A top-quality variety that matures quickly, 'Ferrari' gives reliably high yields of slender, straight and stringless round pods that have superb taste and texture - far superior to any shop-bought bean. This worthy recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit is easy to grow, with good resistance to disease such as Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV), Halo Blight and Anthracnose, so is a great choice for gardeners of any experience. Being a dwarf type bean, it is ideal for growing in containers, as well as in beds and borders, producing compact, bushy plants that don't need staking. The succulent beans have a rich green colour and an excellent flavour and are a great source of fibre and vitamins A and C. If not left too long on the vine, the beans are stringless, so for best flavour and texture, pick them when they reach 15cm (6in) in length. They are best harvested in one picking, as soon as they are ready; if you have more than you can eat, they will keep well and are also good for freezing. For early harvests, sow from April, indoors or outdoors under cloches, or outdoors from May to July directly into their cropping position. The plants are fast-growing, and produce attractive white flowers followed by the pods. The pods will be ready for picking 12 weeks after sowing, with plentiful crops over a short period (about 2 weeks). Regular sowings every couple of weeks or so will extend the cropping season through to autumn. For best results, grow in a sunny, sheltered position. These beans will thrive in fertile, moist but well-draining soil, so dig in some well-rotted manure before sowing in a bed or use good-quality compost in a container. Supplied as a pack of 100 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors into individual pots or outdoors into their cropping position. Grows up to 60cm (24in). Successional sowing will produce harvests from June to October.
One of the most versatile cabbages you can grow, 'Offenham 2' is a favourite old variety that is guaranteed to give you plentiful supplies of super quality, tasty green heads over several months of the year. With two main cropping seasons, it can be picked young and tender as 'spring' greens or left to mature into larger, more compact cabbages, with pointed hearts set on a short, thick stalk. Sowing in the spring will yield young 'greens' from September onwards, maturing to 'hearted' cabbages into November. Summer sowings will produce 'greens' from early spring, leaving others to grow to 'hearted' cabbages that are ready from April to May. At whatever time you choose to harvest, the dark green leaves have a fabulously rich flavour, whether used raw in salads and coleslaw or traditionally steamed, boiled or braised. Hearty and healthy, they are packed full of vitamin C and antioxidants. There is little or no wastage - the outer leaves are as good to eat as those further in, and contain even greater concentrations of nutrients. These hardy cabbages will thrive in a sunny position in well-cultivated, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage, although are best not planted in soil that has been manured in the preceding 12 months. Supplied as a packet of 350 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors in a seed tray or outdoors in a seed bed. Grows to 25cm (10in) height and spread.
One of the most rewarding and economical vegetables you can grow, Green Calabrese will crop from late summer right through autumn, producing densely packed clusters of deep bluish-green buds of up to 15cm (6in) diameter atop thick, tender stems and rich green leaves that are just as good to eat. Harvesting the broccoli heads will encourage further florets to grow lower down the stem - a great cut-and-come-again vegetable! With a milder, more subtle flavour than sprouting broccoli, 'Green Calabrese' makes a colourful and tasty ingredient whether prepared raw for salads or dips, or steamed, boiled or stir-fried. It makes great soup, too - an ideal way of using up any leftover stems and leaves. Excess crops will freeze well, so you can enjoy this versatile veg through the winter, long after its generous season has finished. Commonly regarded as a 'superfood', all parts of the plant are highly nutritious - a great source of fibre and protein, as well as vitamins and minerals. The leaves hold the highest levels of antioxidants and vitamins, and the stalks contain the most fibre - far too good to waste! Easy to grow, broccoli will thrive in an open, sunny position in fertile, well draining, moisture-retentive soil. Ideally, dig in some well-rotted manure into the growing site in the autumn before sowing. There is no need to dig over the soil too much immediately before planting as undisturbed soil offers a firm roothold for brassicas and will help them establish quickly and well. Successive sowing will extend the cropping season. Fast-growing, they will reach a mature height of up to 60cm (24in). Supplied as a packet of 200 (approx.) seeds ready to sow either indoors from March to May (for planting out May-June), or outdoors from March to May directly into their growing position. Harvest from September to November.
