Salad Garden Essentials

Sweet Pepper 'Hallo' – Seeds (Capsicum annuum)

The Sweet Pepper 'Hallo' is a compact and productive variety producing blocky, thick-walled fruits that ripen from green to bright red. With a crisp texture and sweet, mild flavor, these peppers are perfect for fresh salads, stuffing, roasting, or grilling. Reliable and early to mature, 'Hallo' thrives in greenhouses, polytunnels, or sunny patios in containers and beds.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors from February to April at 20–25°C.

• Sow 0.5 cm deep in trays or pots of moist compost.

• Transplant into individual pots when seedlings are large enough.

• Plant out in a greenhouse, tunnel, or warm sheltered spot after the last frost.

• Keep well-watered and feed regularly for the best harvest.

Key Features

• Compact, high-yielding sweet pepper variety

• Blocky fruits ripen from green to vibrant red

• Thick, crunchy flesh with mild, sweet flavor

• Early to mature and reliable in cooler climates

• Suitable for containers, patios, and greenhouses

Ideal For

• Fresh salads and snacking

• Stuffing, grilling, and roasting

• Container growing on sunny patios

• Greenhouse and polytunnel cultivation

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February to April (indoors)

• Depth: 0.5 cm

• Spacing: 40–50 cm between plants

• Harvest: July to October

Quick Tip

• Regular picking encourages continuous fruiting and a longer harvest season.

Sweet Pepper 'Mini Bell' Chocolate – Seeds (Capsicum annuum)

The Sweet Pepper 'Mini Bell' Chocolate is a compact, ornamental, and edible variety producing small, bell-shaped fruits that mature from green to a rich, chocolate brown. Crisp, sweet, and juicy, these peppers are perfect for snacking, salads, roasting, or garnishing dishes. Ideal for containers, patios, or small garden spaces, they combine vibrant color with delicious flavor.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors from February to April, 0.5 cm deep.

• Keep at 20–25°C until germination.

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

• Space plants 30–40 cm apart in fertile, well-drained soil with full sun.

• Provide support if needed and maintain consistent moisture.

Key Features

• Compact plant producing small, bell-shaped chocolate-brown peppers

• Crisp, sweet, and juicy flavor

• Ideal for containers, patios, and small gardens

• High ornamental value with edible fruits

• Perfect for fresh eating, roasting, and garnishing

Ideal For

• Snacking, salads, and cooking

• Decorative kitchen gardens and container cultivation

• Gardeners seeking colorful, compact, and productive pepper varieties

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February to April

• Plant out: May to June

• Harvest: July to September

Quick Tip

• Pick peppers when fully colored for the sweetest flavor and best visual appeal.

Sweet Pepper 'Granova' Seeds (Capsicum annuum)

Grow crisp, sweet peppers with Sweet Pepper 'Granova' (Capsicum annuum). This productive variety develops large, blocky fruits that ripen from green to a rich, glossy red. With thick walls and a mild, sweet taste, they’re perfect for fresh salads, stuffing, roasting, grilling, and adding color to summer dishes.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost.

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

• Sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep and keep soil moist until germination (10–14 days).

• Transplant outdoors or into containers after frost, spacing 40–50 cm apart.

• Harvest when peppers are fully colored for the best flavor.

Key Features

• Produces large, blocky sweet peppers

• Thick walls with a crisp, juicy texture

• Sweet flavor, perfect for fresh or cooked dishes

• Productive and reliable garden variety

• Suitable for gardens, greenhouses, or containers

Ideal For

• Fresh salads, grilling, and stuffing

• Roasting and adding to sauces

• Greenhouse and container growing

• Gardeners who want high yields of sweet peppers

Sowing

• Best time: Indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: 40–50 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Pick the first few peppers while still green to encourage heavier fruiting later in the season.

Sweet Pepper ‘Citrina’ – Seeds

(Capsicum annuum) – Compact Yellow Sweet Pepper

The ‘Citrina’ sweet pepper is a charming, compact variety that produces an abundance of bright lemon-yellow fruits. The peppers are small, blocky, and full of crisp, sweet flavor, making them perfect for snacking, salads, stuffing, and grilling. Its compact habit makes it ideal for pots, containers, or small gardens, while still offering a generous harvest.

Key Features

• Plant type: Annual

• Growth habit: Compact, bushy

• Fruit: Small blocky peppers

• Color: Lemon-yellow

• Flavor: Mild and sweet

• Height: 40–50 cm

• Position: Full sun, sheltered

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained

Ideal For

• Patio pots and balcony containers

• Kitchen gardens and raised beds

• Fresh eating, grilling, and stuffing

• Attractive ornamental & edible planting

Sowing & Growing

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

• Germination: 10–21 days at 20–25°C.

• Transplant: Into larger pots once seedlings are strong.

• Plant out: May–June after last frost, spacing 35–40 cm apart.

• Harvest: July–September.

Care Tips

• Prefers a warm, sunny, sheltered spot.

• Water regularly but avoid waterlogging.

• Feed with a high-potash fertilizer once fruits set.

• Harvest regularly to encourage continuous cropping.

Sweet Pepper 'California Wonder' Yellow – Seeds (Capsicum annuum)

The California Wonder Yellow is a classic sweet pepper variety, prized for its large, blocky bell-shaped fruits that ripen from green to a vibrant golden yellow. The peppers are thick-walled, crisp, and juicy with a sweet, mild flavour, making them perfect for fresh salads, stuffing, roasting, or grilling.

