Huge scarlet lanternswhich are magnificently attractive in the garden and then can be cut and dried to be used all through the winter to decorate naturally, your house. Easy, thriving in almost any soil, sun or shade. Lanterns late summer
Probably one of the most well known and reliable spring cabbages, Cabbage Durham Early produces firm, pointed, well flavoured hearts on compact plants. Can also be sown or planted closely for delicious 'spring greensready to harvest from February
Created a great deal of interest when grown at the Scottish Horticultural Research Institute, yet it is very widely grown in Northern Italy. The 'spears' can be snapped off individually or all together. Broccoli Romanesco has a taste and texture exceeding the finest broccoli and to really appreciate the flavour it should be cooked and served individually with melted butter.
An RHS AGM variety producing splendid, long roots up to 30cm (12) long, with a deep rich red colour inside. Carrot 'Autumn King 2' can be harvested from late summer or left in the ground throughout winter without fear of splitting. These magnificent roots do particularly well in heavyweight classes at local shows. Height: 30cm (12). Spread: 15cm (6).
An extremely useful and easy to grow hardy winter vegetable, Early Purple Sprouting Broccoli provides lots of tasty purple heads (which turn green when cooked) during late winter/early Spring
With a flavour that tastes of mint and cloves, Basil 'Sweet Green' compliments courgette and tomato dishes and is quite legendary in pesto. Large aromatic leaves are produced on neat bushy plants. The fresh basil leaves make a delicious addition to salads and pasta dishes. Height: 45cm (18). Spread: 40cm (16)
This aromatic annual can be grown for its seeds or its rich, aniseed flavoured foliage that compliments fish dishes particularly well. The feathery dill leaves make an attractive addition to a sunny herb garden. This easy to grow herb is tolerant of most conditions and requires little maintenance. Height: 90cm (35). Spread: 30cm (12).
A quick growing, dual purpose annual herb that is grown for its seeds or fresh young leaves. Coriander seeds are delicious in cakes, and when crushed add an orangey flavour to meat dishes. The young leaves of coriander (often called 'Cilantro') can be finely chopped and added to curies, sauces, chutneys and salads. Height: 60cm (24). Spread: 25cm (10)
An exquisite dwarf form of this charming, architectural herb. The delicate, ferny foliage is highly attractive and surprisingly compact, making it ideal for container growing. Excellent in the herb garden and ideal for windowsill growing. Dill 'Bouquet' is easy to grow and tolerant of most conditions, requiring little maintenance. Height: 30cm (12). Spread: 20cm (8)
A dual purpose Italian variety with a pungent flavour. Spring Onion Lilia is best grown as a salad onion with nice, dark green leaves and a shiny, intense red inner core. Onion Lilia can also be grown as a maincrop, storing bulb onion. When fully mature it shows off its defined red and white inner rings
The soft blue-green leaves of sage are ideal for adding their rich flavour to meats and stuffing. This hardy sub-shrub is an essential herb for adding to the Sunday roast but also makes an attractive plant in the perennial border. The flavour of the leaves will be best when growing sage in warm, dry conditions. Height: 60cm (24). Spread: 90cm (36)
One of the most useful kitchen herbs for stews, stuffings and bouquet garni. This aromatic, evergreen thyme will grow almost anywhere in containers, rock gardens, borders, and even cracks in paving. Ideal for creating low, matt forming groundcover that will attract bees to the tiny, pink blooms. Thyme is particularly useful in coastal areas where it copes well with winds and dry conditions. Height: 30cm (12). Spread: 35cm (14).
Very quick growing salad onions, sow Spring Onion White Lisbon in succession for a continuous crop all spring, summer and autumn
A very popular variety, early to mature, compact and heavy yielding. The attractive fruits of Marrow Green Bush can be cut at 10-15cm (4-6in) as courgettes or left to mature as marrows. Excellent eaten lightly cooked, freshly picked or suitable for autumn storage. Culinary note: Marrow flowers are edible.
Highly decorative, dark green, red veined leaves which show more colour as colder weather approaches. Kale Scarlet can be eaten as a 'salad leaf'. Mature plants show excellent winter hardiness, supplying fresh winter greens when they can often be scarce. Long season of harvest. Kale Scarlet prefers a moist, rich, well-drained soil. Good source of Vitamins A, C, K and folate and provides 50% of the daily requirement in a single 80g portion
An improved Detroit with rich maroon colouring. Beetroot Detroit 2 Crimson Globe produces globe-shaped beet which are ideal for successional sowing
With a mild flavour, Sweet Marjoram herb is delicious in stuffings, soups, stews, omelettes, cheese dishes, fish sauces and salads. Sprinkle over pork, before roasting or add to melted butter to garnish vegetables. Recommended by herbalists to lower high blood pressure and combat headaches, and neuralgia. Sweet Marjoram plants are most often grown as annuals, given that they resent winter wet and is are half hardy. Height: 25cm (10). Spread: 30cm (12).
Maincrop This well known heritage maincrop produces heavy crops of large, curved, dark green pea pods of the highest quality. Each pod of Pea 'Alderman' contains up to 11 succulent peas with a superb flavour. This well known and reliable variety has a tall growth habit that will require supports but is well worth the effort for the huge yields that it produces. Height: 180cm (71). Spread: 25cm (10).
An improved 'Green Pearl' type, producing a vigorous rosette of longer stems with more pronounced, finer curled dark green leaves, that stand well without yellowing or bolting. Curled leaved parsley is a useful, low maintenance addition to herb gardens. Try growing parsley indoors on a bright kitchen windowsill, where Parsley 'Lisette' will produce fresh leaves virtually all year round. Height and spread: 30cm (12)
A particularly fragrant selection and a distinct improvement over other Thai Basils. Basil 'Siam Queen' has an extra large leaf with an intense liquorice fragrance. The bright green basil leaves make an attractive foil for its purple-red stems which bear violet-pink flowers. Superb as a container plant on the patio or you could try growing basil on the kitchen windowsill and in convenient containers outside the back door. Height: 45cm (18). Spread: 30cm (12)