Sow in May

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 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

Winter Leek ‘Elephant’ – 400 Seeds

(Allium porrum) – Giant Winter Leek

The Winter Leek ‘Elephant’ is a traditional variety producing thick, tall stems with excellent cold tolerance, making it perfect for harvesting right through the winter months. With its mild, sweet onion-like flavor and robust size, it is a reliable crop for the kitchen garden. Ideal for soups, stews, roasting, and classic leek dishes.

Key Features

• Type: Winter-hardy leek

• Stems: Thick, long, and upright

• Flavor: Mild, sweet, and tender

• Harvest period: November to March

• Position: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained, moisture-retentive

Ideal For

• Winter harvesting and extended cropping

• Soups, stews, casseroles, and roasting

• Kitchen gardens, allotments, and small farms

• Cold-climate vegetable production

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: January–March in modules or seed trays.

• Sow outdoors: March–April in a prepared seedbed.

• Transplant: May–June, spacing 15 cm apart in rows 30–40 cm apart.

• Harvest: From late autumn through to early spring.

Care Tips

• Earth up around stems to blanch them and keep them tender.

• Keep soil moist during dry spells.

• Rotate crops yearly to avoid onion pests and diseases.

Wild Marjoram – Oregano – Seeds (Origanum vulgare)

Wild Marjoram (Oregano) is a hardy perennial herb cherished for its fragrant leaves and delicate pink-purple flowers. A staple of Mediterranean cooking, oregano adds a rich, earthy flavor to pizzas, pasta, sauces, and roasted vegetables. Beyond the kitchen, its nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies, making it a wonderful addition to herb gardens, borders, and pollinator-friendly spaces.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – May in seed trays or pots.

• Transplant outdoors: After the last frost in a sunny, well-drained spot.

• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart.

• Oregano prefers light, well-drained soil and thrives in warm, sunny conditions.

Key Features

• Aromatic herb essential for Mediterranean cuisine

• Hardy perennial, easy to grow

• Attracts bees and butterflies with summer blooms

• Suitable for pots, containers, or borders

• Drought-tolerant once established

Ideal For

• Culinary herb gardens

• Fresh or dried use in cooking

• Pollinator-friendly borders

• Container growing on patios or balconies

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March – May

• Harvest: June – October (leaves can be harvested fresh or dried)

Quick Tip

For the most intense flavor, harvest oregano leaves just before flowering, and dry them in a cool, airy place.

White Courgette Italian Zucchini 'Bianca di Trieste' – Seeds (Cucurbita pepo)

Discover the elegant 'Bianca di Trieste' zucchini, an Italian heirloom variety known for its pale, ivory-white fruits with a delicate, tender flesh and mild flavor. Ideal for summer gardens, this prolific plant produces slender, uniform courgettes perfect for sautéing, grilling, stuffing, or adding a gourmet touch to salads and pasta dishes. A true classic for chefs and home gardeners alike.

How to Grow

. Sow indoors: March – May, 1–2 cm deep in pots
. Transplant outdoors: After last frost, spacing 70–90 cm apart
. Sow outdoors: May – June in fertile, well-drained soil
. Prefers full sun and regular watering
. Harvest: 15–20 cm long for the best flavor and texture

Key Features

. Italian heirloom zucchini with ivory-white skin
. Tender, mild-flavored flesh ideal for cooking
. Prolific and early-yielding variety
. Perfect for grilling, stuffing, sautéing, or salads
. Decorative and uniform fruits

Ideal For

. Gourmet summer cooking
. Home vegetable gardens and allotments
. Fresh eating or light cooking
. Chefs and garden enthusiasts seeking unique zucchini varieties

Sowing & Harvest

. Sow: March – June
. Harvest: June – September

Quick Tip

Harvest young for the most tender flavor and to encourage continuous fruit production throughout summer.

Curly Kale 'Sympatic' – Seeds (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica)

The Curly Kale 'Sympatic' is a vigorous and reliable kale variety, known for its decorative, tightly curled green leaves and excellent winter hardiness. This hardy leafy green thrives in cooler weather and can be harvested for many months, making it a staple crop for any kitchen garden.

