This traditional favourite, named after a small island off the Scottish coast, has a distinctive globe shape with straw coloured skin and white flesh. The bulbs can grow very large and be used for exhibition, while their tolerance to cool weather while growing makes them very reliable. ... Learn More

All Seasons Salad is a 'cut-and-come-again' mix of various Chinese leaves, Iceberg lettuces and Radicchio and Frisee leaves. Perfect for growing on the kitchen windowsill to provide delicious baby leaves all year round. ... Learn More

A popular, versatile variety, ideal for successional sowing, which produces large velvety-white, well protected heads with an exceptional flavour. These are great for shows, freezing or eating fresh from the garden as they retain their flavour when boiled or steamed. ... Learn More

Tasting somewhat like a Golden Delicious, because they are related, these apples are excellent for both eating and baking. Originally developed in New Zealand, this apple is now grown extensively in the United States since its introduction in the 1970s and is now the second most popular apple in the world. Important, you will not grow identical apples from these seeds, as fruits produced can vary greatly, but you should get a lovely new cultivar as new varieties are produced by growing large numbers of seedlings and choosing the best! ... Learn More

A delicious late-ripening apple originally discovered as a seedling growing on the large Penn Inn roundabout at the entrance to our market town of Newton Abbot in South Devon. Even on the poor rocky substrate, this tree produces a large crop of sizeable red-blushed golden apples, and seedlings may produce different fruit. These soft, sweet-fleshed fruits usually keep until December, by which time many other varieties will be well past their eat-by date. ... Learn More

A form of Artichoke where the stems rather than the flowers are eaten. Ideal to grow in borders as it also bears beautiful thistle like flowers. Easy to grow producing large, light green, finely incised smooth leaves with white large ribs which are very decorative. Harvest in the second year. ... Learn More

Artichoke Green Globe is the standard green headed variety, which grows up to 170cm tall. It produces excellent quality, tight, compact, good size heads with a sweet flavour and a tender texture. It has attractive large thistle like blooms if allowed to flower. Harvest in the second year. ... Learn More

This highly productive variety of Italian origin produces eye-catching purple heads with silvery-grey leaves. Maturing later than the green type, it has a finer flavour. The firm heads have a good rounded shape and can be used when immature or full size. ... Learn More

This striking edible is a purple globe variety, similar to Green Globe in habit, but with a finer flavour, and attractive large purple thistle-like flower heads. It has many culinary purposes aswell as offering a striking architectural presence in any garden. ... Learn More

Mary Washington is one of the most popular of all heirloom asparagus varieties and is an excellent choice for the garden. The delicious spears are tender, thick, heavy and straight and are of a rich dark green colour with a purple tinge. Produces uniform spears and a heavy yield. It is fast growing, extremely hardy and rust proof, in addition the graceful, feathery green foliage remains attractive long after harvest. ... Learn More

This most attractive, tasty, yellow fruited variety of courgette grows rapidly in great numbers, up to 20cm long, with superb flesh and thin skins. The attractive, shiny golden-yellow fruits have a wonderful nutty flavour and texture and appear regularly throughout the summer. This variety, Poland's first hybrid variety zucchini, is also resistant to downy mildew. ... Learn More

Long Purple Aubergine is one of the most commonly grown variety. Produces good quality, dark fruits. The calyx is green and can be very prickly. If you grow peppers with success you will not have trouble with aubergines. For best production grow the aubergine seeds and plants under cover. ... Learn More

Popular and reliable with gardeners since Edwardian times, Black Beauty is an early-medium variety of aubergine. The sturdy plants grow to about 1.2 metres tall and produce good crops of 10-15 centimetre long glossy, purple-black, oval fruit. ... Learn More

This lesser known vegetable delivers heavy yields with outstanding flavour. Strange to look at, the long black-skinned roots have a delicate and subtle taste. It matures as a very long black tapering root rather like a thin parsnip and is grown in a similar way. Keeps well in the ground all winter long (the longer they are left the larger they will grow) - and will still be good to eat right through to March. ... 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