A very early Xtra-Tender© variety, 'Swift F1' has been specifically bred to give very sweet and succulent cobs. Quick to grow from seed, the vigorous plants produce good-sized cobs of up to 20cm long, with golden-yellow kernels that have a mouth-wateringly rich flavour. A worthy recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, 'Swift F1' is easy to grow and a reliably good cropper - a great choice for beginner and experienced gardeners alike. It is also one of the best crops for getting children interested in gardening as the seeds germinate soon after sowing, grow to an impressive size and produce delicious corn cobs that they will relish. Cobs can be cooked whole - simply remove the husks and boil the cobs for a few minutes, roast in the oven or wrap them in foil for the barbeque. They can also be eaten raw; just strip off the kernels with a sharp knife and add them to salads for an extra sweet crunch. Sweetcorn is rich in fibre and a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The cobs are best eaten soon after picking but will keep for a few days in the fridge and they freeze well. Sweetcorn thrives in a sunny position. Sow indoors March to May for planting out in May to June; or sow the seeds outdoors in May, directly into their cropping position in well-cultivated, fertile soil. Flowers will appear approximately 8 weeks after sowing and mature cobs can be picked after 16 weeks - or pick for baby corn 1 to 2 days after the silks emerge, when the ear is up to 10cm (4in) long. Supplied as a packet of 35 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors or outdoors in their growing position. Grows to a height of up to 200cm (79in) and spread up to 45cm (18in).
Colourful and compact, these 'Festival Mix' dwarf lupins have been specially blended to combine glorious jewel-like tones ranging from soft white and pale lemon-yellow to darker hues of pink, cerise and purple. The beautifully bold, candle-like blooms rise up through starry mounds of lush green, palmate leaves and are perfect for bringing joyful colour and structure to your summer garden. Members of the legume family, the petals on the tall flower spikes have a pea-like structure, giving off a delicate, peppery aroma that will attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Reaching a height and spread of 60cm (24in), their compact habit means that they don't need staking, so they are an ideal choice for patio containers or small-space gardening. For an informal look, try planting in clumps or drifts through other flowering perennials such as iris, delphiniums or geraniums - or even ornamental grasses. An eternal cottage garden favourite, they will also look good in contemporary schemes as well as making a fabulous cut flower for your vase. 'Festival Mix' lupins are easy-to-grow hardy perennials that will thrive in a light but moist, well-draining soil, preferring a sunny position that has some shade during the hottest part of the day. An early sowing will bring flowers in the same year, usually between August and September. In subsequent years they will flower from May to July. Supplied as a packet of 30 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors in a seed try from January to March, or outdoors into a seed bed from April to June, for transplanting into their final flowering position from May to October.
A native of British meadows and fields, this gardeners' favourite is loved by butterflies & bees. Relive childhood memories of golden fields of corn, peppered with the bright blue cornflowers and the gentle hum of busy pollinators on a bright summer's day. Quick and easy to grow, this colourful British favourite is ideal for naturalising and will attract bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Also known as Batchelors Buttons, this showy annual is a slender, dainty plant with sky-blue flowers. Perfect for punctuating wild gardens or meadows with colour. Ideal too to get kids interested in gardening or for time-strapped gardeners who want results without the effort! A hardy annual, cornflowers will grow and flower in the same year (or the following year if sown late in the year). Excellent as a cut flower, you can add a bunch to a vase or use them in mixed bouquets. Never before has it been so important to protect pollinators such as bees, and this wildflower is ideal to encourage them into your garden. Bees are invaluable for pollinating a whole range of plants and especially useful for kitchen gardens to enable the formation of many fruits and vegetables. Take a look at our bee book for more details on these fascinating insects. Growing to 60cm (24in) Sow outdoors, March-May or August-October, directly where they are to flower. Flowers July - September. Supplied as a pack of 70 seeds. Native grown seed not taken from the wild.
Herbs are one of the easiest plants to grow - you don't even need a garden! Just a few in pots on the patio or windowsill, or sown directly into your garden beds, will allow you to add that little extra to a dish. Growing your own parsley from seed, whether indoors or outdoors, will reward you with vigorous plants that can be cut just when you need a fresh bunch for your cooking - a much better solution than those frustrating supermarket pot herbs that barely last 2-3 weeks. 'Giant of Italy' is considered one of the very best flat-leaf parsley varieties, producing robust plants with sturdy upright stems bearing large, dark green leaves. Having a terrific sweet and pungent taste when used raw, it also retains its rich, strong flavour in cooked dishes - much better than its curly leafed cousin. The preferred choice of many professional cooks, this versatile, aromatic herb can be used in an endless variety of savoury dishes such as soups, stews and pasta, as well as added raw to salads and sandwiches; it also makes a tasty garnish that will rarely be left on the plate. Highly nutritious, parsley is packed full of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, being an excellent source of iron and vitamin C, as well as many other nutrients. Used as a medicinal herb for centuries, it is said to aid digestion, clear the skin and even to freshen the breath if chewed after eating strongly flavoured foods. This tall-growing variety will continue to produce fresh new leaves many times after being cut. The best flavour is in the young leaves and regular harvesting will promote the new growth. Grown outside, it will also attract beneficial insects to your garden. Being a hardy biennial, it will set seed in its second year, although it is best grown as an annual, although if grown in a sheltered, well-drained position, plants can be protected over winter with mulch or cloches to produce new growth in the spring. Supplied as a packet of 500 (approx.) seeds ready to plant indoors or outdoors in their growing position. Sow indoors all year round or outdoors from March to July, directly where they are to crop in containers or in the ground. Harvest all year round indoors or outdoors from May.
