Sow in July

Kohlrabi 'Violeta' – Seeds (Brassica oleracea)

Kohlrabi 'Violeta' is a striking purple-skinned variety with crisp, white flesh and a sweet, nutty taste. Its unique color and mild flavor make it an excellent addition to both the garden and the kitchen. Perfect eaten raw in salads, grated into slaws, or lightly cooked in stir-fries, soups, and roasts.

This fast-growing crop is hardy, reliable, and suitable for multiple sowings throughout the season. Compact plants make it an ideal choice for small gardens, raised beds, or containers.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors/outdoors: March – July

• Depth: 1 cm

• Spacing: 20–25 cm between plants, 30 cm between rows

• Position: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil

• Watering: Keep soil evenly moist to prevent woodiness and splitting

Key Features

• Vibrant purple variety with sweet, crisp white flesh

• Delicious raw or cooked – versatile in salads, stir-fries, and roasts

• Fast-growing and suitable for repeat sowings

• Compact plants – ideal for small gardens and containers

• Attractive crop with ornamental value in the vegetable patch

Harvest

• Harvesting period: May – October

• Pick when bulbs reach 5–8 cm in diameter for the best flavor and texture.

Short Tip

For tender bulbs, avoid letting plants become oversized – harvest regularly.

🧅 Allium cepa Onion ‘Paris Silverskin’ – Classic Small White Pickling Onion with Mild, Sweet Flavour

‘Paris Silverskin’ is a traditional, fast-maturing white onion variety grown especially for small, perfectly round pickling onions. The smooth, silver-white skins and mild, sweet flavour make it ideal for pickling, cocktails, salads, and garnishes. This reliable, early type produces uniform bulbs and is excellent for both kitchen gardens and commercial-style production. Also, suitable for growing as spring onions when harvested young.

Key Features

● Classic small white pickling onion

● Smooth, silvery-white skins and mild flavour

● Early and uniform bulbs

● Suitable for pickling or harvesting young as spring onions

● Reliable, productive variety for beds and containers

How to Sow & Grow Onion ‘Paris Silverskin’ (UK)

Direct outdoors: III–VII (March–July) in fine, well-prepared soil

Harvest: VII–IX (July–September) for small bulbs; earlier for spring onions

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

Average germ time: 10–21 days

Depth: 1 cm (½ in)

Light required: Yes

Moisture: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged

Environment: Full sun

Soil type: Fertile, well-drained soil; avoid fresh manure

Plant spacing: 2–5 cm (1–2 in) for pickling onions; 10 cm (4 in) for larger bulbs

Height: 30–40 cm (12–16 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Thin seedlings early for uniform bulb size.

● Keep beds weed-free — onions dislike competition.

● Water consistently during early growth, less once bulbs swell.

● Harvest when tops fall over and skins begin to dry.

● Excellent for succession sowing for continuous supply.

Special Features

● Perfect for traditional pickled onions

● Early, uniform and ideal for small-space gardens

● Can also be used as spring onions when harvested young

Swede – Seeds (Brassica napus)

Swede (also known as rutabaga or Swedish turnip) is a hardy root vegetable that produces large, round roots with golden-yellow flesh and a sweet, earthy flavor. It is an excellent choice for winter storage and a versatile kitchen staple, ideal for roasting, mashing, stews, and soups.

This traditional cool-season crop is easy to grow, highly nutritious, and a reliable addition to any vegetable garden or allotment.

How to Grow

• Sow outdoors: May – July

• Depth: 1–2 cm

• Spacing: 20 cm apart in rows 40 cm apart

• Position: Full sun

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

• Watering: Keep soil moist during dry spells to avoid woody roots

Key Features

• Traditional root crop with sweet, golden-yellow flesh

• Excellent for roasting, mashing, soups, and stews

• Stores well for use throughout winter

• Hardy and reliable in cooler climates

• Easy to grow with minimal care

Harvest

• Harvesting period: October – February

• Lift roots as needed for fresh use or store for winter months.

Short Tip

Thin seedlings early to give roots space to develop fully.

🥕 Beta vulgaris ‘Burpee’s Golden’ – Vibrant Golden Beetroot with Sweet, Mild Flavour

‘Burpee’s Golden’ is a distinctive heirloom beetroot variety producing rich golden-orange roots with a sweet, mild flavour and smooth, tender texture. Unlike red beets, it does not bleed when sliced or cooked, making it ideal for colourful salads, roasting, pickling, and gourmet dishes. The attractive green tops are also excellent as spinach-like greens. Fast-growing and reliable, this variety performs well in beds, raised beds, and containers.