Kale 'Sympatic' has a sweet, mild flavor that improves after the first frosts, when the leaves become more tender and less bitter. Perfect for soups, stews, stir-fries, smoothies, or simply steamed as a healthy side. The upright plants are also highly ornamental, adding texture and vibrant color to vegetable beds and borders.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – May

• Sow outdoors: April – June, thinly in rows 1 cm deep

• Transplant/Thin: 45 cm apart when seedlings are large enough

• Position: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost

• Care: Water regularly and protect young plants from cabbage pests

Key Features

• Hardy curly kale with decorative, ruffled leaves

• Reliable growth and long cropping season

• Flavour sweetens after frost

• Nutrient-rich superfood, packed with vitamins A, C, and K

• Great for winter harvests when little else grows

Harvest

• Harvesting period: October – March

• Pick outer leaves regularly, allowing the plant to continue producing throughout winter.

Short Tip

For the sweetest flavor, leave plants in the ground until after the first frosts – the cold enhances the natural sugars in the leaves.

Vegetable Sponge – Seeds (Luffa cylindrica)

Grow your own natural sponges with Luffa cylindrica, also known as the vegetable sponge or loofah. This fascinating gourd plant produces long green fruits that, when matured and dried, reveal a fibrous interior perfect for eco-friendly sponges, bath accessories, and natural scrubbers. Young fruits can also be cooked and eaten like courgettes. A rewarding and unique plant for gardeners who love trying something different.

How to Grow

. Sow indoors in April, 1–2 cm deep in pots of moist compost, keeping them warm (20–25°C)
. Transplant outdoors or into a greenhouse after the last frost, spacing 60–90 cm apart
. Requires full sun, warmth, and rich, well-drained soil
. Support with trellis or canes for climbing vines
. Harvest young fruits for eating, or allow to mature fully for sponges

Key Features

. Produces natural loofah sponges when dried
. Young fruits edible, similar to courgettes
. Vigorous climbing plant with long vines
. Thrives in warm, sunny conditions
. Unique and sustainable garden crop

Ideal For

. Eco-friendly bath and kitchen sponges
. Gardeners who enjoy unusual crops
. Warm gardens, greenhouses, or polytunnels
. DIY natural skincare and household uses

Sowing & Harvest

. Sow: April – May
. Harvest: August – October (young fruits) or later for mature loofahs

Quick Tip

For sponges, leave fruits on the plant until skins turn yellow and dry, then peel to reveal the fibrous loofah inside.

Cucumber ‘Jogger’ F1 – Seeds (Cucumis sativus)

Cucumber ‘Jogger’ F1 is a high-quality hybrid variety bred for excellent yields and superb taste. Producing smooth, dark green fruits around 18–20 cm long, this cucumber is perfect for slicing, salads, and fresh snacking. Its vigorous plants offer a long harvest window with strong resistance to common cucumber diseases, making it a reliable choice for gardeners.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: April – May in pots at 20–25°C.

• Transplant to greenhouse or outdoors after last frost.

• Plant spacing: 60 cm between plants.

• Prefers fertile, well-drained soil and consistent watering.

• Train plants up supports or trellis for best results.

Key Features

• F1 hybrid – uniform, high-yielding plants

• Smooth, dark green fruits (18–20 cm long)

• Crisp texture and refreshing taste

• Excellent disease resistance

• Suitable for greenhouse or outdoor growing

Ideal For

• Fresh salads and healthy snacking

• Home gardens and allotments

• Continuous summer harvests

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: April – May

• Harvest: June – September

Quick Tip

Feed regularly with a tomato fertilizer once fruiting begins to encourage heavy cropping.

Turnip 'Snowball' – Seeds (Brassica rapa)

Grow crisp, tender, and sweet Turnip 'Snowball', a classic variety known for its round, white roots and mild flavor. Ideal for roasting, steaming, or fresh in salads, this easy-to-grow turnip is perfect for home gardens, allotments, and container planting. Quick to mature, it provides a reliable harvest of uniform, flavorful roots throughout the season.

How to Grow

. Sow outdoors: March – July, 1–2 cm deep in rows 30 cm apart
. Thin seedlings to 8–10 cm apart for proper root development
. Prefers fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade
. Keep soil consistently moist for tender, sweet roots
. Harvest: 50–60 days after sowing, when roots are 5–8 cm in diameter

Key Features

. Classic white round turnip with mild, sweet flavor
. Quick-maturing and easy-to-grow
. Ideal for roasting, steaming, or fresh salads
. Produces uniform, tender roots
. Suitable for home gardens, allotments, and containers

Ideal For

. Fresh eating, roasting, and steaming
. Gardeners seeking reliable, fast-growing root vegetables
. Succession sowing for continuous harvest
. Companion planting with peas, onions, or cabbage

Sowing & Harvest

. Sow: March – July
. Harvest: May – September

Quick Tip

For tender, flavorful roots, harvest turnips promptly when they reach 5–8 cm; leaving them too long can result in woody texture.