Fabulous semi-double blooms in joyous shades of yellow, peachy orange and red are what make these mixed-colour nasturtiums a must-have for bringing vibrant colour to your summer garden. The showy, saucer-shaped flowers are streaked with darker flushes in their centres and stand bold and upright above rich green, bushy foliage. One of the easiest and most satisfying annuals you can grow, they are guaranteed to add impact wherever you plant them. 'Jewel Mixed' nasturtiums are robust and long-flowering, from early June until the first frosts in October. They look fabulous when trained up a trellis or fence, tumbling out of window boxes and containers, or cascading over the sides of hanging baskets. Plant them as groundcover in a mixed border or rock garden, where they will add pleasing contrast to other flowers and foliage. They will also look great when cut for your vase - ideal for natural arrangements. A worthy addition to a kitchen garden, nasturtiums are loved by bees and butterflies, so are good for pollination. They will attract hover flies, which prey on aphids, so make a great companion for brassicas, pumpkins, radish, tomato and potatoes - even roses - to help control pests. When they die back they will replenish the soil, adding nutrients and minerals to help other plants thrive. Being native to South and Central America, which were known as the Indies, the flowers were once commonly called 'Indian cresses'. Indeed, the leaves and flowers are edible, with a pleasant, slightly peppery flavour reminiscent of watercress. Mix them into your salads and garnishes for a pop of extra colour and flavour, or add last minute to a stir-fry. They are rich in vitamin C, too. An inspiring choice for children's gardening; the seeds are large, easy to sow and quick to germinate. With such a cheerful profusion of edible, bright flowers as a reward, what better way to encourage the next generation of horticulturalists! Supplied as a packet of 35 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors in pots, from February to May, or outdoors from April to June directly where they are to grow. Nasturtiums will flower most prolifically in a sunny position in free-draining soil. They are drought tolerant but appreciate an occasional watering in warm weather. Regular dead-heading will encourage continuous flowering.
There's nothing more satisfying than buying your own plants from seed, and with our Bumper Seed Collection you can get off to a flying start at a value-for-money price.
Blended to appeal to a wide range of insects, this colourful mix will attract wildlife including butterflies and bees, who feed on the pollen, and will also produce seed heads to providing food for wild birds. Quick and easy to grow, this mix is ideal for creating a natural-looking meadow to attract pollinating insects into your garden. Perfect to get kids interested in gardening or for time-strapped gardeners who want results without the effort! A collection of hardy and half-hardy annuals, these wildflowers also make ideal flowers for cutting so you can bring colour into your home too either in a vase or as part of a mixed bouquet. Never before has it been so important to protect pollinators such as bees, and this wildflower mix is ideal to encourage them into your garden. Bees are invaluable for pollinating a whole range of plants and especially useful for kitchen gardens to enable the formation of many fruits and vegetables. Take a look at our bee book for more details on these fascinating insects. This dazzling mix of some of our best-known annual flowers will give your garden a bright show of colour. The mix contains a selection of these varieties*: Aster - Callistephus chinensisBorage - Borago officinalisCalifornian Poppy - Eschscholzia californicaCanary Grass - Phalaris canariensisCoreopsis - Coreopsis tinctoriaCorn Cockle - Agrostemma milasCorn Marigold - Chrysanthemum segetumCornflower - Centaurea cyanusCrimson Clover - Trifolium incarnatumDill - Anethum graveolensField Poppy - Papaver rhoeasFlax - Linum usitatissimumGilia - Gilia capitataLarkspur - Delphinium ajacis & Delphinium consolidaLavender - Lavandula angustifoliaOregano - Origanum vulgarePhacelia - Phacelia tanacetifoliaPhlox - Phlox drummondiiPurple Viper's Bugloss - Echium plantagineumVetch - Vicia sp.Yellow Mustard - Sinapis hirtaZinnia - Zinnia elegans *NB, due to seasonal availability, we cannot guarantee all varieties will be included in each individual packet. Growing to 120cm (48in). Sow outdoors, March-May directly where they are to flower. Flowers June - October. Supplied as 0.5g seed to cover up to 0.5sqm. Native grown seed not taken from the wild CAUTION: Harmful if eaten
A reliable and popular, high-yielding variety, 'Masterpiece Green Longpod' is considered by many to be the best broad bean you can grow. The seeds are quick to germinate, either indoors in pots or outdoors planted directly into their cropping position, generating vigorous plants that will provide plenty of fresh, tasty beans for your plate - and plenty more for the freezer. True to its name, this variety produces particularly long, regularly formed pods, each containing 6 to 8 juicy beans. Harvesting from June onwards, the younger you pick them, the more tender the beans will be; or leave them to mature a while longer if you prefer larger beans. You can even cook the young pods whole; just top and tail them, and then gently steam to retain the best of their flavour and texture. If you harvest more beans than you can eat, just blanch them and put into an airtight container or bag, then store in your freezer until required. They will retain their shape and texture well and be just as delicious cooked from frozen. Being a worthy recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, you can be sure of good-quality, plentiful crops that are easy and rewarding to grow. Sow indoors from February to April for planting out from April to May, or sow outdoors from February to May, in a sunny position directly where they are to crop, 60cm (24in) apart in well-drained, fertile soil. Harvest from June to August. Supplied as a packet of 45 (approx.) seeds ready to plant indoors in individual pots or outdoors in their cropping position. Grows to 1.2m (48in) by 30cm (12in) spread.
