Sow in May

Winter Broccoli 'Ramoso Calabrese' Seeds (Brassica oleracea)

Enjoy fresh, homegrown broccoli even in the cooler months with Winter Broccoli 'Ramoso Calabrese'. This traditional Italian variety is prized for its tender green shoots and rich, nutty flavor. Perfect for winter cropping, it produces multiple side shoots after the main head is cut, extending your harvest well into the season. A reliable and tasty addition to any winter vegetable garden.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors from March to May or outdoors from April to June.

• Transplant seedlings when large enough, spacing 45–60 cm apart.

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

• Keep plants well-watered during dry spells.

• Harvest main head first, then enjoy repeat harvests from side shoots.

Key Features

• Traditional Italian winter broccoli variety

• Produces tender, nutty-flavored green heads

• Multiple side shoots for extended cropping

• Hardy and reliable in cooler conditions

• Great for steaming, roasting, or stir-fries

Ideal For

• Winter and early spring vegetable gardens

• Gardeners who want extended harvests

• Nutritious, homegrown cooking

• Allotments and kitchen gardens

Sowing

• Best time: March to June

• Depth: 1 cm

• Spacing: 45–60 cm between plants

• Position: Full sun, fertile soil

• Harvest: November to March

Quick Tip

• Cut the central head early to encourage plenty of side shoots for a longer, more abundant harvest.

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.

🌿 Foeniculum vulgare Common Fennel – Aromatic Herb with Feathery Foliage and Edible Seeds

Common Fennel is a classic aromatic perennial herb grown for its feathery, blue-green foliage, yellow umbel flowers, and highly fragrant seeds. With a distinctive sweet aniseed flavour, it is valued in both culinary and medicinal use. The leaves, seeds and young stems are all edible, while the tall, elegant plants add structure to herb gardens, borders and wildlife-friendly plantings.

Key Features

● Aromatic herb with sweet aniseed flavour

● Feathery blue-green foliage and yellow flowers

● Edible leaves and seeds for cooking and teas

● Attractive to bees and beneficial insects

● Decorative and useful herb for gardens

How to Sow & Grow Common Fennel (UK)

Direct sowing recommended – dislikes transplanting

Direct outdoors: IV–VI (April–June)

Harvest: VI–IX (June–September) for leaves, later for seeds

Life cycle: Perennial (often grown as a short-lived perennial or annual)

Germination temperature: 15–20 °C (59–68 °F)

Average germ time: 7–14 days

Depth: 0.5–1 cm (¼–½ in)

Light required: Yes

Moisture: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established

Environment: Full sun

Soil type: Well-drained, light soil

Plant spacing: 30–40 cm (12–16 in)

Height: 120–180 cm (47–71 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Choose a permanent position, as fennel dislikes root disturbance.

● Avoid planting near dill or coriander to prevent cross-pollination.

● Cut leaves regularly to encourage fresh growth.

● Allow flowers to set seed for culinary or herbal use.

● Very low maintenance once established.

Special Features

● Classic culinary and medicinal herb

● Tall, elegant growth with ornamental value

● Excellent pollinator plant

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.

Savoy Cabbage 'Rocket' – Seeds

(Brassica oleracea) – Crisp, Crinkled Leaves & Fast Growth

Savoy Cabbage 'Rocket' is a vigorous, early-maturing variety prized for its tender, crinkled dark-green leaves and compact, dense heads. It delivers a mild, sweet flavor and is ideal for fresh salads, cooking, and steaming. Perfect for home gardens and small-scale cultivation.

Key Features

• Type: Biennial, grown as annual

• Heads: Medium-sized, dense, crinkled dark-green leaves

• Flavor: Mild, sweet, tender

• Harvest: Early to mid-season

• Use: Salads, cooking, steaming, stir-fries, freezing

Ideal For

• Home gardens and allotments

• Early harvest for fresh culinary use

• Succession planting for continuous supply

• Gourmet cooking and healthy meals

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April for transplanting.

• Sow outdoors: March–May for summer harvest.

• Spacing: 45–50 cm between plants, 60–70 cm between rows.

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil with added compost.

• Sunlight: Full sun for best growth.

• Harvest: When heads are firm and well-formed.

Care Tips

• Keep soil consistently moist to prevent splitting.

• Protect seedlings from cabbage root fly and caterpillars.

• Fertilize moderately for dense heads.

Courgette 'Stiato d'Italia' – Seeds (Cucurbita pepo)

Add authentic Italian flavor to your garden with Courgette 'Stiato d'Italia', an heirloom variety renowned for its striped green fruits and tender, sweet flesh. Perfect for summer harvests, these elegant courgettes are ideal for grilling, roasting, stuffing, or fresh salads. Prolific and easy to grow, 'Stiato d'Italia' combines visual appeal with gourmet taste.

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 fruits 15–20 cm long for the best flavor and texture

Key Features

. Italian heirloom zucchini with striking striped green skin
. Tender, mild-flavored flesh for versatile cooking
. Prolific and early-bearing variety
. Perfect for grilling, roasting, stuffing, or salads
. Decorative, uniform fruits ideal for home gardens

Ideal For

. Fresh summer cooking and Italian dishes
. Gardeners seeking unique and attractive courgettes
. Small vegetable beds, allotments, or containers
. Gourmet recipes including stuffed or roasted zucchini

Sowing & Harvest

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

Quick Tip

Harvest regularly when fruits are young and slender to encourage continuous production throughout the season.

🧅 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

Squash 'Queensland Blue' – Seeds (Cucurbita maxima)

Squash 'Queensland Blue' is a robust pumpkin variety producing large, flattened, blue-grey fruits with sweet, golden-orange flesh. Its rich flavor makes it perfect for roasting, soups, stews, and baking. Known for excellent storage qualities, it keeps well throughout the winter months.

Ideal for home gardens, allotments, and vegetable patches, this variety combines high yield with a striking appearance and outstanding taste.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – April

• Sow outdoors: May – June, after last frost

• Depth: 2–3 cm

• Spacing: 100–120 cm between plants

• Position: Full sun, sheltered from strong winds

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

• Watering: Regular and deep, especially during fruiting

Key Features

• Large, flattened blue-grey fruits with sweet, golden-orange flesh

• Excellent for roasting, soups, stews, and baking

• High-yielding and vigorous growth

• Long storage life, ideal for winter use

• Decorative and versatile vegetable

Harvest

• Harvesting period: September – November

• Pick fruits when the skin is hard and fully colored for best storage and flavor.

Short Tip

Leave a few centimeters of stem when harvesting to extend storage life.

🥕 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.