Soup & Stew Vegetables

Parsley 'Festival 68' – Seeds (Petroselinum crispum)

Bring fresh, aromatic flavor to your kitchen with Parsley 'Festival 68', a robust, curly-leaf variety known for its high yield and exceptional flavor. Ideal for soups, salads, sauces, and garnishes, this versatile herb thrives in home gardens and containers. Easy to grow and slow to bolt, 'Festival 68' ensures a long-lasting supply of fresh parsley throughout the season.

How to Grow

. Sow indoors: February – April, 0.5–1 cm deep in pots or trays
. Sow outdoors: March – June in fertile, well-drained soil
. Thin seedlings to 15–20 cm apart
. Prefers full sun or partial shade and regular watering
. Harvest leaves continuously to encourage new growth

Key Features

. Curly-leaf parsley with strong flavor
. High-yielding and slow to bolt
. Suitable for beds, borders, and containers
. Long-lasting harvest for fresh cooking
. Easy to grow, versatile culinary herb

Ideal For

. Soups, salads, sauces, and garnishes
. Home gardeners and container cultivation
. Continuous fresh herb supply throughout the season
. Companion planting with tomatoes, carrots, or asparagus

Sowing & Harvest

. Sow: February – June
. Harvest: April – October

Quick Tip

Regularly snip outer leaves instead of cutting the entire plant to promote continuous growth.

Parsley 'Italian Giant' Seeds (Petroselinum crispum)

Enjoy rich flavor and lush harvests with Parsley 'Italian Giant', a robust flat-leaf variety prized for its strong, aromatic taste and vigorous growth. With large, dark green leaves and a long cutting period, it’s perfect for garnishing, cooking, and seasoning. Easy to grow in the garden or containers, it’s a must-have herb for every kitchen gardener.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors in early spring or directly outdoors after frost.

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

• Sow seeds 0.5 cm deep in rows 25–30 cm apart.

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

• Harvest regularly to encourage new growth.

Key Features

• Flat-leaf parsley with strong, aromatic flavor

• Vigorous, robust growth and large green leaves

• Long cutting period for continuous harvest

• Ideal for cooking, garnishing, and seasoning

• Grows well in beds, pots, and herb gardens

Ideal For

• Garnishes and fresh salads

• Cooking and seasoning sauces, soups, and stews

• Herb gardens and containers

• Gardeners who want reliable, productive herbs

Sowing

• Best time: Spring, or indoors earlier

• Depth: 0.5 cm

• Spacing: Thin to 20–25 cm apart

• Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Soak seeds overnight before sowing to improve germination.

French Spinach – Purple Spinach Baby Leaf Seeds (Atriplex hortensis, Orach)

Bring color and nutrition to your garden with French Spinach (Atriplex hortensis), also known as Orach. This fast-growing heirloom green produces striking purple-red baby leaves with a mild, spinach-like flavor. Perfect for salads, stir-fries, and garnishes, it’s a fantastic alternative to traditional spinach, especially in warmer weather when spinach tends to bolt. Easy to grow and beautiful in the garden, it’s both ornamental and edible.

How to Grow

• Sow directly outdoors from spring through summer.

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

• Sow thinly 1–1.5 cm deep in rows 30 cm apart.

• Thin seedlings to 20–25 cm for mature plants, or harvest young as baby leaves.

• Pick regularly to encourage fresh growth.

Key Features

• Deep purple-red baby leaves with mild spinach flavor

• Excellent heat tolerance, less prone to bolting

• Can be harvested young or grown to full size

• Dual-purpose: edible and ornamental

• Easy to grow and highly productive

Ideal For

• Baby leaf salads and gourmet mixes

• Stir-fries, soups, and steamed greens

• Gardeners in warm climates

• Edible landscaping and colorful borders

Sowing

• Best time: Spring through summer

• Depth: 1–1.5 cm

• Spacing: Thin to 20–25 cm apart

• Grows best in sun or light shade

Quick Tip

• Harvest young leaves frequently for the best flavor and to keep plants producing longer.

Dill Seeds (Anethum graveolens)

Bring fresh flavor and fragrance to your garden with Dill, a versatile culinary and medicinal herb. Known for its delicate feathery foliage and aromatic seeds, dill is a must-have for seasoning fish, soups, pickles, and salads. Easy to grow and quick to mature, it also attracts beneficial pollinators, making it a perfect addition to herb beds and kitchen gardens.