Easy to grow, this long-lived herbaceous perennial, which is part of the onion family, is an essential addition to the herb garden. The edible leaves have a mild onion-like flavour and make an irresistible garnish for potatoes, omelettes, fish, salads, soups and many other dishes. The pinky purple, star-shaped flowers are also edible and are best picked just before opening to add a pretty and savoury highlight to your dishes. Chives can be grown indoors on your windowsill for year-round harvesting, although will grow more vigorously and achieve bigger plants when grown outdoors. As well as being a perfect choice for your vegetable beds, they can also make a great edging plant or provide some low-growing contrast in a mixed bed or border. They are equally happy growing in pots and containers. All they require is a moisture-retentive but well-drained fertile soil or compost in a sunny or semi-shaded position. The flowers produce nectar in abundance, so will attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial pollinators to your garden, with blooms appearing successively over a long season. In addition, this herb's slightly pungent aroma will repel insect pests such as carrot root fly, making it a great companion for vegetables or other herbs that are prone to infestation. Sow indoors all year for your windowsill or for planting out from May to June. Or sow outdoors from March to May, in beds or containers directly where they are to crop, where they can be cut for culinary use from late spring through to the first frosts of autumn. Plants will grow less vigorously through the winter, when they will die back somewhat, although it may be possible to still cut some leaves fresh for the kitchen. Supplied as a packet of 500 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors or outdoors in pots or directly into a bed or border. Grows to 40cm height by 30cm spread.
Beautiful five-petalled, softly coloured blooms and intricately marbled leaves are what make this nasturtium a superb choice to complement any garden scheme. The pretty salmon-orange flowers have darker veins flushing from their centres and stand above foliage that forms attractive, globe-shaped mounds. A winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, 'Alaska Salmon Orange' is noted for its reliability and good performance. This hardy annual is easy to grow and versatile, with a long flowering season from early June until the first frosts in October. They look fabulous when trained up a trellis or fence, tumbling out of window boxes and containers, or cascading over the sides of hanging baskets. Plant them as groundcover in a mixed border or rock garden, where they will add pleasing interest amid other flowers and foliage. They also look great as a cut flower in a natural arrangement. A worthy addition to a kitchen garden, nasturtiums are loved by bees and butterflies, so are good for pollination. They will attract hover flies, which prey on aphids, so make a great companion for brassicas, pumpkins, radish, tomato and potatoes - even roses - to help control pests. When they die back they will replenish the soil, adding nutrients and minerals to help other plants thrive. Being native to South and Central America, which were known as the Indies, the flowers were once commonly called 'Indian cresses'. Indeed, the leaves and flowers are edible, with a pleasant, slightly peppery flavour reminiscent of watercress. Mix them into your salads and garnishes for a pop of extra colour and flavour, or add last minute to a stir-fry. They are rich in vitamin C, too. Supplied as a packet of 25 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors in pots, from February to March, or outdoors from April to June directly where they are to grow. Nasturtiums will flower most prolifically in a sunny position in free-draining soil. They are drought tolerant but appreciate an occasional watering in warm weather. Regular dead-heading will encourage continuous flowering.
Bring a classic cottage garden feel to your borders and large pots with Cosmos 'Sensation'. Exceptionally free flowering, giving a succession of blooms. With it's delicate feathery foliage 'Sensation' makes a lovely cut flower too. It's pollen rich, yellow centres are a magnet for bees all summer long. This half hardy annual grows to 120cm (48in), flowering between June and October. Supplied as a pack of approx. 200 seeds.
Bring a cottage garden feel to your borders and large pots with Cosmos 'Candy Stripe'. Exceptionally free flowering, giving a succession of white blooms with an edging of the deepest pink. With its delicate feathery foliage 'Candy Stripe' makes a lovely cut flower too. Its pollen rich, yellow centres are a magnet for bees on warm sunny days. This half hardy annual will grow to 120cm (48in), flowering between June and October. Supplied as a pack of approx. 100 seeds.