

Baby Leaf Arugula – Wild Wall Rocket – Seeds (Diplotaxis muralis)

Wild Wall Rocket (Diplotaxis muralis) is a vigorous, fast-growing salad green with small, deeply serrated leaves and a strong, peppery flavor. Perfect as a baby leaf crop, it adds a zesty kick to salads, sandwiches, and garnishes. Compared to regular arugula, it has a more intense taste and exceptional regrowth, making it ideal for repeat harvests throughout the season.

How to Grow

• Sow directly outdoors from March to September in shallow drills (0.5 cm deep).

• Space rows 15–20 cm apart.

• For baby leaves, harvest when young; for larger plants, thin seedlings to 10 cm apart.

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

• Water regularly to prevent leaves from becoming too spicy.

Key Features

• Strong, peppery flavor – spicier than standard arugula

• Quick-growing, ready to cut in just 3–5 weeks

• Continuous regrowth after cutting (cut & come again)

• Excellent for salads, sandwiches, and garnishes

• Rich in vitamins A, C, and minerals

Ideal For

• Baby leaf production

• Salad mixes and kitchen gardens

• Gardeners looking for a stronger, wild arugula flavor

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March – September

• Harvest: April – October (baby leaves in 3–5 weeks)

Quick Tip

• To enjoy tender leaves, pick regularly before plants flower. Succession sow every 2–3 weeks for a continuous supply.

Beetroot (Cylindrica) ‘Kahira’ – Seeds (Beta vulgaris)

Beetroot ‘Kahira’ is a traditional Egyptian cylindrical variety, well-loved for its uniform shape, tender flesh, and sweet earthy flavor. Its elongated roots slice easily into even rounds, making it a favorite for cooking, pickling, and storage. Productive and reliable, ‘Kahira’ is a hardy beetroot that thrives in a wide range of soils and climates.

How to Grow

• Sow direct outdoors: March – July in well-prepared soil.

• Sow 2 cm deep in rows 30 cm apart.

• Thin seedlings to 10 cm apart once established.

• Keep soil moist for tender, juicy roots.

Key Features

• Cylindrical roots for easy slicing

• Sweet, tender flesh with rich flavor

• High-yielding and uniform growth

• Great for cooking, salads, and pickling

• Excellent storage variety

Ideal For

• Fresh salads, roasting, and boiling

• Pickling and preserving

• Long-term storage for winter use

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March – July

• Harvest: June – October

Quick Tip

Harvest when young for extra tenderness, or allow to mature for larger roots ideal for storage and preserving.

Sorrel 'Blonde de Lyon' Seeds (Rumex acetosa)

Brighten up your kitchen garden with Sorrel 'Blonde de Lyon', a traditional French variety producing tender, pale green leaves with a tangy, lemony flavor. Perfect for soups, sauces, salads, and omelets, this perennial herb grows quickly and provides harvests over a long season. Its sharp, refreshing taste makes it a gourmet favorite in classic French cuisine.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors in early spring or directly outdoors once soil warms.

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

• Sow 0.5–1 cm deep in rows 30–40 cm apart.

• Thin seedlings to 20–25 cm apart for strong growth.

• Harvest young leaves regularly to encourage new growth.

Key Features

• French heirloom sorrel with pale green, tender leaves

• Distinct lemony flavor, perfect for culinary use

• Perennial, reliable harvest year after year

• Early cropping and fast-growing

• Excellent for soups, sauces, salads, and garnishes

Ideal For

• Traditional French cooking

• Adding zest to salads and omelets

• Perennial herb gardens

• Home cooks and gourmet gardeners

Sowing

• Best time: Spring or early summer

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: Thin to 20–25 cm, rows 30–40 cm apart

• Prefers moist, fertile soil in sun or partial shade

Quick Tip

• Cut back flowering stems to prolong leaf production and maintain flavor.

