Sow in May

Indian Corn ‘Flint’ – Seeds (Zea mays)

Indian Corn ‘Flint’ (Zea mays) is a decorative maize variety prized for its multicolored kernels, ranging from deep reds and purples to golds and blues. Ideal for autumn displays, harvest decorations, and ornamental garden planting, this hardy annual also produces tall, striking stalks that add vertical interest to your garden. Easy to grow in fertile, well-drained soil, it’s a perfect combination of beauty and traditional charm.

Why Grow "Flint"

• Multicolored kernels for decorative harvest displays

• Tall, striking stalks for vertical interest in the garden

• Hardy and easy-to-grow annual

• Perfect for ornamental planting and autumn decoration

Key Features

• Type: Annual (Zea mays)

• Height: 150–200 cm

• Flowering/Fruiting: Summer to early autumn

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Ornamental garden planting, autumn décor, harvest displays

Ideal For

• Autumn garden color and harvest decorations

• Tall vertical interest in borders or vegetable plots

• Educational planting and children’s gardens

• Ornamental and pollinator-friendly garden displays

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: April–May directly in fertile soil

• Germination: 7–14 days at 20–25°C

• Space plants: 25–30 cm apart in rows 60–75 cm apart

• Prefers fertile, well-drained soil in full sun

• Water regularly until established

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.

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.

Pumpkin 'Golias' – Seeds

(Cucurbita pepo) – Giant, Decorative & Edible Pumpkin

Pumpkin 'Golias' is an impressive giant pumpkin variety, producing extra-large, round fruits with smooth orange skin. Known for its huge size and vigorous growth, it makes a real garden showpiece while also being delicious in soups, bakes, and pies. Perfect for competitions, carving, or autumn displays.

Key Features

• Type: Annual fruiting vegetable

• Fruit size: Extra-large, giant pumpkins

• Skin: Smooth orange

• Flavor: Mild, sweet flesh suitable for cooking

• Harvest: Late summer to autumn

• Use: Cooking, carving, decoration, competitions

Ideal For

• Giant vegetable growing

• Autumn harvest festivals & carving

• Cooking soups, pies, and bakes

• Impressive garden displays

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: April–May, 2–3 cm deep in pots.

• Transplant outdoors: Late May–June, after last frost.

• Direct sowing: From mid-May, 2–3 cm deep.

• Spacing: 1–1.5 m between plants.

• Soil: Rich, fertile, well-drained with compost/manure.

• Harvest: September–October, when skins harden.

Care Tips

• Requires full sun and plenty of water.

• Feed regularly for maximum fruit size.

• Protect from frost – harvest before first frost arrives.

Celeriac ‘Albin’ – Seeds (Apium graveolens)

Celeriac ‘Albin’ is a dependable variety producing smooth, round roots with creamy white flesh and excellent flavor. Known for its tender texture and mild, nutty taste, this versatile root vegetable is perfect for mashing, roasting, soups, and salads. A slow-growing but hardy crop, it thrives in cooler climates and stores well through winter.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April in trays or modules at 18–20°C.

• Transplant outdoors: May, spacing 30 cm apart in rows 40 cm apart.

• Prefers fertile, moisture-retentive soil in full sun.

• Keep well-watered during dry spells to encourage large, smooth roots.

Key Features

• Smooth, round roots with white flesh

• Nutty, mild flavor for versatile cooking

• Good storage qualities for winter use

• Reliable variety for cool climates

Ideal For

• Mashing, roasting, and soups

• Winter storage and seasonal dishes

• Home gardens and allotments

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February – April

• Harvest: October – December

Quick Tip

Remove side shoots during the season to focus the plant’s energy on swelling the root.

🎃 Cucurbita maxima Winter Squash ‘Burgess Buttercup’ – Sweet, Dense, Nutty Flesh with Excellent Winter Storage

‘Burgess Buttercup’ is a classic heirloom winter squash producing dark green, turban-shaped fruits with a distinctive grey “button” on top. The rich orange flesh is exceptionally sweet, dense, smooth and nutty, making it one of the best varieties for roasting, soups, mashing, and baking. Each fruit typically weighs 1.5–2.5 kg (3–5 lb) and stores extremely well through winter. Vigorous vines produce reliable yields and thrive in warm, sunny positions.

Key Features

● Exceptionally sweet, dense, nutty orange flesh

● Excellent winter storage variety

● Vigorous vines with high productivity

● Ideal for roasting, soups, baking, and purées

How to Sow & Grow Winter Squash ‘Burgess Buttercup’ (Cucurbita maxima) – 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) in warm, prepared soil

Harvest: IX–X (September–October)

Germination temperature: 20–25 °C (68–77 °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: Rich, fertile, moisture-retentive soil

Plant spacing: 1.5–2 m (5–6.5 ft)

Vine length: 2–3 m (6.5–10 ft)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Start indoors for earlier fruit set, especially in cooler regions.

