Slow & Steady Growers

Aubergine 'Black Beauty' – Seeds (Solanum melongena)

The classic Black Beauty aubergine is a time-honored variety producing large, glossy, deep-purple fruits with tender flesh and rich flavor. Compact and reliable, it’s a favorite for home gardeners and a staple in Mediterranean cuisine. Perfect for grilling, roasting, baking, or adding to curries and stews, this aubergine is as versatile as it is delicious.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors from January to April in trays or pots.

• Sow 0.5 cm deep in moist compost, keeping warm at 20–25°C.

• Transplant seedlings into larger pots when big enough to handle.

• Harden off and plant out in a greenhouse or sunny, sheltered spot once frosts have passed.

• Support plants as they grow and keep soil moist.

Key Features

• Classic heirloom aubergine variety

• Large, glossy, deep-purple fruits

• Rich, tender flesh with excellent flavor

• Reliable and high-yielding

• Suitable for greenhouses, polytunnels, or warm outdoor sites

Ideal For

• Mediterranean cooking

• Roasting, grilling, frying, and stews

• Greenhouses, polytunnels, or sunny patios

• Home gardeners seeking a proven classic

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: January to April (indoors)

• Depth: 0.5 cm

• Transplant spacing: 40–50 cm

• Harvest: August to October

Quick Tip

• Pinch out the growing tip when the plant reaches about 30 cm to encourage bushier growth and more fruit.

Cauliflower ‘All The Year Round’ – Seeds (Brassica oleracea)

Description:
Enjoy reliable harvests with Cauliflower ‘All The Year Round’ (Brassica oleracea), a versatile and hardy variety suitable for spring, summer, and autumn cropping. It produces compact, white heads with excellent flavor and texture, ideal for steaming, roasting, or use in soups and casseroles. Easy to grow from seed, this dependable cauliflower performs well in most soils and weather conditions, making it perfect for home gardens and allotments.

Key Features

• Reliable, hardy variety for multiple seasons

• Compact, firm white curds with great flavor

• Suitable for spring, summer, and autumn harvests

• Tolerant of varying weather conditions

• Easy to grow from seed

Ideal For

• Home and kitchen gardens

• Allotments and vegetable plots

• Fresh cooking, freezing, and preserving

• Year-round vegetable production

Sowing & Growing

• Sow Indoors: January–April

• Sow Outdoors: March–June

• Transplant Outdoors: April–July

• Germination: 7–14 days at 15–20°C

• Spacing: 45–60 cm apart

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Fertile, firm, well-drained

Care Tips

• Water regularly, especially during dry periods

• Protect young plants from pests and frost

• Add compost or organic matter before planting

• Harvest when heads are firm and white

Kale 'Scarlet' – Seeds (Brassica oleracea)

The Kale 'Scarlet' is a stunning ornamental and culinary variety, prized for its deeply curled, frilly leaves that turn a rich purple-red as temperatures drop. This hardy kale is packed with vitamins and minerals, offering a sweet, mild flavor that improves after the first frosts.

Beautiful in the garden and nutritious in the kitchen, it’s perfect for salads, smoothies, sautés, and winter soups.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – May

• Sow outdoors: April – June

• Transplant/Thin: 40–50 cm apart

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

• Position: Full sun or partial shade

• Care: Water regularly and protect young plants from pests

Key Features

• Striking deep-red, frilly leaves

• Sweet flavor enhanced by frost

• Very hardy, withstands winter cold

• Rich in vitamins A, C, and K

• Dual-purpose: ornamental and edible

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March – June

• Harvest: October – March

Kale 'Red Russian' Seeds (Brassica oleracea)

Bring color and nutrition to your garden with Kale 'Red Russian', a hardy variety with tender, oak-shaped leaves flushed with purple-red veins. Sweeter and milder than many other kales, it’s perfect for salads, smoothies, steaming, and stir-fries. Cold-hardy and easy to grow, it thrives from early spring to late winter, providing a long season of nutrient-rich harvests.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors in early spring or direct outdoors from spring to mid-summer.

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

• Sow 1 cm deep in rows 45 cm apart.

• Thin or transplant seedlings to 40–50 cm apart.

• Harvest young leaves for salads or allow plants to mature for larger leaves.

Key Features

• Attractive purple-red veined leaves with tender texture

• Mild, sweet flavor compared to traditional kales

• Cold-hardy and reliable through autumn and winter

• Perfect for cut-and-come-again harvesting

• Nutrient-rich superfood, high in vitamins and minerals

Ideal For

• Fresh salads and smoothies

• Stir-fries, soups, and steaming

• Year-round kitchen gardens

• Gardeners seeking hardy, reliable greens

Sowing

• Best time: March to July

• Depth: 1 cm

• Row spacing: 45 cm

• Plant spacing: 40–50 cm

• Harvest: From 6–8 weeks after sowing

Quick Tip

• Harvest young leaves regularly to promote fresh growth and sweeter flavor.

Aubergine Eggplant ‘Black Beauty’ – 150 Seeds (Solanum melongena)

Description:
Grow classic, glossy eggplants with Aubergine ‘Black Beauty’ (Solanum melongena). This high-yielding variety produces large, dark purple fruits with tender flesh and mild flavor, perfect for grilling, roasting, or sautéing. Ideal for greenhouses, containers, and garden beds, ‘Black Beauty’ is easy to grow from seed and provides a long harvest throughout the summer. A favorite for home gardeners seeking versatile and productive eggplants.

