Sow in August

Lavender ‘Hidcote’ Blue – Seeds (Lavandula angustifolia)

Lavender ‘Hidcote’ Blue (Lavandula angustifolia) is a classic compact variety prized for its deep violet-blue flower spikes and aromatic foliage. Ideal for borders, herb gardens, and containers, it attracts bees and butterflies while providing fragrant blooms for cutting and drying. Hardy and low-maintenance, it’s perfect for sunny, well-drained locations.

Why Grow "Hidcote Blue"

• Deep violet-blue fragrant flower spikes

• Compact, tidy growth ideal for borders and containers

• Attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies

• Excellent for cutting, drying, and culinary use

Key Features

• Type: Hardy perennial (Lavandula angustifolia)

• Height: 30–45 cm

• Flowering: June–August

• Position: Full sun, well-drained soil

• Uses: Borders, herb gardens, containers, pollinator-friendly planting

Ideal For

• Herb and cottage gardens

• Pollinator-friendly borders

• Container planting and edging

• Fragrant bouquets and dried arrangements

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in seed trays

• Germination: 14–28 days at 18–22°C

• Transplant seedlings into pots or borders after last frost

• Space 25–30 cm apart for compact growth

• Prefers sunny, well-drained soil; avoid overwatering

Moldavian Dragonhead – Seeds (Dracocephalum moldavica)

The Moldavian Dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica) is a fragrant annual herb admired for its violet-blue flowers and aromatic lemon-scented foliage. Highly attractive to bees and butterflies, it makes a charming addition to herb gardens, borders, and pollinator-friendly spaces. Its leaves are sometimes used for teas with a refreshing citrus flavor.

Why Grow Moldavian Dragonhead?

• Violet-blue blooms with a pleasant lemon fragrance

• Excellent for pollinators, especially bees

• Easy to grow and low maintenance

• Useful as an ornamental and herbal plant

Ideal For

• Herb gardens

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

• Borders and cottage gardens

• Aromatic tea lovers

Key Features

• Type: Annual herb

• Height: 40–60 cm

• Spread: 20–30 cm

• Flowering: June–August

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Light, well-drained

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April, lightly cover seeds

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–22°C

• Transplant outdoors: After frost risk has passed

• Direct sow outdoors: April–May

• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart

Tip: Regular deadheading encourages longer flowering and stronger aroma.

🥬 Lettuce Mix – Colourful Salad Blend for Continuous Harvest

Lettuce Mix is a carefully selected blend of looseleaf and baby leaf lettuces, offering a range of colours, textures and flavours in one easy sowing. The mix typically includes green, red and bronze leaves with varying shapes, creating attractive salads with excellent taste and crunch. Fast-growing and ideal for cut-and-come-again harvesting, this mix is perfect for beds, raised beds, containers and window boxes. Suitable for harvesting young as baby leaf or allowing plants to mature for larger leaves.

Key Features

● Mixed lettuce varieties for colour and flavour diversity

● Ideal for baby leaf and cut-and-come-again harvests

● Fast-growing and easy to grow

● Continuous cropping with regular cutting

● Perfect for salads, sandwiches and fresh use

How to Sow & Grow Lettuce Mix (UK)

Direct outdoors: III–IX (March–September)

Sow indoors: II–III (February–March)

Transplant outdoors: III–IV (March–April)

Harvest: IV–X (April–October)

Life cycle: Annual

Germination temperature: 8–18 °C (46–64 °F)

Average germ time: 7–14 days

Depth: 0.5 cm (¼ in)

Light required: Yes

Moisture: Keep soil evenly moist

Environment: Full sun to partial shade

Soil type: Fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter

Plant spacing: Broadcast for baby leaf or thin to 20–25 cm (8–10 in)

Height: 15–30 cm (6–12 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Sow little and often for a constant supply of fresh leaves.

● Harvest young leaves regularly to encourage regrowth.

● Provide light shade in hot weather to prevent bolting.

● Water consistently for tender, sweet leaves.

● Ideal for beginner gardeners.

Special Features

● Excellent for baby leaf salads

● Wide colour and texture mix

● Reliable and productive throughout the season

🥬 Brassica rapa Turnip ‘Milanese’ – Early, Flat White Turnip with Mild, Sweet Flesh

‘Milanese’ is a classic early-maturing turnip variety producing smooth, flat-round roots with creamy white flesh and a mild, slightly sweet flavour. Bred for quick growth and tenderness, it is ideal for spring and summer harvests, either as baby turnips or fully grown roots. The young tops are also edible and delicious when lightly cooked. Reliable and easy to grow, this variety is perfect for kitchen gardens, allotments, and successional sowing.

Key Features

● Early, fast-growing turnip variety

● Flat, smooth roots with mild, sweet flavour

● Excellent eaten young as baby turnips

● Tender white flesh, not woody

● Suitable for spring and summer cropping

How to Sow & Grow Turnip ‘Milanese’ (UK)

Direct outdoors: III–VIII (March–August)

Harvest: V–X (May–October)

Life cycle: Annual

Germination temperature: 8–20 °C (46–68 °F)

Average germ time: 5–10 days

Depth: 1–1.5 cm (½ in)

Light required: Yes

Moisture: Keep soil evenly moist

Environment: Full sun to partial shade

Soil type: Light, fertile, well-drained soil

Plant spacing: 10–15 cm (4–6 in)

Height: 30–40 cm (12–16 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Sow little and often for continuous harvests.