A reliable, heavy-cropping variety that performs well both outdoors in warm, sunny spots and under glass in cooler climates.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April at 20–25°C

• Transplant outdoors/greenhouse: After last frost, when plants are strong

• Plant spacing: 40–50 cm apart

• Position: Full sun, sheltered location or greenhouse

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained, moisture-retentive

• Care: Water consistently and feed with a high-potash fertiliser when fruits set

Key Features

• Large, blocky, sweet yellow bell peppers

• Thick-walled, juicy, and versatile in cooking

• High-yielding, reliable variety

• Suitable for outdoor beds, pots, or greenhouse growing

• Harvested green or fully ripe for sweeter flavour

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February – April

• Harvest: July – October

Sweet Pepper 'Boneta' – Seeds (Capsicum annuum)

Sweet Pepper 'Boneta' is a vibrant, high-yielding variety producing medium-sized, glossy fruits with a sweet, mild flavor. Perfect for fresh salads, roasting, grilling, or stuffing, it adds color and taste to any dish.

This compact and vigorous plant is suitable for home gardens, containers, and greenhouse cultivation, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced gardeners.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April

• Transplant outdoors: May – June, after last frost

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: 40–50 cm between plants, rows 60–80 cm apart

• Position: Full sun, warm and sheltered

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

• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged

Key Features

• Medium-sized, glossy fruits with sweet, mild flavor

• High-yielding and compact growth

• Ideal for salads, roasting, grilling, and stuffing

• Suitable for home gardens, containers, and greenhouses

• Easy to grow and maintain

Harvest

• Harvesting period: July – September

• Pick fruits when fully colored and firm for best taste and quality.

Short Tip

Support plants with small stakes if needed to keep fruits off the ground and prevent breakage.

Sweet Melon 'Ananas' – Seeds (Cucumis melo)

The Sweet Melon 'Ananas' is a highly aromatic variety, well known for its sweet, juicy flesh with a tropical fragrance reminiscent of pineapple. The oval fruits have a golden-yellow skin with light netting and can reach up to 1.5–2 kg in weight. Their refreshing, honeyed flavour makes them ideal for summer desserts, fruit salads, smoothies, or simply eaten fresh.

A heat-loving crop, this melon thrives in sunny, sheltered conditions and can be grown in a greenhouse, polytunnel, or outdoors during a warm summer.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – April, 1 cm deep in pots at 20–25°C

• Transplant outdoors/greenhouse: May – June, after the last frost

• Spacing: 60–100 cm apart

• Position: Full sun, warm and sheltered

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

• Care: Train vines, remove side shoots, and feed with a high-potash fertiliser once fruit sets

Key Features

• Aromatic, sweet flesh with a pineapple-like fragrance

• Oval golden-yellow fruits, up to 2 kg

• Excellent for fresh eating and summer desserts

• Reliable performer in greenhouse, polytunnel, or outdoors in warm summers

• Heavy-yielding under the right conditions

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March – April

• Harvest: July – September

Sweet Bell Pepper 'California Wonder' Red – Seeds (Capsicum annuum)

Sweet Bell Pepper 'California Wonder' Red is a classic, high-yielding variety producing large, blocky, bright red fruits with a sweet, crisp flavor. Perfect for fresh eating, salads, roasting, or stuffing, it is a versatile addition to any vegetable garden.

This vigorous and productive plant thrives in warm, sunny conditions and is ideal for home gardens, greenhouses, and containers.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April

• Transplant outdoors: May – June, after last frost

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: 40–50 cm between plants, rows 60–80 cm apart

• Position: Full sun, sheltered and warm

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

• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist

Key Features

• Large, blocky, bright red fruits with sweet, crisp flavor

• High-yielding and vigorous growth

• Ideal for fresh eating, salads, roasting, and stuffing

• Suitable for home gardens, greenhouses, and containers

• Classic, reliable bell pepper variety

Harvest

• Harvesting period: July – September

• Pick fruits when fully colored and firm for best flavor.

Short Tip

Regular harvesting encourages continuous production and prevents fruits from becoming overripe.

Summer White Onion ‘Alibaba’ Seeds (Allium cepa)

Grow mild, crisp onions with Summer White Onion ‘Alibaba’ (Allium cepa). This early-maturing summer variety produces medium-sized, pearly white bulbs with a sweet, delicate flavor, perfect for fresh salads, cooking, and light pickling. Easy to grow and reliable, it’s ideal for kitchen gardens, raised beds, and allotments.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost or directly outdoors in early spring.

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

• Sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep and thin seedlings to 10–15 cm apart.

• Keep soil consistently moist for germination (10–14 days).

• Harvest bulbs when tops begin to yellow and fall over; cure in a dry, airy place before storage.

Key Features

• Medium-sized, pearly white bulbs with mild, sweet flavor

• Early-maturing summer variety

• Ideal for fresh salads, cooking, and light pickling

• Hardy, productive, and easy to grow

• Suitable for kitchen gardens, raised beds, and allotments

Ideal For

• Vegetable gardens, raised beds, and allotments

• Fresh salads, cooking, and pickling

• Succession sowing for continuous harvest

• Homegrown culinary use

Sowing

• Best time: 8–10 weeks before last frost indoors or early spring outdoors

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: Thin to 10–15 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Sow in succession every 2–3 weeks to enjoy a steady supply of tender, mild white onions.