Key Features

• Large, glossy dark purple fruits

• Mild, tender flesh suitable for a variety of dishes

• High-yielding and long-harvesting variety

• Easy to grow from seed

• Ideal for greenhouses, containers, and garden beds

Ideal For

• Kitchen and home vegetable gardens

• Containers, raised beds, and greenhouse cultivation

• Culinary use: grilling, roasting, sautéing

• Home gardeners seeking productive eggplants

Sowing & Growing

• Sow Indoors: February–April

• Transplant Outdoors: May–June, after frost

• Germination: 7–14 days at 20–25°C

• Spacing: 50–60 cm apart

• Support: Optional staking for heavy fruits

• Light: Full sun

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

Care Tips

• Water consistently, keeping soil evenly moist

• Fertilize every 2–3 weeks with balanced fertilizer

• Mulch to retain moisture and control weeds

• Harvest when fruits are fully glossy and firm

Winter Purple Broccoli 'Miranda' Seeds (Brassica oleracea)

Add vibrant color and delicious flavor to your winter harvest with Winter Purple Broccoli 'Miranda' (Brassica oleracea). This hardy variety produces tender, purple-speared florets with a sweet, nutty taste that stand out in the garden and kitchen. Cold-tolerant and reliable, 'Miranda' thrives through the cooler months, ensuring a healthy and colorful crop when other vegetables are scarce.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors in late spring or directly outdoors in summer.

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

• Sow 1 cm deep and thin seedlings to 45–60 cm apart.

• Keep soil moist and weed-free.

• Harvest from late autumn through winter when florets are deep purple.

Key Features

• Winter-hardy purple broccoli variety

• Produces tender, sweet, and nutty-flavored florets

• Cold-tolerant and reliable in cooler months

• Attractive and nutritious addition to meals

• Long cropping season from late autumn to winter

Ideal For

• Winter gardens and cold-weather growing

• Steaming, roasting, or stir-fries

• Nutritious side dishes and healthy meals

• Gardeners looking for reliable winter crops

Sowing

• Best time: Late spring to mid-summer

• Depth: 1 cm

• Spacing: 45–60 cm apart

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

Quick Tip

• Cut the main head first to encourage side shoots for extended harvesting.

Winter Broccoli 'Ramoso Calabrese' Seeds (Brassica oleracea)

Enjoy fresh, homegrown broccoli even in the cooler months with Winter Broccoli 'Ramoso Calabrese'. This traditional Italian variety is prized for its tender green shoots and rich, nutty flavor. Perfect for winter cropping, it produces multiple side shoots after the main head is cut, extending your harvest well into the season. A reliable and tasty addition to any winter vegetable garden.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors from March to May or outdoors from April to June.

• Transplant seedlings when large enough, spacing 45–60 cm apart.

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

• Keep plants well-watered during dry spells.

• Harvest main head first, then enjoy repeat harvests from side shoots.

Key Features

• Traditional Italian winter broccoli variety

• Produces tender, nutty-flavored green heads

• Multiple side shoots for extended cropping

• Hardy and reliable in cooler conditions

• Great for steaming, roasting, or stir-fries

Ideal For

• Winter and early spring vegetable gardens

• Gardeners who want extended harvests

• Nutritious, homegrown cooking

• Allotments and kitchen gardens

Sowing

• Best time: March to June

• Depth: 1 cm

• Spacing: 45–60 cm between plants

• Position: Full sun, fertile soil

• Harvest: November to March

Quick Tip

• Cut the central head early to encourage plenty of side shoots for a longer, more abundant harvest.

Aubergine 'Golden Egg' – Seeds (Solanum melongena)

Add a touch of the unusual to your garden with the striking Golden Egg aubergine. This rare and decorative variety produces small, oval fruits that ripen to a stunning golden yellow. Compact and easy to grow, it’s both ornamental and edible, making it a real talking point in any kitchen garden, greenhouse, or patio pot. The tender fruits are perfect for grilling, baking, or adding a unique twist to your favorite dishes.

How to Grow

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

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

• Transplant seedlings into larger pots when strong enough.

• Harden off and plant into greenhouse borders, grow bags, or sunny sheltered beds after the last frost.

• Water regularly and support as fruits develop.

Key Features

• Rare aubergine variety with golden-yellow fruits

• Compact plants, ideal for pots and greenhouses

• Edible and ornamental – perfect for display and cooking

• Easy to grow with good yields

• Unique centerpiece for kitchen gardens

Ideal For

• Greenhouses, polytunnels, and sunny patios

• Decorative planting with edible appeal

• Grilling, baking, and creative cooking

• Gardeners looking for something unusual

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: January to April (indoors)

• Depth: 0.5 cm

• Spacing: 40–50 cm

• Harvest: August to October

Quick Tip

• For best results, pick fruits regularly when firm and brightly colored to encourage continuous production.

Pointed Red Cabbage ‘Kalibos’ – Seeds

(Brassica oleracea L.)

Pointed Red Cabbage ‘Kalibos’ is an exceptional variety combining the sweet flavor of pointed cabbage with the deep red color of traditional red cabbage. The tight, conical heads are medium-sized, firm, and full of crisp, tender leaves with a mild, slightly sweet taste—perfect for salads, coleslaws, and light cooking.

Key Features

• Type: Red pointed cabbage

• Head Shape: Conical, medium-sized, dense

• Color: Deep purple-red

• Taste: Sweet, mild, and crisp

• Days to Maturity: 110–120 days

• Harvest Period: Late summer to autumn

• Storage: Good short-term storage variety

Ideal For

• Home gardens and allotments

• Fresh salads and coleslaws

• Cooking, fermenting, and pickling

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February – April

• Transplant outdoors: April – May

• Harvest: August – October

• Spacing: 40 × 50 cm

• Position: Sunny, sheltered spot

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

Care Tips

• Keep soil consistently moist for tender heads.

• Apply organic fertilizer or compost during growth.

• Protect from cabbage butterflies with netting.