Soup & Stew Vegetables

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.

Winter Kale – Seeds (Brassica oleracea)

Winter Kale is a hardy, nutrient-rich leafy green perfect for cold-weather gardens. This variety produces robust, dark green leaves that remain tender and flavorful even after frost. Ideal for soups, stews, sautés, or fresh salads, Winter Kale is a staple for year-round gardening and adds both color and nutrition to your plate.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds outdoors from March to July.

• Sow 1–2 cm deep in rows 30–40 cm apart.

• Thin seedlings to 20–30 cm spacing for strong growth.

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

• Can be harvested continuously by cutting outer leaves, leaving the center to grow.

Key Features

• Cold-hardy and frost-tolerant

• Nutrient-dense dark green leaves

• Continuous cut-and-come-again harvesting

• Ideal for soups, stews, salads, and sautéing

• Easy to grow in home gardens and allotments

Ideal For

• Winter and early spring harvesting

• Nutritious soups, smoothies, and salads

• Beginner and experienced gardeners alike

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March to July

• Depth: 1–2 cm

• Spacing: 20–30 cm between plants

• Harvest: September to February

Quick Tip

• Frost enhances the flavor, making the leaves sweeter and more tender.

Squash 'Uchiki Kuri' Seeds (Cucurbita maxima)

Discover the gourmet favorite Squash 'Uchiki Kuri', also known as the Red Kuri or Onion Squash. This reliable Japanese variety produces small, tear-drop shaped fruits with vibrant orange skin and rich, nutty-sweet golden flesh. Perfect for roasting, soups, curries, and baking, it’s a versatile squash that stores well for winter use.

How to Grow

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

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

• Sow 2–3 seeds 2 cm deep in small pots or stations.

• Transplant or thin to one strong plant per station, 90–120 cm apart.

• Water regularly and feed for strong growth.

Key Features

• Traditional Japanese squash with bright orange fruits

• Nutty, sweet flavor with smooth golden flesh

• Compact, manageable fruits (1–2 kg each)

• Stores well for winter use

• High-yielding and easy to grow

Ideal For

• Roasting, soups, curries, and baking

• Winter storage and long-lasting kitchen use

• Home gardeners seeking gourmet squash varieties

• Allotments, vegetable beds, or spacious gardens

Sowing

• Best time: April to June

• Depth: 2 cm

• Spacing: 90–120 cm between plants

• Position: Full sun, fertile soil

• Harvest: September to October

Quick Tip

• Cure fruits in the sun after harvest for longer storage life and enhanced sweetness.

Onion 'Spanish Sun' Seeds (Allium cepa)

Bring sunshine to your garden with Onion 'Spanish Sun', a reliable, early-maturing variety that produces large, globe-shaped golden bulbs. Known for its mild, sweet flavor and crisp texture, it’s perfect for fresh salads, cooking, or storing. Easy to grow and versatile in the kitchen, this onion is a must-have for every vegetable garden.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors from January to March or directly outdoors from March to April.

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

• Sow seeds 1 cm deep in rows 30 cm apart.

• Thin seedlings to 10 cm spacing for full-sized bulbs.

• Keep soil moist but not waterlogged.

Key Features

• Early-maturing, large golden bulbs

• Mild, sweet flavor with crisp texture

• Suitable for fresh use, cooking, or storing

• Reliable variety for consistent yields

• Easy to grow in most garden soils

Ideal For

• Home gardeners and allotments

• Fresh salads, soups, and everyday cooking

• Long-term storage after harvest

• Gardeners seeking early, high-quality onions

Sowing

• Best time: Indoors January–March, outdoors March–April

• Depth: 1 cm

• Spacing: 10 cm between plants, 30 cm between rows

• Position: Full sun, well-drained fertile soil

• Harvest: August to September

Quick Tip

• Allow bulbs to fully dry in the sun before storing to extend their shelf life.

Squash ‘Pink Banana Jumbo’ – 10 Seeds

(Cucurbita maxima) – Heirloom Variety

Squash ‘Pink Banana Jumbo’ is a classic heirloom winter squash prized for its massive size, sweet, fine-textured flesh, and excellent storage qualities. The elongated fruits grow up to 60–90 cm long and can weigh up to 20–30 kg, featuring smooth pink-orange skin and richly flavored orange flesh that’s perfect for baking, soups, roasting, and purées.

Key Features

• Type: Heirloom winter squash

• Fruit Size: 60–90 cm long, 20–30 kg

• Color: Pink-orange skin with deep orange flesh

• Taste: Sweet, smooth, and nutty flavor

• Days to Maturity: 100–110 days

• Harvest: Late summer to autumn

• Storage: Excellent long-term keeper

Ideal For

• Home gardens and allotments

• Farmers’ markets and heritage collections

• Baking, soups, roasting, and preserves

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: April – May (18–22 °C) in individual pots

• Plant outdoors: Late May – June after frost

• Spacing: 100 × 100 cm (allow plenty of room for vines)

• Position: Full sun in rich, well-drained soil

• Watering: Regular and consistent moisture for best fruit set

Care Tips

• Add compost or manure before planting for vigorous growth.

• Mulch to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

• Harvest when skin hardens and stems begin to dry.

