Sow in October

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.

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.

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.

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.

Beetroot 'Chioggia' – Seeds

(Beta vulgaris) – Traditional Italian Heirloom with Striking Rings

Beetroot 'Chioggia' is a famous Italian heirloom variety known for its stunning candy-striped flesh, with alternating pink and white rings. Sweet, mild, and tender, it’s perfect for eating raw in salads to show off its striking appearance, or cooked for a softer, delicate flavor. Easy to grow and quick to mature, it adds both beauty and taste to the garden and kitchen.

Key Features

• Type: Biennial root crop, grown as annual

• Roots: Round, medium-sized with concentric pink and white rings

• Flavor: Sweet, mild, tender texture

• Harvest: Summer to autumn

• Use: Salads, roasting, pickling, juicing

Ideal For

• Unique and decorative salads

• Traditional and gourmet cooking

• Kitchen gardens and allotments

• Beginner-friendly vegetable growing

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–July, thin seedlings as they grow.

• Spacing: 10 cm between plants, 30 cm between rows.

• Soil: Loose, fertile, well-drained soil.

• Sunlight: Full sun for best development.

• Harvest: June–October, when roots reach 5–7 cm in diameter.

Care Tips

• Keep soil moist for tender, juicy roots.

• Thin seedlings early to prevent overcrowding.

• Harvest young for best flavor and color.

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.