● Harvest young for the sweetest flavour and best texture.

● Avoid drought to prevent strong or woody roots.

● Ideal for cooler parts of the growing season.

● Leaves can be harvested young as nutritious greens.

Special Features

● Traditional Italian turnip variety

● Very quick from sowing to harvest

● Excellent for fresh kitchen use

🥬 Cichorium intybus ‘Zuccherina di Trieste’ – Sweet, Tender Leaf Chicory for Salads and Cooking

‘Zuccherina di Trieste’ is a traditional Italian leaf chicory variety prized for its smooth, elongated green leaves and exceptionally mild, slightly sweet flavour. Unlike many chicories, it has very low bitterness, making it ideal for fresh salads, as well as for light cooking, sautéing and braising. Fast-growing and reliable, this variety is well suited to kitchen gardens, raised beds and containers, and can be harvested young as baby leaves or grown on for full-sized heads.

Life cycle: Annual (grown for leaves)

Key Features

● Mild, sweet-flavoured leaf chicory with minimal bitterness

● Smooth, elongated green leaves

● Excellent for salads, sautéing and cooking

● Fast-growing and easy to grow

● Suitable for beds, raised beds and containers

How to Sow & Grow Chicory ‘Zuccherina di Trieste’ (UK)

Direct outdoors: III–VIII (March–August)

Sow indoors: II–III (February–March)

Transplant outdoors: III–IV (March–April) once seedlings are strong

Harvest: IV–X (April–October)

Germination temperature: 10–20 °C (50–68 °F)

Average germ time: 7–14 days

Depth: 1 cm (½ in)

Light required: Yes

Moisture: Keep soil evenly moist

Environment: Full sun to partial shade

Soil type: Fertile, well-drained soil

Plant spacing: 20–25 cm (8–10 in)

Height: 25–35 cm (10–14 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Harvest young leaves regularly for the best flavour.

● Suitable for cut-and-come-again harvesting.

● Tolerates cooler temperatures well.

● Can be grown throughout the season with successional sowing.

● Ideal for Mediterranean-style and kitchen gardens.

Special Features

● Traditional Italian salad chicory

● Very mild taste compared to most chicories

● Excellent versatility in the kitchen

Herb Corn Salad Seeds (Valerianella locusta)

Also known as Lamb’s Lettuce or Mâche, Corn Salad is a fast-growing leafy green with soft, nutty-flavored leaves. Popular in European cuisine, it’s perfect for salads, sandwiches, and as a tender garnish. Hardy and cold-tolerant, it thrives in cooler months, making it an excellent choice for autumn and winter harvests. Easy to grow and highly nutritious, it’s a must-have for year-round salads.

How to Grow

• Sow directly outdoors from March to May, and again from August to October.

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

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

• Thin seedlings to 10 cm spacing for healthy plants.

• Harvest young leaves as needed for cut-and-come-again cropping.

Key Features

• Tender, nutty-flavored leaves

• Hardy and cold-tolerant, ideal for winter salads

• Quick and easy to grow

• Perfect for cut-and-come-again harvesting

• Highly nutritious and versatile in the kitchen

Ideal For

• Autumn and winter vegetable gardens

• Fresh salads and sandwich fillings

• Containers, raised beds, and small gardens

• Gardeners seeking a reliable cool-season green

Sowing

• Best time: March–May, August–October

• Depth: 1 cm

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

• Position: Full sun or partial shade

• Harvest: October to March

Quick Tip

• Succession sow every few weeks for a continuous supply of fresh leaves throughout the cooler seasons.

Chervil – Seeds

(Anthriscus cerefolium) – Classic Culinary Herb

Chervil is a delicate, aromatic herb with finely cut, fern-like leaves and a subtle aniseed flavor. Often called the “gourmet’s parsley”, it is an essential ingredient in French cuisine and one of the traditional fines herbes (with parsley, tarragon, and chives). Best used fresh, chervil enhances soups, salads, omelets, fish, and sauces, adding a refined, mild flavor.

Key Features

• Type: Annual culinary herb

• Height: 30–50 cm

• Leaves: Finely cut, light green, fern-like

• Flavor: Mild anise, delicate and fresh

• Harvest: 6–8 weeks after sowing

• Use: Fresh leaves for seasoning

Ideal For

• Culinary herb gardens & kitchen windowsills

• French and Mediterranean dishes

• Continuous harvest in small spaces

• Pairing with parsley, tarragon & chives

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–August, directly into the soil.

• Depth: 0.5 cm, thinly in rows 20 cm apart.

• Germination: 14–21 days at 12–18°C.

• Position: Partial shade, moist, humus-rich soil.

• Harvest: Young leaves as needed.

Care Tips

• Regular sowings every 3–4 weeks ensure a constant supply.

• Avoid hot, sunny locations (prefers cool shade).

• Use leaves fresh – drying reduces flavor.