● Mulch generously to retain moisture and support large fruits.

● Feed regularly once vines begin running.

● Harvest when rind hardens and the stem becomes corky.

● Cure fruits for 10–14 days in a warm, airy place to improve storage.

Special Features

● Outstanding winter keeper with rich gourmet flavour

● Dense, dry flesh perfect for roasting and baking

Squash 'Marina di Chioggia' – Seeds (Cucurbita maxima)

The 'Marina di Chioggia' squash is a traditional Italian heirloom variety, prized for its rugged, dark green, warty skin and rich, sweet orange flesh. Originating from the coastal town of Chioggia near Venice, this unique pumpkin has been a staple in Italian markets for centuries and is still beloved today for its superb flavor in soups, gnocchi, risottos, and baking.

Its fruits are typically 3–5 kg, round, and deeply ribbed, with a long storage life that makes them excellent for use throughout the winter months. A true standout in the garden and kitchen alike!

How to Grow

. Sow indoors: April – May in pots, 2–3 cm deep
. Transplant outdoors: Late May – June, after frost risk has passed
. Sow outdoors: May – June, directly in the ground
. Spacing: 1 m apart in rich, well-drained soil
. Harvest: September – October, when fruits are fully ripened

Key Features

. Italian heirloom pumpkin with striking warty skin
. Fruits weigh 3–5 kg, perfect for storage
. Sweet, dense, orange flesh – ideal for roasting, soups & baking
. Long-keeping winter squash
. Traditional variety still popular in Venice markets

Ideal For

. Traditional and heritage vegetable gardens
. Chefs and home cooks seeking authentic Italian flavors
. Long-term winter storage
. Eye-catching display in kitchen gardens and autumn harvests

Sowing & Harvesting

. Sow: April – June
. Harvest: September – October

Quick Tip

For best results, feed regularly with compost or organic fertilizer and allow fruits to ripen fully on the vine for maximum sweetness.

Onion Tosca – 80 Seeds (Allium cepa)

Description:
Grow flavorful, versatile onions with Onion Tosca (Allium cepa). This high-quality variety produces medium-sized, firm bulbs with a mild, slightly sweet taste. Ideal for salads, cooking, and pickling, Tosca onions are easy to grow from seed and suitable for kitchen gardens, raised beds, and allotments. Resistant to common diseases, they offer reliable harvests throughout the season.

Key Features

• Medium-sized, firm bulbs with mild, sweet flavor

• Suitable for salads, cooking, and pickling

• Disease-resistant and reliable variety

• Easy to grow from seed

• Ideal for home and small-scale gardens

Ideal For

• Kitchen gardens and raised beds

• Culinary use: raw, cooked, or pickled

• Allotments and small vegetable plots

• Home gardeners seeking reliable onions

Sowing & Growing

• Sow Indoors: February–March

• Transplant Outdoors: April–May, after frost

• Germination: 10–14 days at 15–20°C

• Spacing: 10–15 cm apart in rows 25–30 cm apart

• Height: 30–40 cm

• Light: Full sun

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

Care Tips

• Water regularly but avoid waterlogging

• Thin seedlings to prevent overcrowding

• Fertilize lightly during growth

• Harvest when bulbs are firm and tops begin to yellow

Corn ‘Strawberry’ Popping – Seeds (Zea japonica)

Corn ‘Strawberry’ Popping (Zea japonica) is a unique and colorful popping corn variety, known for its small, pinkish-red kernels that produce delicious, fluffy popcorn. Easy to grow, this hardy annual thrives in fertile, well-drained soil with full sun exposure. Perfect for home gardens, educational planting, or novelty popcorn at harvest, it also produces tall, attractive stalks that add vertical interest to borders and vegetable plots.

Why Grow "Strawberry" Popping

• Pinkish-red kernels for fun, colorful popcorn

• Hardy, easy-to-grow annual

• Tall, attractive stalks for vertical garden interest

• Perfect for edible harvest, home gardens, and educational projects

Key Features

• Type: Annual (Zea japonica)

• Height: 120–150 cm

• Flowering/Fruiting: Summer to early autumn

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Edible popcorn, ornamental planting, educational gardening

Ideal For

• Home gardens and backyard harvest

• Educational planting for children and schools

• Ornamental garden display with tall stalks

• Unique popcorn for novelty harvests

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: April–May in fertile, well-drained soil

• Germination: 7–14 days at 20–25°C

• Space plants: 25–30 cm apart in rows 60–75 cm apart

• Water regularly until established