Sow in May

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.

Cauliflower 'Romanesco Natalino' – Seeds (Brassica oleracea)

Cauliflower ‘Romanesco Natalino’ is an extraordinary Italian heirloom, admired for its striking spiral, lime-green heads with a unique fractal pattern. More than just a showpiece, this variety is nutritious, delicious, and versatile – offering a slightly nutty, delicate flavor that works well roasted, steamed, or enjoyed raw in salads. Highly ornamental yet productive, it’s a standout addition to any vegetable garden.

How to Grow

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

• Sow outdoors: May – June, directly into well-prepared soil.

• Transplant: Harden off young plants and set them 60 cm apart in fertile ground.

• Position: Full sun, rich, firm soil with good drainage.

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

Key Features

• Stunning lime-green spiral florets

• Mild, nutty flavor – more delicate than standard cauliflower

• Traditional Italian variety

• Attractive and productive crop

Ideal For

• Kitchen gardens and allotments

• Chefs and home cooks looking for something unique

• Roasting, steaming, or eating raw

• Eye-catching centerpiece in vegetable beds

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February – June

• Harvest: September – November

Quick Tip

For the best curds, ensure consistent watering and feed with a high-potassium fertiliser as heads develop.

Autumn Leek 'October' – Seeds (Allium porrum)

Autumn Leek 'October' is a hardy, slow-growing variety ideal for autumn and winter harvests. Producing long, thick, pale stems with mild, sweet flavor, it is perfect for soups, stews, quiches, and braised dishes.

Reliable and robust, this variety tolerates frost well, making it a staple for late-season vegetable gardens, raised beds, and allotments.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – March

• Transplant outdoors: May – June

• Depth: 1–2 cm

• Spacing: 15–20 cm between plants, rows 30–40 cm apart

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained, enriched with compost

• Watering: Keep soil moist, avoid waterlogging

Key Features

• Hardy leek variety for autumn and winter harvest

• Long, thick, pale stems with mild, sweet flavor

• Excellent for soups, stews, quiches, and braised dishes

• Frost-tolerant and reliable in cold weather

• Suitable for home gardens, raised beds, and allotments

Harvest

• Harvesting period: October – February

• Pull leeks when stems are thick and firm; can overwinter in the ground with light mulching.

Short Tip

Blanch stems by mounding soil around them in late summer for longer, tender white stems.

Batavian Lettuce 'Canasta' – Seeds (Lactuca sativa)

Enjoy crisp and tender leaves with Batavian Lettuce 'Canasta', a traditional variety known for its red-tinted, crinkled heads and excellent bolt resistance. This semi-heading lettuce produces large, crunchy leaves with a mild, sweet flavor, perfect for fresh salads or as a base for summer dishes. Hardy and versatile, 'Canasta' thrives even in warmer weather, making it a reliable choice for gardeners.

How to Grow

. Sow indoors from February to April or directly outdoors from March to July
. Sow thinly, 0.5 cm deep, in rows 25–30 cm apart
. Thin seedlings to 20–25 cm apart to allow full head development
. Prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soil
. Water consistently to prevent bitterness and promote tender leaves

Key Features

. Traditional Batavian lettuce with semi-heading form
. Large, crisp leaves with red-tinged edges
. Mild, sweet flavor perfect for fresh salads
. Excellent bolt resistance in warm conditions
. Easy to grow and high yielding

Ideal For

. Summer salads and fresh eating
. Home gardens and allotments
. Gardeners seeking heat-tolerant lettuce
. Companion planting in vegetable beds

Sowing & Harvest

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

Quick Tip

Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage continuous growth, or allow full heads to form for a crunchy centerpiece lettuce.

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

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

Artichoke ‘Violet de Provence’ – Seeds

(Cynara cardunculus) – Perennial Globe Artichoke

The ‘Violet de Provence’ is a classic French heirloom artichoke renowned for its beautiful purple-tinged flower heads and gourmet flavor. This perennial vegetable produces compact, tender buds that can be harvested young as a delicacy or left to bloom into striking thistle-like flowers for the pollinators. Hardy and long-lived, it is both ornamental and productive, making it a superb choice for kitchen gardens and edible landscapes.

Key Features

• Type: Perennial vegetable

• Heads: Purple-tinged, compact, tender

• Flavor: Rich, nutty, gourmet quality

• Height: 120–150 cm

• Position: Full sun, sheltered spot

• Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained

Ideal For

• Gourmet vegetable gardens

• Edible landscaping and ornamental borders

• Cutting gardens (flowers can be dried)

• Mediterranean-style gardening

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April, in pots or trays.

• Plant out: May, after the last frost, spacing 90–100 cm apart.

• Harvest: From the second year, June–August.

Care Tips

• Mulch well to retain soil moisture.

• Remove side shoots for larger main heads.

• Protect crowns in winter with straw or fleece in colder climates.