Key Features

● Golden-orange roots with sweet, mild flavour

● Does not bleed when cut or cooked

● Smooth, tender texture ideal for roasting and salads

● Edible green tops, nutritious and versatile

● Fast-growing and suitable for beds or containers

How to Sow & Grow Beetroot ‘Burpee’s Golden’ (UK)

Direct outdoors: III–VII (March–July)

Harvest: VI–X (June–October)

Germination temperature: 8–25 °C (46–77 °F)

Average germ time: 7–14 days

Depth: 2–3 cm (¾–1¼ in)

Light required: Yes

Moisture: Keep soil evenly moist

Environment: Full sun

Soil type: Light, fertile, well-drained soil; avoid fresh manure

Plant spacing: 10 cm (4 in) between plants; 25–30 cm (10–12 in) between rows

Height: 25–35 cm (10–14 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Thin seedlings early — each seed cluster may contain multiple seeds.

● Harvest young for the sweetest, tender roots.

● Water regularly to avoid woody or tough roots.

● Leaves can be harvested young as nutritious greens.

● Successive sowings ensure continuous cropping.

Beetroot 'Chioggia' – Seeds

(Beta vulgaris) – Traditional Italian Heirloom with Striking Rings

Beetroot 'Chioggia' is a famous Italian heirloom variety known for its stunning candy-striped flesh, with alternating pink and white rings. Sweet, mild, and tender, it’s perfect for eating raw in salads to show off its striking appearance, or cooked for a softer, delicate flavor. Easy to grow and quick to mature, it adds both beauty and taste to the garden and kitchen.

Key Features

• Type: Biennial root crop, grown as annual

• Roots: Round, medium-sized with concentric pink and white rings

• Flavor: Sweet, mild, tender texture

• Harvest: Summer to autumn

• Use: Salads, roasting, pickling, juicing

Ideal For

• Unique and decorative salads

• Traditional and gourmet cooking

• Kitchen gardens and allotments

• Beginner-friendly vegetable growing

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–July, thin seedlings as they grow.

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

• Soil: Loose, fertile, well-drained soil.

• Sunlight: Full sun for best development.

• Harvest: June–October, when roots reach 5–7 cm in diameter.

Care Tips

• Keep soil moist for tender, juicy roots.

• Thin seedlings early to prevent overcrowding.

• Harvest young for best flavor and color.

Tomato 'Yellow Romus' – Seeds (Solanum lycopersicum)

The Tomato 'Yellow Romus' is a productive variety that produces bright yellow, elongated plum-shaped fruits with a mild, sweet flavor. Known for its attractive golden color and meaty texture, this tomato is excellent for fresh eating, sauces, and preserves. A reliable mid-season crop, it’s perfect for greenhouse or outdoor cultivation and adds vibrant color to your tomato harvest.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors from February to April, 0.5 cm deep in trays or pots.

• Keep at 18–22°C until germination.

• Transplant seedlings into larger pots, then outdoors or into a greenhouse after frost has passed.

• Support plants with stakes or canes for best yields.

Key Features

• Elongated, plum-shaped golden yellow fruits

• Mild, sweet, and meaty flavor

• High yields throughout the season

• Suitable for greenhouse or outdoor growing

• Excellent for fresh use, sauces, and preserving

Ideal For

• Fresh salads and snacks

• Homemade sauces and preserves

• Bright, colorful vegetable gardens

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February to April

• Plant out: May to June

• Harvest: July to September

Quick Tip

• For the sweetest flavor, allow fruits to ripen fully on the vine before harvesting.

🥬 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

Cauliflower 'Octavian' – Seeds (Brassica oleracea)

Cauliflower 'Octavian' is a reliable mid-season variety producing large, firm, creamy-white heads with a mild, delicate flavor. Ideal for steaming, roasting, soups, and gratins, it is a versatile addition to any vegetable garden.

This hardy variety performs well in a range of soils, offers excellent disease resistance, and is suitable for home gardens, allotments, and small-scale cultivation.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April

• Transplant outdoors: April – June

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: 40–50 cm between plants, rows 60–70 cm apart

• Position: Full sun, sheltered from strong winds

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

• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist for optimal head development

Key Features

• Mid-season cauliflower with large, firm, creamy-white heads

• Mild, tender flavor suitable for steaming, roasting, soups, and gratins

• High-yielding and reliable growth

• Excellent disease resistance

• Ideal for home gardens, allotments, and small-scale cultivation

Harvest

• Harvesting period: July – September

• Harvest heads when compact and firm to ensure the best flavor and texture.

Short Tip

Blanch the heads by folding outer leaves over them to maintain whiteness and protect from sunburn.