A very reliable English heirloom outdoor ridge variety of cucumber with good resistance to cucumber Mosaic Virus and mildew, which also tolerate dry conditions, making them easy to grow. They produce rich, prickly, emerald green cylindrical fruits with a high, continuous yield. ... Learn More

An early outdoor British ridge cucumber. This reliable cultivar produces heavy yields of 8 inch long, plump, dark green-skinned cucumbers. The flesh is crisp and white - perfect when sliced up in summer salads. ... 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 half rotten or ‘bletted’, (what an ancient word!) when they turn brown and soft. 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 large fertile seeds are ever produced. ... Learn More

Minipop is delicious lightly steamed or stir-fried, and is also lovely raw in dips or salads as pre-dinner dips. It does not need to be sown in blocks and should be harvested when the silk tassels begin to show prior to pollination. ... Learn More

This famous and delicious Scottish 19th century heirloom variety of winter leek has large, very thick stems which have a fantastic sweet yet mild flavour. This variety is winter hardy and is slow to bolt. ... Learn More

With a mild yet tangy flavour and crunchy texture, this superb leaf is perfect for salads, producing deeply serrated leaves in profusion. Very easy and fast to grow, it is ready to eat just a couple of weeks from sowing! It is a very early productive salad for unheated greenhouses and also outdoor use in spring and autumn, making a rosette of lobed leaves with a tangy spinach flavour. ... Learn More

This very resilient, easy to grow kale is resistant to heat and aphids and is high in fibre, iron and vitamins. The dark, deliciously flavoured, emerald-green loose leaves, which appear an eye-catching black at a distance, are perfect in many cooked dishes, or in salads. ... Learn More

Vitamin-filled New Zealand spinach is milder tasting than its distant relation 'true spinach' and does not bolt in dry soils, making a triangular-leaved bush spreading 2-3 feet in all directions. (Discovered by Captain Cook in the 18th century!) ... Learn More

Hotter than the spicy mix this combination of baby leaf varieties includes Red Giant Mustard, Green Giant mustard, Green Pak Choi, White Pak Choi, Mizuna and Tatsoi Tah Tsai. ... Learn More

A traditional variety of open pollinated Savoy cabbage, Ormskirk has a medium-sized, compact head surrounded by the typical crinkled leaves and a fine, almost nutty flavour. The plants are quite hardy and can be harvested from Christmas onwards when many other vegetables are scarce. ... Learn More

This reliable and succulent F1 variety does not need insect pollination to set its crop of dark green, slightly speckled cylindrical fruit. This makes it ideal for growing in polytunnels as well as outside when the weather is so unpredictable. The first fruit set very early in the season and should be picked regularly to encourage further production. ... Learn More

These fertile seeds were harvested from locally grown fruit trees which produce one of the very best eating and storing pears. Important, you may not grow absolutely identical pears from these seeds, as fruits produced will vary in size, sweetness and taste greatly, but you should certainly get a lovely new cultivar as new varieties are produced by growing large numbers of seedlings and choosing the best. Very few fertile seeds are produced. ... Learn More

A dual-purpose variety producing lots of nearly round green striped courgettes - great for kebabs! Can also be left to mature into small marrows, which are perfect stuffed. A neat spine-free bush habit. Perfect for containers. ... Learn More

Grow your own popcorn from start to finish. This very-best strain is as easy to grow as ordinary sweetcorn and will teach the kids where it comes from too. All it needs is a warm sunny patch in your garden and it will keep the kids amused all summer long! Simply harvest the cobs when ripe, strip the dry seeds and toss into a pan of hot oil. Don't forget the lid!! ... Learn More

This unusual deep purple form of the classic tomatillo verde makes a salsa with a difference. The fruits are still tart but with a little more sweetness than the standard green variety. The anthocyanins, which give the fruit its purple colouring, are a good source of antioxidants. The fruit turn purple in patches on the plant but become more uniformly purple if the fruit is exposed to sunlight on a windowsill after harvesting. The husks turn from green to buff as the fruit matures on the plant and make a fascinating garnish. ... Learn More