A traditional English favourite, this reliable iceberg lettuce has large crumpled outer leaves and a robust centre of crisp white leaf. Stands well in hot weather, is slow to bolt, and copes well whether the summer is wet or dry. ... Learn More

One of the most beautiful lettuces you can grow with bright green cupped leaves splashed with rosy-red, this butterhead type makes a visual and flavourful splash in the salad bowl. The succulent leaves are superb, buttery and mild, the loose heads grow to around 30cm across and can be harvested in about 55 days. This lovely heirloom came from a peasant family in Marburg, Yugoslavia (now Slovenia). ... Learn More

These famous berries have been popular not only because of their delicious sweet, sour taste but also because of their high level of benzoic acid, which is a natural compound that conserves products made with lingonberries. Lingonberries contain many other healthy compounds, such as antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. As well as vitamin C, studies suggest that the high levels of antioxidants compared to other berries can limit the negative effects of eating high-fat food. The berries also contain tannins, which can have an effect on urinary tract disorders, and like cranberries, lingonberrie ... Learn More

This lovely cross between a raspberry and blackberry has fruit which is slightly longer and fatter than a raspberry with a juicier and stronger flavour. These sturdy plants, more disease and frost resistant than many other berry hybrids, usually produce fruit throughout June, July, August and September. The large berries should be allowed to darken to a deep red or pale purple colour before picking to obtain the best-flavoured fruit. They are undemanding, easy to grow, and continue to fruit for many years. Seedlings may give slightly different but equally tasty fruits so expect the odd delici ... Learn More

Making mature trees laden with fruit in warmer climates, (there are NOT the normal large oranges!) these smaller-fruiting plants also make attractive pot plants in colder climates, when they will produce fragrant orange blossom, followed by sweet fruit if kept warm. Mandarin is the blanket term for this group of fruiting trees, but is mainly used outside the USA, and the name Tangerine is the English word for the Mandarin. There are several groups of Mandarins, and the most desirable one is the Satsuma which is also the easiest to peel due to its loose leathery skin. These seeds have been coll ... Learn More

An attractive baby marrow which only grows to three quarters the size of a normal marrow. The bush habit and relatively small size, but high yield, make it an ideal choice for growing in tubs or containers. ... Learn More

This ancient hardy fruit looks like a cross between a small apple and a huge rosehip and when ripe is surprisingly hard and green. They must be picked at this stage, but are not edible until they have become fully ripened or even half rotten or ‘bletted’, (what an ancient word!) when they turn brown, soft and edible! In olden times they were stored in sawdust or bran in a cool dark place until they had developed an aromatic flavour. Very few of the extremely large, woody fertile seeds are ever produced. ... Learn More

This heirloom melon, first grown in 1881 in the greenhouses of England's Blenheim Palace, have thin, finely-netted skins and thick, fragrant orange flesh. It is just the right size (up to 2lb) for one or two servings and is perfect for smoothies. It grows well in short season climates. ... Learn More

Cucumis melo, commonly known as Cantaloupe, is a delicious and popular melon variety appreciated for its sweet and juicy orange flesh. Belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, Cantaloupe is a warm-season fruit that thrives in well-drained, sandy soils with plenty of sunlight. The Cantaloupe fruit is round to oval in shape and typically weighs several pounds when mature. Its thick, netted rind is beige to tan, and the prominent netting or webbing on the skin distinguishes it from other melon varieties. The fruit's interior is where its true allure lies. The flesh is juicy, aromatic, and ranges in ... Learn More

Charentais is one of the easier varieties to grow and perfect for the novice gardener producing very early fruits weighing approximately 1kg. It has a fragrant, thick, extremely sweet and juicy, deep orange flesh. Best grown in the greenhouse in the UK but also particularly suitable for cloche culture. ... Learn More

Galia melons will grow perfectly well in a dry climate, especially on well-draining sandy soil, but early on, the crop requires some moisture in the soil to flourish. Like other melons, it runs along the soil surface as a trailing vine. It grows in a round shape, and is conspicuous by the raised pattern of fine netting on its rough skin. At maturity, it attains 4-6 inches in diameter and usually weighs about 2 to 3 lbs. Inside, the succulent pale green flesh is juicy, and has a soft consistency with a sweet, musky aroma that emanates best in the completely ripe fruits. In addition, it is rich ... Learn More

This is one of the easier varieties to grow, producing sizeable early fruits weighing up to 3kg. With fragrant, thick, extremely sweet and juicy flesh, it has a small seed cavity and light green flesh. The wonderful, vine-ripened flavour of this very sweet, juicy melon is almost wine-like. Best grown in the greenhouse in the UK but is also particularly suitable for cloche culture. ... Learn More

Muskmelon Malaga F1 is a rampant plant, which is resistant to mildew and produces almost perfectly round orange fruit with a characteristic net-like pattern on its skin. The deep orange flesh is thick, juicy and sweet with an aromatic taste. ... Learn More

A very early-maturing plant, producing many small, delicious-flavoured fruits of 4 to 5 inches in diameter. An excellent 'designer' American melon, developed at the University of Minnesota around 1948. ... Learn More

An almost perfectly spherical melon with gentle grooves running from end to end. This popular variety in Israel from ancient Indian/Persian stock, where its name means "anchor". The flesh is pale green with a light orange he around the seed cavity and has a rich aromatic flavour which ensures its enduring popularity. ... Learn More