With a squat bulb and antennae-like shoots, this odd-looking plant is part of the cabbage family. The name translates from German as ‘turnip cabbage’ and the mild, sweet flavour is somewhere between a turnip and a water chestnut, with a crisp, crunchy texture. It can be found in two colours, pale green and this, the less-common purple is later and hardier than its green counterpart. ... Learn More

Superschmelz is a giant variety with white and light green flesh. Slow to bolt, it is capable of reaching a whopping 8kg in weight and 25cm in diameter. With the stem just above ground level, it swells to form the crisp, juicy vegetable with a texture very similar to the Water Chestnut. Its flavour is much like that of a turnip but milder. Requires a very rich soil and plenty of space to reach gigantic proportions. ... 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

Giant Winter is an excellent late-season variety. It produces thick, solid stems and dark, blue-green tops beautiful enough for the kitchen or showroom. Dig them up young and tender in late November, or let stand in the ground through March and harvest as you need them. ... 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

Tadorna produces a leek of medium length with a white shank and contrasting, very dark blue-green foliage. It has a very upright habit and is extremely winter hardy, cropping from December to March. ... Learn More

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

A traditional Italian variety (known as Cipollini in Italy) with paper-thin, golden skin and firm flesh. The flat shaped bulbs with have a lovely, sweet flavour and are traditionally pickled with sweet balsamic vinegar and sold in Italian delicatessens. They are delicious braised, roasted whole in the oven or cooked in a little butter on the stove top. ... Learn More

A very early hybrid Japanese overwintering variety. Hardy and resilient, it produces globe shaped, uniform bulbs with a good colour to the skin. Good bolting tolerance. ... Learn More

A productive Japanese salad onion, with dark green, erect foliage. Ideal for spring and early summer sowings. Can be left to bulk up for a bulb onion. ... Learn More

A straw coloured variety from Hungary that produces large, broadly oval shaped bulbs. Can be used raw in salads or cooked in a variety of dishes. Bulbs typically weigh 250-350 grams from a spring sowing, but weights can reach up to 1kg if sown in early December, making it ideal for competition and exhibitions. ... Learn More

This superb open-pollinated variety produces flattened globe-shaped red skinned onions. The flesh is white with a sweet taste, alternating with rings of deep crimson. It works equally well in salads or for cooking and gives heavy crops which store well over long periods. ... Learn More

Lilia onions have a beautiful shiny, intense red inner core with dark green leaves. With their pungent flavour they make a colourful and tasty addition to summer salads. This variety has the added benefit of being able to be grown as a main crop (thin to 15cm (6") apart) or leave to mature as small red bulb onions in September. When fully mature it shows off its defined red and white inner rings. ... Learn More

This Tuscany heirloom has long red bottle-shaped bulbs with an excellent mild-sweet flavour, so is particularly suited for use raw in salads. Can either be pulled young as spring onions or allowed to mature for August cropping. ... Learn More

An attractive and versatile onion with a mild flavour and crisp flesh. Eat them as spring onions or leave them to bulk up to red onion size with a rich crimson colour and round generous bulbs. An excellent companion plant for carrots to deter carrot fly. ... Learn More