Pumpkin 'Jack o'Lantern' Seeds (Cucurbita pepo)

Create the perfect Halloween display with Pumpkin 'Jack o'Lantern' (Cucurbita pepo). This classic variety produces medium-sized, round fruits with smooth, deep-orange skin that’s ideal for carving. In addition to being a festive favorite, the sweet, fine-textured flesh is excellent for pies, soups, and roasting, making it both decorative and delicious.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors in late spring or directly outdoors after the last frost.

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

• Sow 2–3 cm deep, either in pots indoors or in mounds outdoors.

• Transplant seedlings or thin outdoor sowings to 90–120 cm apart.

• Water well and feed regularly for large, healthy fruits.

Key Features

• Classic pumpkin variety for carving and cooking

• Produces round, deep-orange fruits

• Medium size, perfect for Halloween lanterns

• Sweet, fine-textured flesh for baking and soups

• Decorative and edible in equal measure

Ideal For

• Halloween carving and autumn displays

• Homemade pies, soups, and roasts

• Garden beds and allotments

• Families and festive gardeners

Sowing

• Best time: Indoors late spring or outdoors after frost

• Depth: 2–3 cm

• Spacing: 90–120 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and rich, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Harvest pumpkins when the skin is firm and orange, and cure them in a dry, sunny spot to improve storage life.

Lovage Seeds (Levisticum officinale)

Grow a robust, aromatic herb with Lovage (Levisticum officinale). This perennial produces tall, leafy stems with a strong celery-like flavor, perfect for soups, stews, stocks, and herbal infusions. Hardy and long-lived, it’s ideal for herb gardens, perennial beds, and pollinator-friendly plantings.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost or directly outdoors in spring.

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

• Sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep and thin seedlings to 40–50 cm apart.

• Keep soil consistently moist until germination (14–21 days).

• Transplant seedlings outdoors after frost risk has passed.

• Harvest leaves and stems as needed; roots can be harvested in autumn.

Key Features

• Tall, leafy perennial with strong celery-like flavor

• Hardy, long-lived, and easy to grow

• Ideal for soups, stews, stocks, and herbal infusions

• Attracts pollinators and enhances garden biodiversity

• Suitable for herb gardens, perennial beds, and companion planting

Ideal For

• Herb gardens and kitchen beds

• Culinary use in soups, stews, stocks, and teas

• Perennial borders and pollinator-friendly plantings

• Long-term herb cultivation with minimal maintenance

Sowing

• Best time: Spring indoors or outdoors after frost

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: Thin to 40–50 cm apart

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

Quick Tip

• Regularly trim leaves to encourage bushier growth and a continuous supply throughout the season.

Pink Thai Egg Tomato – Seeds

(Solanum lycopersicum)

Pink Thai Egg Tomato is a rare heirloom variety from Thailand known for its egg-shaped, rose-pink fruits and exceptional productivity. The smooth, glossy tomatoes grow in clusters and have a sweet, mild flavor with low acidity, making them perfect for fresh salads, salsas, and light cooking. Compact and hardy, this variety thrives in both warm and temperate climates.

Key Features

• Fruit Shape: Small, egg-shaped

• Color: Pink to rose-red

• Flavor: Mild, sweet, and low-acid

• Growth Habit: Indeterminate

• Days to Maturity: 70–80 days

• Yield: Heavy cropper with clusters of uniform fruits

Ideal For

• Greenhouses, gardens, and containers

• Fresh eating and gourmet dishes

• Heirloom and specialty tomato collections

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February – April

• Transplant outdoors: After last frost

• Harvest: July – October

• Spacing: 45–60 cm apart

• Position: Full sun, sheltered

• Soil: Rich, well-drained compost

Care Tips

• Support with stakes or cages for best yield.

• Water regularly and feed with tomato fertilizer once flowering begins.

Italian Climbing Black Bean 'Super Marconi Grano Nero' – Seeds

(Phaseolus vulgaris) – Heirloom Italian Pole Bean

The ‘Super Marconi Grano Nero’ climbing bean is a traditional Italian variety known for its long, flat pods and striking black beans inside. Highly productive, vigorous, and climbing up to 2–3 meters, it requires staking or trellising. Its pods are tender and delicious when young, while the mature black beans can be dried and stored for hearty soups, stews, and traditional Italian dishes.

Key Features

• Type: Climbing pole bean (annual legume)

• Height: 200–300 cm with support

• Pods: Long, flat, tender, up to 20–25 cm

• Seeds: Black beans inside when mature

• Harvest: 65–75 days from sowing

• Special: Dual-purpose – eat fresh pods or dry beans

Ideal For

• Fresh harvesting as flat green beans

• Drying and storing beans for winter dishes

• Italian and Mediterranean cuisine

• Vertical gardening with trellises or poles

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: May–July, once soil warms (min. 15°C)

• Spacing: 50 cm between rows, 10–15 cm between plants

• Support: Needs poles, netting, or trellis

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

• Sunlight: Full sun

• Watering: Consistent, especially during pod setting

Care Tips

• Harvest young pods regularly to encourage continuous production.

• Allow some pods to fully mature for drying black beans.

• Rotate crops yearly to maintain healthy soil.