This new, softer, loose-leaf form of Chinese Cabbage has dense, narrow leaves with a deeper green outer colour, and lighter green to almost white interior leaves with wide, flat white celery-like ribs. It has a cylindrical, leafy head rather like a large romaine lettuce. The flavour of Chinese cabbages is more subtle and pleasant than our familiar European head cabbage, they are crisper and more refreshing and also less fibrous. Michihili was developed to have a stronger flavour than other cabbages. It can be sown in the spring for young salad leaves or in late summer for an autumn crop of full-sized cabbages. A dual purpose variety, the tender leaves are often used raw as a romaine lettuce would be, in salads or coleslaw. It can also be steamed whole, finely cut into slices for a salad, or cut coarsely for a stir-fry, the huge mature heads typically weighing up to 2 kg. ... Learn More

This mild cucumber can be used young for slicing but is more commonly used as a ingredient in Chinese soup-making. The fruit starts green, then turns yellow, before appearing a leathery, orangey-brown at maturity. Excellent yield. ... Learn More

The ten varieties in our vegetable gift pack give a range of unusual vegetables which make the perfect gift for a gardening friend or relative. The ten packets are: Detroit Red Globe (Beetroot), Tender and True (Parsnip), Tumbling Tom Red (Tomato), Red Marconi (Pepper), Giant Winter (Spinach), Merveille des Quatres Saisons (Lettuce), Lemon Cuke (Cucumber), Chantenay Royal (Carrot),Durham Early (Cabbage), Queensland Blue (Squash) The actual contents of the veg pack may differ slightly from the varieties listed above due to stock shortages. ... Learn More

This variety of chicory, a round red ball type chicory from Chioggia Italy, (Cicoria variegata de Chioggia) well-known for its compactness size and flavour, has very good winter hardiness. Round headed, greenish leaves turn a reddish-white and variegate as colder weather beckons and the heart formation becomes more noticeable. Leaves can be boiled to remove bitterness, whilst fresh chicory leaves add zest to a mixed salad. ... Learn More

The quality of these bright green spears with deep purple tips, and huge yield, is exceptional for a non hybrid. One of the most sought-after vegetables, asparagus is not difficult to grow if kept well-fed and weed-free, the delicately flavoured young shoots of asparagus being one of the great luxuries of the vegetable plot. Plants remain productive for at least 15 to 20 years. Plant this perennial vegetable just once and enjoy the succulent spears for years! RHS AGM winner. ... Learn More

A superb main-crop variety of Parsnip which is known for its uniform, conical, white-skinned roots. Its flavour and taste are first rate and it is noted for its vigour and heavy yield. This hybrid is resistant to disease and adaptable to a wide range of soils and conditions. (RHS AGM winner) ... Learn More

This ancient English fruit has vibrant dark blue skin and a strong flavour, and is not sweet until it is entirely ripe. Very similar to plums, it is very juicy, but its moment of glory comes when it is cooked, the heat drawing the juice out of the dusky skins and with it the most extraordinary depth of flavour. They are superb for making jam or jelly and are amongst the heaviest cropping trees in existence, the groaning branches often breaking under the weight of fruit in the autumn. ... Learn More

A high quality Bedfordshire variety of mid-late main crop Brussels Sprouts which produces a heavy yield of large, fine-flavoured, deep green sprouts from late November and through the winter, even in the harshest weather. ... Learn More

One of the earliest and most reliable spring cabbages, Durham Early produces dark green medium-sized conical heads with good texture and tasty flavour. The tender leaves can be picked early for spring greens. ... Learn More

Earlibird is an excellent, early-maturing, super-sweet hybrid, early variety producing 3 or more high-quality cobs, typically 8" in length. Along with Swift, this is probably the best variety to grow in most UK situations. ... Learn More

This incredible multi-coloured variety was developed from traditional Indian corn and produces long cobs with kernels of yellow, red, black, purple, pink, even marbled! The corn grows to of a height of between 1.5m and 2.0m. The cobs are often used for decorative purposes but the kernels are completely edible if you want a change from uniform cobs. In fact this makes great pop corn. Just brush the cob with butter and put the cob in a microwaveable dish with cling film on top into the microwave. ... Learn More

One of the most beautiful of the passionflowers, this beauty opens its large, fragrant flowers with deep red petals and a centre crown that contains five rows of numerous white and purple rays. Large leaves hang from stems that are quadrangular in cross section, hence its botanical name. It produces the most enormous fruits of all of the passion fruits, which grow very rapidly, and may weigh up to 4 kg (9 lb) turning to medium yellow when mature. For best fruiting, flowers should be hand pollinated. The ripe fruit is eaten fresh or used in drinks whilst unripe, green fruit is eaten as a vegetable. It is quite hardy, surviving temperatures down to 1°C (35°F) for short periods of time. In warm areas it can be cultivated in home gardens, or it can even be kept as a greenhouse or indoor container plant, and grown in a sunny south-facing window. ... Learn More

A heavy-yielding Italian heirloom. Giant Winter has glossy, large, dark green, lance-shaped, semi-savoy leaves with a fine flavour and tender texture. This extremely cold hardy variety is ideal for early spring or autumn sowing. ... Learn More

An excellent summer ball head cabbage with solid heads which are more uniformly round than other summer varieties with fewer outer leaves. This variety is easy to grow and does very well indeed in cool weather. ... Learn More

Very hardy, dwarf, compact plants produce round roots with tender, yellow, mild-flavoured flesh and with outstanding keeping and exhibition qualities. Golden Ball is the best of the main crops, according to some experts and is recommended by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany. ... Learn More