Sow in June

Cucumber 'Marketmore' – Seeds (Cucumis sativus)

Cucumber 'Marketmore' is a classic, reliable outdoor cucumber variety producing dark green, smooth-skinned fruits with crisp texture and excellent flavor. Highly productive and resistant to common diseases, it is perfect for slicing, salads, and fresh eating. Vigorous and easy to grow, ‘Marketmore’ is a favorite among both beginners and experienced gardeners.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: April – May in pots or trays.

• Transplant outdoors: After last frost into a sunny, sheltered spot.

• Sow direct outdoors: May – June, once soil is warm.

• Spacing: 45–60 cm apart in rows or beds.

• Provide regular watering and mulch to keep soil moist.

Key Features

• Classic slicing cucumber variety

• Smooth, dark green, uniform fruits

• Crisp, refreshing flavor

• Heavy cropping and reliable yields

• Resistant to common cucumber diseases

Ideal For

• Outdoor vegetable plots and raised beds

• Fresh summer salads and sandwiches

• Gardeners seeking a tried-and-true cucumber variety

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: April – June

• Harvest: July – September

Quick Tip

Pick fruits regularly to encourage continuous production. Avoid letting cucumbers grow too large for the best taste and texture.

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

🎃 Cucurbita pepo Winter Squash ‘Hungarian Blue’ – Rare Steel-Blue Squash with Sweet, Fine-Textured Flesh

‘Hungarian Blue’ is an unusual and visually striking winter squash producing beautifully ribbed fruits in shades of steel-blue to slate-grey. Inside, the deep orange flesh is sweet, dense, and fine-textured, ideal for roasting, soups, baking, and autumn–winter dishes. Fruits typically weigh 2–4 kg, store extremely well, and develop even better flavour after curing. Vigorous, productive plants thrive in sunny conditions and are well suited to kitchen gardens and allotments.

Key Features

● Rare steel-blue ribbed winter squash

● Sweet, dense, fine-grained orange flesh

● Fruits store well into winter

● Productive and vigorous vines

● Excellent for roasting, soups, baking and purées

How to Sow & Grow Winter Squash ‘Hungarian Blue’ (Cucurbita pepo) – UK

Sow indoors: IV–V (April–May) in pots

Transplant outdoors: V–VI (May–June) once frost danger has passed

Direct outdoors: V–VI (May–June) into warm soil

Harvest: IX–X (September–October)

Germination temperature: 18–24 °C (64–75 °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: Rich, fertile, moisture-retentive soil; add compost before planting

Plant spacing: 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft)

Vine length: 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Start indoors for earlier harvests in cooler climates.

● Mulch well to maintain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

● Feed regularly with high-potash fertiliser during fruiting.

● Allow fruits to fully mature on the vine for best flavour.

● Cure harvested fruits in a warm, airy place for 10–14 days.

Special Features

● Rare heirloom colour — striking steel-blue rind

● Stores exceptionally well, improving in sweetness

● Compact vines compared to many winter squash types

🎃 Cucurbita pepo ‘Patty Pan Mix’ – Colourful Scallop Squash Blend with Tender, Nutty Flavour

‘Patty Pan Mix’ is an attractive blend of scallop-shaped summer squashes in vibrant shades of yellow, white, green, and occasionally bi-colour types. These cheerful, flying-saucer–shaped fruits are harvested young for their tender texture and mild, nutty flavour, perfect for grilling, roasting, stuffing, stir-fries, or adding colour to summer dishes. Plants are compact, fast-growing, and exceptionally productive, providing a continuous supply of fruits throughout the season. Ideal for home gardens, raised beds, and small plots.

Key Features

● Colourful mix of scallop (patty pan) summer squashes

● Tender, nutty flavour when picked young

● Extremely productive and quick to mature

● Compact plants suited for smaller spaces

● Excellent for grilling, roasting and stuffing

How to Sow & Grow ‘Patty Pan Mix’ (Cucurbita pepo) – UK

Sow indoors: IV–V (April–May) in pots

Transplant outdoors: V–VI (May–June) once frost danger has passed

Direct outdoors: V–VI (May–June) into warm soil

Harvest: VII–IX (July–September)

Germination temperature: 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)

Average germ time: 7–14 days

Depth: 2–3 cm (¾–1¼ in)

Light required: Yes

Moisture: Keep evenly moist

Environment: Full sun

Soil type: Rich, fertile, moisture-retentive soil

Plant spacing: 60–90 cm (24–36 in)

Height/Spread: Bush type, 45–60 cm (18–24 in) high, wide-spreading mound

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Harvest when fruits are 5–8 cm (2–3 in) for the best texture and flavour.

● Mulch well to retain soil moisture and reduce weeds.

● Feed regularly once plants begin forming fruits.

● Pick frequently to encourage continuous production.

● Avoid overhead watering to reduce powdery mildew risk.