How to Grow

• Sow directly outdoors from spring to early summer.

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

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

• Thin seedlings to 15 cm spacing.

• Avoid transplanting as dill dislikes root disturbance.

Key Features

• Aromatic herb with feathery foliage and seeds

• Delicious for seasoning fish, soups, salads, and pickles

• Quick-growing and easy for beginners

• Attracts bees and beneficial insects

• Dual use: fresh leaves and dried seeds

Ideal For

• Home cooking and herbal tea

• Pickling and preserving vegetables

• Companion planting in the garden

• Attracting pollinators and beneficial insects

Sowing

• Best time: March to June

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Row spacing: 30 cm

• Plant spacing: 15 cm after thinning

• Harvest: Leaves in 6–8 weeks, seeds later in the season

Quick Tip

• For a continuous supply, sow dill little and often every 2–3 weeks through the summer.

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.

Herb Sage – Seeds

(Salvia officinalis)

Herb Sage is a hardy perennial herb prized for its aromatic leaves and culinary versatility. Perfect for seasoning meats, soups, and sauces, its gray-green foliage also adds texture and fragrance to herb gardens. Easy to grow and drought-tolerant once established, it attracts pollinators and enhances both edible and ornamental plantings.

Why Grow Herb Sage?

• Aromatic leaves for culinary and medicinal use

• Hardy perennial, drought-tolerant once established

• Attracts bees and pollinators

• Adds texture and fragrance to gardens

Key Features

• Type: Perennial herb

• Height: 30–60 cm

• Flowers: Blue-purple, late spring to summer

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile

Ideal For

• Herb and culinary gardens

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

• Containers, borders, and rockeries

• Perennial garden beds

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in seed trays

• Sow outdoors: April–May directly in prepared soil

• Germination: 14–21 days at 18–20°C

• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart

• Care: Moderate watering; prune after flowering to encourage fresh growth

Welsh Onion 'Kroll' – Seeds (Allium fistulosum)

The Welsh Onion 'Kroll' is a hardy and versatile perennial onion grown for its slender, upright stems and mild, onion-like flavor. Unlike bulb onions, it does not form bulbs but produces clusters of long, hollow stems that can be cut and used fresh like spring onions or left to grow for a stronger flavor. An easy, cut-and-come-again crop that thrives year after year.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds outdoors from March to July or indoors earlier for transplanting.

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

• Thin seedlings to 10 cm spacing once established.

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

• Harvest by cutting stems as required, leaving roots intact for regrowth.

Key Features

• Perennial onion producing clusters of hollow stems

• Mild, fresh onion flavor

• Easy cut-and-come-again harvest

• Hardy and long-lived in the garden

• Perfect alternative to spring onions

Ideal For

• Soups, salads, stir-fries, and garnishes

• Kitchen gardens, allotments, and containers

• Low-maintenance perennial cropping

• Year-round use in cooking

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March to July

• Depth: 1 cm

• Spacing: 10 cm between plants, 20 cm between rows

• Harvest: June to October, with regrowth year after year

Quick Tip

• Divide clumps every few years to keep plants vigorous and productive.

Stinging Nettle – Seeds

(Urtica dioica)

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is a versatile perennial herb valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Its vibrant green leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals, making it perfect for teas, soups, and natural remedies. Hardy and easy to grow, it also provides shelter and food for wildlife, supporting pollinators and beneficial insects.

Why Grow Stinging Nettle?

• Nutrient-rich leaves for culinary and medicinal use

• Hardy perennial, easy to grow

• Supports pollinators and wildlife

• Traditional herbal remedy with multiple uses

Key Features

• Type: Perennial herb

• Height: 60–150 cm

• Leaves: Harvest from spring to autumn

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained

Ideal For

• Herbal and edible gardens

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

• Natural remedies and teas

• Wildlife habitats

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in seed trays

• Sow outdoors: April–May directly in prepared soil

• Germination: 14–28 days at 15–20°C

• Spacing: Thin seedlings to 30 cm apart

• Care: Prefers consistent moisture; perennial, low maintenance

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.