It's hard to beat the sleek and simple lines of well-trimmed quality Buxus, adding a modern yet classic look to any garden. Used for centuries as a classic garden hedge or to form borders around other planting such as roses, Buxus sempervirens is a well-loved and instantly recognised feature of both formal and contemporary gardens. Equally at home in small or large gardens, box hedging is perfect for edges, borders and small boundaries, and makes neat hedges 1m tall over 10 years if required, although can be kept much smaller if needed. Whether dressing either side of a classic porch, or as a feature in minimalist decking gardens, it's hard to think of another easy to grow, yet versatile plant as good as Box. Supplied as an established plant in a 9cm pot, these 15-20cm plants are 3 years old and trimmed several times to give really bushy plants that make growing a box hedge easy. Plant one plant per 25cm (10in) for best results. Totally hardy too, leave them out all year - they look great covered in snow too! The key with Box is not to let them dry out - especially when in full sun for much of the day. Keep the roots cool and well-watered and they will grow 10-15cm per year. Do not trim for 2-3 years after planting, then lightly tip in summer as needed.
Slower growing and with a more serrated leaf than Cultivated Rocket but Wild Rucola Selavativca is increasing in popularity to add to Cultivated Rocket as a mixed salad ingredient
Each pale creamy yellow pod contains 6 or 7 large white cannellini beans that are delicious when added to soups and casseroles. Dwarf Bean 'Impero Bianco' is compact and late maturing - harvest the fully mature seeds autumn for the largest, tastiest cannellini beans. Height: 45cm (18). Spread: 30cm (12)
A loose leaf 'picking lettuce', Lattuga Rossa a Foglia Riccia da Tavolo produces abundant bronzed leaves to add to salads, and sandwiches, or used as a garnish. Lettuce is very suitable for inter-cropping between taller, long-standing vegetables, such as beans, tomatoes, peppers, etc. Lettuces require rich, moisture retentive soil free of weeds
A green fruited, Biscayne type turning bright red with long, broad shouldered slightly tapering fruits with thick flesh, ideal for grilling. Peperone Rubens will produce an abundant crop over a long season if picked regularly
Essential for authentic Italian cuisine, this sweet basil is one of the most popular varieties, with a strong scent and distinctive fresh flavour. Try growing Basil on the kitchen windowsill or in convenient containers outside the back door. Height: 45cm (18). Spread: 30cm (12)
BushDeterminateEgg sized, deeper than round plum fruits. Tomato Pomodoro Principe Borghese has a characteristic sharp taste as 'vine ripenedfruits for salad and ideal as a sun dried variety. A huge cropping tomato over the season.
A delicious blend of lettuce which, from regular sowings give tasty salad leaves all the year round and is a well-balanced mixture of young, fresh and tender leaves. It will provide a continuous harvest of salad leaves all the year round if successionally sown in pots on the windowsill, or sown outdoors from March to September. It is easy to grow with minimum maintenance. Salad Leaves Mixture Misticanza D'Insalate contains: Lettuce Bionda a Foglia Liscia, Bionda a Foglia Riccia, Verde a Foglia Riccia, Meraviglia Delle 4 Stagioni and Biscia Rossa.
A strong growing flat-leaved or Italian parsley, with good winter hardiness and dark green leaves that stand well, in good condition, without yellowing. Like all flat leaved varieties this hardy biennial has a stronger flavour than curled leaved varieties making it indispensible in for a wide range of culinary uses. Try growing parsley indoors on a bright kitchen windowsill, where Parsley 'Prezzemolo Gigante d'Italia' will produce fresh leaves virtually all year round. Height and spread: 30cm (12)
Semi-BushTomato 'Roma Nano' is a traditional plum tomato producing juicy, fleshy fruits with very few seeds, making them ideal for pastes, soups, sauces and sun drying. This semi-bush variety can be grown in the greenhouse but will have a richer, fuller flavour if grown outdoors. Grown as a semi-bush variety, it is easy to grow with minimal training and no side shooting. Height: 150cm (59). Spread: 50cm (20)
A Cayenne type of hot pepper, Peperone Fuego has 15cm long, tapering fruits, which turn from green to fiery red. The compact, upright plant habit of Peperone Fuego produces fruits in abundance on short internodes. Pick regularly throughout the summer.