Special Features

● Vibrant colour mix for gourmet presentation

● Nutty flavour and tender texture when harvested young

● Heavy-cropping plants perfect for summer gardens

Asparagus ‘Mary Washington’ – 60 Seeds (Asparagus officinalis)

Description:
Grow a classic, long-lived perennial vegetable with Asparagus ‘Mary Washington’ (Asparagus officinalis). This heirloom variety is renowned for its high yields of tender, flavorful green spears with slightly purple tips. Ideal for home gardens and allotments, it produces abundant harvests year after year once established. Easy to grow from seed, ‘Mary Washington’ is disease-resistant and perfect for gardeners seeking a reliable, low-maintenance perennial crop.

Key Features

• Heirloom variety producing tender green spears

• Long-lived perennial with high yields

• Excellent flavor and texture

• Disease-resistant and reliable

• Easy to grow from seed

Ideal For

• Home and kitchen gardens

• Allotments and perennial vegetable beds

• Sustainable, long-term food production

• Gardeners seeking low-maintenance crops

Sowing & Growing

• Sow Indoors: February–April

• Transplant Outdoors: May–June

• Germination: 14–21 days at 20–25°C

• Spacing: 30–45 cm apart in rows 1 m apart

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained

Care Tips

• Do not harvest in the first year to allow plants to establish

• Keep soil moist but not waterlogged

• Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds

• Harvest spears in spring from the second or third year

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.

French Mixed Salad – 1000 Seeds (Lactuca sativa)

French Mixed Salad is a versatile, easy-to-grow lettuce mix ideal for fresh, homegrown salads. This collection offers a variety of leaf shapes, colors, and textures, creating a visually appealing and flavorful mix for everyday meals. Fast-growing and tender, it is perfect for cutting and continual harvests throughout the season.

Key Features

• Variety: Mixed leaf types and colors

• Growth Habit: Loose-leaf, fast-growing

• Maturity: 40–60 days

• Flavor: Mild, tender, and crisp

• Use: Fresh salads, garnishes, and sandwiches

• Harvest: Cut-and-come-again for continuous picking

Ideal For

• Home vegetable gardens

• Container and balcony growing

• Continuous harvest for fresh salads

• Mixed salad bowls and culinary use

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–August

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: 15–20 cm

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

• Care: Keep soil consistently moist for tender leaves

🎃 Cucurbita pepo ‘Baby Bear’ – Compact Pumpkin with Perfect Small Fruits for Autumn Displays

‘Baby Bear’ is a popular mini pumpkin variety bred for producing uniform, small-sized fruits with a classic pumpkin shape. The bright orange pumpkins are smooth, well-rounded and typically weigh 0.5–1 kg (1–2 lb), making them ideal for decorative use, children’s growing projects and autumn displays.

Plants are compact and bush-type, requiring much less space than traditional trailing pumpkins, which makes ‘Baby Bear’ especially suitable for small gardens, raised beds and containers. The fruits also have edible flesh and can be used for simple cooking or baking, though they are mainly grown for ornamental purposes.

Key Features

● Small, uniform pumpkins ideal for decoration

● Compact bush plants – space-saving variety

● Bright orange fruits with classic pumpkin shape

● Suitable for gardens, raised beds and containers

● Easy to grow and reliable performer

How to Sow & Grow Pumpkin ‘Baby Bear’ (UK)

Sow indoors: IV (April)

Transplant outdoors: V–VI (May–June) after last frost

Direct outdoors: V–VI (May–June) in warm soil

Harvest: IX–X (September–October)

Life cycle: Annual

Germination temperature: 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)

Average germ time: 7–10 days

Depth: 2–3 cm (1 in)

Light required: Yes

Moisture: Regular watering

Environment: Full sun

Soil type: Fertile, well-drained soil

Plant spacing: 60–80 cm (2–2.5 ft)

Fruit size: approx. 0.5–1 kg (1–2 lb)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Bush habit makes this variety easy to manage.

● Feed regularly to support steady fruit production.

● Harvest when fruits are fully coloured and rind is hard.

● Lift fruits off damp soil to prevent rot.

● Excellent choice for decorative autumn harvests.

Winter Savoy Cabbage 'Vertus 2' – Seeds (Brassica oleracea)

The Winter Savoy Cabbage 'Vertus 2' is a traditional, hardy variety producing large, dense, medium-green heads with attractive crinkled leaves. It is highly reliable for late autumn and winter harvests, offering sweet, tender leaves perfect for both cooking and fresh use.

This variety thrives in colder climates, with excellent frost resistance that enhances its flavor and texture. A top choice for gardeners seeking a dependable winter vegetable.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – May

• Sow outdoors: April – June

• Transplant/Thin: 40–50 cm apart

• Soil: Fertile, firm, moisture-retentive

• Position: Full sun

• Care: Keep soil consistently moist and protect young plants from cabbage pests

Key Features

• Traditional winter savoy cabbage variety

• Large, dense heads with crinkled leaves

• Excellent frost resistance and winter hardiness

• Sweet, tender flavor ideal for cooking

• Reliable and productive for cold seasons

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March – June

• Harvest: October – February