One of the favourite fruits of the temperate world, blackcurrants produce numerous clumps of sweet, juicy, black fruits, heavily laden with vitamin C and countless other good vitamins, which are unbeatable for jams and juices. These ready-stratified seeds were harvested from some of the best cultivars in the world. Habits will vary a little but all plants will produce several kilograms of fruit when established. The dried leaves are sometimes used to make tea. These valuable plants are also amazingly hardy, surviving to below minus 40 F (which coincidentally is minus 40 C), with little problem. Their main competitor for vitamin C production, the lemon tree, is long dead at this temperature. Prune very old wood back occasionally and these plants will give fruit for very many years. ... Learn More

This early fruiting (in UK conditions) hot pepper produces 30-50 distinctive fang-like fruits. The "fangs" are about 6cm long and change colour from dark green to purple to red but can be harvested at the dark purple stage. The flavour is like a cayenne pepper and can be chopped for cooking or dehydrated and ground into chili powder. It has a score of 71,500 Schoville units so is hot but not extreme. ... Learn More

A most attractive, rare and ornamental heavy cropping pepper with lovely purple flowers, producing delicious flavoured, ornamental black fruit which resemble mussels, and which ripen to red. (75 days from transplanting. Heat-3) ... Learn More

A sweet and mild, very hardy winter radish with snowy-white succulent flesh and a near black skin which lacks the fieriness found so often in summer varieties. It has likely been grown since at least the 16th Century. ... Learn More

If you hate being scratched whilst collecting blackberries, this is the one for you. This quite amazing variation bears smooth, shiny, thorn-free stems carrying countless bunches of sweet, juicy black berries. ... Learn More

This drought-resistant gardeners' favourite produces a high yield of string-less full flavoured beans which retain their sweet taste and tender texture when cooked or they may be used in summer salads when used raw. If left on the plant their dried white seeds can be used as haricot beans. ... Learn More

A traditional French winter heirloom that is hardy and cold-resistant as well as being an attractive addition to the cottage garden. The flags are blue-green which turn violet after a cold spell whilst the shanks are thick/medium length. ... Learn More

Boltardy can be sown earlier in the year than all others, then right through to mid summer and is slow to run to seed. Yielding perfect, globe-shaped beets of superb flavour and colour. Young leaves can be used for baby leaf production. RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. ... Learn More

This kale variety has a deep red textured leaf and a striking pink mid vein running through the leaf and can function as an attractive ornamental addition to the vegetable plot. A versatile variety that is suitable for multi-cut production. Best suited to baby leaf but will also work well as a mature plant. ... Learn More

An improved Supremo Nano type, this dwarf Borlotto variety produces a heavy crop of colourful beans. Good vigour even in unfavourable conditions; early to mature. Pods typically 16-18cm long and predominantly red in colour, with 8-9 beans per pod. Resistant to BCMV. ... Learn More

The attractive oval aubergine fruit of this rare variety are borne in heavy clusters on bushy habit, very productive, erect plants with dark green foliage that provides plenty of cover from the sun to prevent sun-scald. Despite the name, the fruit colour changes from green through orange to scarlet. Another aubergine variety which is often grown ornamentally. ... Learn More

A very, very high yielding, dwarf heirloom plant absolutely dripping with big clusters of small, crunchy fruits that look just like carrots but have a spicy, fiery bite! Perfect for containers or greenhouse. (75 days from transplanting. Heat-4) ... 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

A yellow, flat podded Romano type bean. Vigorous plant with even pod set. Pods typically 15cm in length, by 2cm wide. Pod colour develops at early stage. Plant typically 50cm in height. ... Learn More

Also known as meridian fennel, or Persian cumin, this ancient plant is native to western Asia, Europe and Northern Africa. Very similar in appearance to other members of the carrot family, it has finely divided, feathery leaves with thread-like divisions, whilst the main flower stem bears umbels of white or pink flowers. The seeds (or more correctly, fruits), usually used whole, have a pungent, aniseed-like flavour and aroma that comes from essential oils, mostly carvone and limonene and they are often used as a spice in breads, especially rye bread. It is also used in desserts, liquors, casseroles and curries. It is commonly used in British caraway seed cake and is also added to sauerkraut and Akvavit and several liqueurs are also made with it. The roots may be cooked like parsnips or carrots and the leaves are sometimes eaten raw or cooked. Caraway also has a long tradition of medical uses, primarily for stomach complaints, as most babies who have been given 'gripe water' will know. ... Learn More