Category Archives: Plants & Seeds
Tomato ‘Gartenperle’
A tumbling cherry tomato that is ideal for growing in baskets, containers and windowboxes. Tomato ‘Gartenperle’ produces a heavy crop of delicious deep red cherry sized fruits on cascading stems that won’t require training or sideshooting. This compact bush variety can be grown outdoors or in the greenhouse or conservatory. Height and spread: 30cm (12)
Borage
A beautiful hardy annual herb with rough leaves covered in silvery hairs and the most attractive celestial blue flowers. Nectar rich borage flowers are particularly attractive to pollinating insects, including bees which make distinctive flavoured borage honey. This versatile upright herb has a multitude of uses – add the cucumber flavoured leaves to summer drinks
Parsley ‘Champion Moss Curled’
A selected strain of curled- leaved parsley with a tightly curled, rich green leaf that is ideal for garnishing, and flavouring soups and stews. Try growing parsley indoors, where Parsley ‘Champion Moss Curled’ makes a fine windowsill herb. Height and spread: 30cm (12).
Parsnip ‘Tender and True’
Parsnip Tender & True is probably the best flavoured variety to use for both the kitchen and exhibition. Good canker resistance
Carrot ‘Resistafly’ F1 Hybrid
An F1 Hybrid with the same tolerance to Carrot Root Fly as Carrot ‘Flyaway’, but producing larger, blunt ended, cylindrical roots with a deliciously sweet flavour. Carrot ‘Resistafly’ is a ‘Nantes’ type with good early vigour, a smooth skin and excellent core colour. The uniform 15cm (6) roots store particularly well. Height: 30cm (12). Spread:
Leek ‘Oarsman’ F1 Hybrid
A superb garden variety. Leek Oarsman has good early vigour, bulking up quickly, with dark, erect foliage and uniform pure white, long stems with no sign of bulbing. Midseason maturity with very good rust and bolting tolerance, keeping in good condition over a long period until required for the kitchen
Brussels Sprout ‘Bosworth’ F1 Hybrid
(October-December) British breeding at its best! Maturing before our very popular Trafalgar. Brussels Sprout Bosworth F1 has excellent holding ability, to give firm, smooth dark green, sweet tasting buttons, well spaced on the stem for easy picking. Initial trials show good downy mildew tolerance
Spinach ‘Perpetual’ (Spinach Beet)
If your summer spinach is always running to seed before you manage to get a worthwhile crop off it, then Spinach Perpetual is the variety for you because it virtually never runs to seed in its first season, therefore very good on dry ground. Spinach Perpetual is succulent, prolific and very hardy, suitable for autumn
Wild Rocket
An alternative to the usual Rocket, with deep green, serrated foliage that makes an attractive garnish. Wild Rocket has a stronger flavour than standard Rocket, and the young leaves can be picked in succession and are perfect for salads. Easy to grow. Height 15-20cm (6-8in), prostrate habit
Parsnip ‘Gladiator’ F1 Hybrid
The world’s first hybrid parsnip. Parsnip Gladiator F1 is fast maturing with consistent high quality flesh, silky-smooth white skin. Very good canker resistance and ‘truesweet parsnip flavour. Parsnip Gladiator F1 is excellent for exhibition Sue Sanderson says: The first parsnip I grew – and what a fantastic crop! This canker resistant variety produces long, smooth
Russian Tarragon
Similar to French tarragon, but producing a more vigorous plant. Russian Tarragon produces branching stems of lance-shaped, aromatic foliage can be used for tarragon vinegars, in white sauces and salad dressings, or with chicken, fish and egg dishes. Height: 90cm (36). Spread: 45cm (18).
Turnip ‘Snowball’
A first-class white, globe turnip. Turnip Snowball is early, juicy and sweet flavoured, will yield a good supply from early summer to early winter, and the tops make most nutritious and tasty ‘greens’
Broccoli ‘Belstar’ F1 Hybrid (Calabrese)
Excellent flavoured, well domed, small beaded heads of good colour. Broccoli Belstar F1 keeps in good condition for a long time, producing plenty of side shoots once the centre head is cut. Plant in succession for summer-autumn harvesting. Andrew Tokely says: I always sow this broccoli early in the year and harvest large tasty heads
Celery Lathom Blanching Galaxy
A heavy yielding variety with long stringless sticks of crisp tasty celery. Celery Lathom Self Blanching is reasonably free from bolting it can be sown earlier than other varieties and is also useful for growing in plastic tunnels as well as outdoors
Beetroot ‘Alto’ F1 Hybrid
The first F1 hybrid cylindrical ‘HousewivesChoice Beetroot with the sweetest of flavours. Beetroot Alto F1 has uniform, straight roots which have a smooth rich red skin and flesh colour, free from rings making them easy to prepare. Roots stand proud above the soil, but can be earthed up, and remain in good condition for long
Hyssopus officinalis ‘Tricolour Mixed’
A beautifully aromatic herb with a pungent tang suitable for meat dishes, beans and salads. Hyssop makes an attractive plant for the border where it will attract bees and butterflies. This exclusive blend brings together a pretty mix of blue, pink and white blooms. Height: 60cm (24). Spread: 100cm (39)
Fennel
Fennel may be grown as a herb for its attractive ferny foliage or as a vegetable for its swollen base and stem. With a delicate aniseed flavour the foliage of this hardy perennial makes a tasty addition to salads or as an attractive garnish. With a multitude of uses, fennel can even be used as
Fennel ‘Victorio’ F1 Hybrid
Outstanding yields of large, smooth and pure white bulbs with an enticing and traditional aniseed flavour. Fennel ‘Victorio’ is a newly bred form which has neat foliage and improved resistance to bolting. The foliage of this hardy perennial makes a tasty addition to salads or as an attractive garnish. With a multitude of uses, fennel
Marrow ‘Green Bush’
A very popular variety, early to mature, compact and heavy yielding. The attractive fruits of Marrow Green Bush can be cut at 10-15cm (4-6in) as courgettes or left to mature as marrows. Excellent eaten lightly cooked, freshly picked or suitable for autumn storage. Culinary note: Marrow flowers are edible.
Chives (Chinese)
Garlic chives, or Chinese chives, differ from ordinary chives in having flat leaves and have a delicate mild garlic flavour. They can be used in the same way as chives and are excellent in salads, stews, fish, egg or meat dishes. The flower buds are a Chinese delicacy and can be eaten raw, stir fried