Winter Purslane Salad Seeds (Claytonia perfoliata)

Enjoy fresh, nutritious greens even in the colder months with Winter Purslane Salad (Claytonia perfoliata). Also known as Miner’s Lettuce, this hardy leafy green thrives in cool conditions, producing tender, mild-flavored leaves packed with vitamins. Easy to grow and quick to harvest, it’s a superb choice for salads, garnishes, and year-round kitchen gardens.

How to Grow

• Sow directly outdoors from late summer to early spring.

• Choose fertile, well-drained soil in partial shade or light sun.

• Scatter seeds thinly on the surface and lightly cover with soil.

• Keep soil moist until germination, which takes 10–20 days.

• Thin seedlings to 10–15 cm apart as they grow.

• Harvest young leaves regularly to encourage new growth.

Key Features

• Nutritious leafy green, rich in vitamins C and A

• Mild, succulent leaves with a fresh, tangy flavor

• Thrives in cooler weather and tolerates light frost

• Fast-growing, perfect for cut-and-come-again harvests

• Suitable for beds, borders, containers, or greenhouse growing

Ideal For

• Autumn, winter, and spring salads

• Continuous harvesting for fresh kitchen use

• Small gardens, allotments, or balcony planters

• Cold-climate gardeners seeking reliable greens

Sowing

• Best time: Late summer to early spring

• Germination: 10–20 days

• Sow thinly and cover lightly with fine soil

• Prefers cool, moist conditions for best results

Quick Tip

• Successive sowings every few weeks will ensure a steady supply of tender leaves throughout the cooler seasons.

Dwarf Bean 'Goldpantera' Seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Grow a heavy crop of delicious golden-yellow beans with Dwarf Bean 'Goldpantera'. This compact, bushy variety produces straight, stringless pods with a sweet, tender flavor. Easy to grow and requiring no support, it’s perfect for small gardens, raised beds, or containers. Reliable and productive, ‘Goldpantera’ is excellent for steaming, stir-fries, and freezing.

How to Grow

• Sow outdoors from May to July once frost has passed.

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

• Sow 3–5 cm deep, spacing seeds 10 cm apart in rows 40–45 cm apart.

• Keep soil moist, especially during flowering and pod formation.

• Harvest regularly to encourage continuous cropping.

Key Features

• Compact dwarf habit, no staking needed

• High yields of golden-yellow pods

• Stringless, tender texture with sweet flavor

• Perfect for fresh eating, cooking, or freezing

• Reliable cropper with minimal care

Ideal For

• Home gardeners with limited space

• Container and raised bed growing

• Fresh summer meals and preserving

• Easy, rewarding harvests all season

Sowing

• Best time: May to July

• Depth: 3–5 cm

• Spacing: 10 cm between plants, 40–45 cm between rows

• Position: Full sun

• Harvest: July to September

Quick Tip

• For the best taste, pick beans young and tender before the seeds inside begin to swell.

Batavian Lettuce 'Canasta' – Seeds (Lactuca sativa)

Enjoy crisp and tender leaves with Batavian Lettuce 'Canasta', a traditional variety known for its red-tinted, crinkled heads and excellent bolt resistance. This semi-heading lettuce produces large, crunchy leaves with a mild, sweet flavor, perfect for fresh salads or as a base for summer dishes. Hardy and versatile, 'Canasta' thrives even in warmer weather, making it a reliable choice for gardeners.

How to Grow

. Sow indoors from February to April or directly outdoors from March to July
. Sow thinly, 0.5 cm deep, in rows 25–30 cm apart
. Thin seedlings to 20–25 cm apart to allow full head development
. Prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soil
. Water consistently to prevent bitterness and promote tender leaves

Key Features

. Traditional Batavian lettuce with semi-heading form
. Large, crisp leaves with red-tinged edges
. Mild, sweet flavor perfect for fresh salads
. Excellent bolt resistance in warm conditions
. Easy to grow and high yielding

Ideal For

. Summer salads and fresh eating
. Home gardens and allotments
. Gardeners seeking heat-tolerant lettuce
. Companion planting in vegetable beds

Sowing & Harvest

. Sow: February – July
. Harvest: May – September

Quick Tip

Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage continuous growth, or allow full heads to form for a crunchy centerpiece lettuce.