Fast-growing and vigorous, 'La Diva' produces plentiful crops of cigar-shaped, bitter-free mini cucumbers. The ridged, smooth-skinned fruits are best picked young - about 15cm (6in) long - and are seedless, tender and crisp. Deliciously sweet and juicy, they are superb for salads or for slicing lengthways for crudités and dips. Pick often to encourage further fruiting and any surplus will be great for pickling. These little beauties are packed with nutrients and antioxidants - low in calories and a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as minerals and antioxidants. This easy-to-grow variety is a long-standing favourite of the gardening press and consumer groups and is suitable for gardeners of any experience. An 'all-female', climbing variety, 'La Diva' does not need to be pollinated to produce fruit so will crop well inside a cold greenhouse or tunnel - or equally well outdoors in your garden beds or patio pots. For best results, support them with netting or a trellis, although they can be grown successfully at ground level. Sow indoors from February to April; they will germinate within 7-21 days on a warm windowsill out of direct sunlight and draughts. After being grown on in cooler conditions and then gradually hardened off, they will thrive in pots, growbags or planted directly into the soil in a cool greenhouse or outdoors. They are also an ideal choice for planting in large containers - great for small space gardening, on a patio or even a balcony or courtyard. They just require a sunny, sheltered position and fertile, moist but well-drained soil or compost. Supplied as a packet of 20 (approx.) seeds ready for sowing indoors or outdoors. Fruits will be ready 8-10 weeks from sowing. Feed, water and harvest regularly for good-quality, prolific cropping from June to October.
A superb all-rounder for reliability, hardiness and flavour, this heritage variety was first cultivated by Victorian gardeners in the Scottish town of Musselburgh after being brought over from France in the 1830s. Since then it has become a firm favourite all around the UK, particularly in colder regions where other vegetables may not thrive - great for picking from late autumn to early spring when little else is available to bring in from the plot to the plate. A shorter variety of leek, it has densely packed, sturdy stems with creamy white bases rising to dark green leaves at the top. You won't find Musselburgh leeks in the supermarket as their growing span is too long commercial production, but this variety will reward the home gardener many times over with plentiful crops of superb quality. These leeks are easy to grow, with good resistance to pests and extremes of heat and cold. They can be left in the ground until needed, although once picked they will keep for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. Musselburgh is a great choice for allotments, where the plants will happily fend for themselves right through winter, requiring little attention over a long season. Whether picked early or left to mature, this versatile veg has a lovely sweet flavour and a firm but tender texture when cooked. Use young baby stems in salads and stir-fries and mature leeks for a great variety of dishes including soups, stews and quiches - and indeed in any dish where you would normally use onion. Having a ready supply of garden-fresh leeks will benefit your health as well as your palate - they are packed with nutrients, including vitamins A, B6, C and K, iron and magnesium, as well as being a good source of fibre and folate. The seeds can be planted directly into their cropping position or started indoors for establishing early - providing baby leeks from as early as late summer. They germinate easily and establish well, with minimum maintenance required. Their compact habit makes them a great choice for small gardens where space is a premium. Choose a sunny, sheltered position, with fertile, well-drained soil. They can make an unusual feature in an herbaceous border, with attractive flowers and seed heads if left to grow. Supplied as a packet of 500 (approx.) seeds ready for sowing indoors from January to February, or outdoors from March to April directly into a seed bed. Harvest from October to March, or even earlier for baby leeks. Grows to 45cm (18in) by 30cm (12in) spread.
Dependable and easy to grow, the unusual colouring and stripes on this bulbous garden Iris will light up your garden! Iris 'Mystic Beauty' has large, 12cm (4-5in) blue flowers highlighted with a combination of bronze and butter-yellow stripes. The standard and fall petals are crisp and clean, making this iris the perfect specimen for the garden. With its strap-like, grey-green leaves and sturdy stems, it's impressive when planted in groups in beds and borders and is a superb addition to pots - it also makes a great cut flower giving you loads of blooms for your home. Supplied as a pack of 25 bulbs, plants will bloom in June and grows to approx. 45cm (18in).
If you're looking for a plant a little more out of the ordinary, then the Erythronium, or Dog's Tooth Violet, fits the bill magically. Best flowering in partial shade, they thrive in a woodland setting, under shrubs or deciduous trees where their beautiful, nodding star-shaped flowers hang daintily above their delightful marbled foliage. Erythroniums flower from March to April, dying down by June, so they can be grown under deciduous trees that come into leaf from late spring, preferring summer shade and fertile, humus-rich soil that is neither too wet nor too dry. Their common name refers to the shape of the bulbs with resemble canine teeth and which are easily damaged and often break if disturbed, so take care if you're moving them - in fact they're better off left alone where they will happily multiply, gradually forming a large clump. This wonderful variety provides the brightest yellow flowers, each flower stem carrying 4 to 5 large canary yellow blooms, each with a brown ring in the centre. The marbled foliage on this variety is a lovely added bonus! Height 20cm (8 in). Supplied as a pack of 5 bulbs, ready to plant out in autumn. Growing to a height of 25cm and width of 15cm.
This delightful perennial salvia is closely related to the much-admired 'Hot Lips', and similarly produces an abundance of eye-catching, bicoloured (or sometimes solid) purple and white flowers throughout the summer. An unusual and very pretty hardy member of the sage family, Amethyst Lips is a great 'doer' and will look incredible in a patio pot or in a sunny border! The bright, two-tone flowers will light up your garden in purple and white, from early summer to the first frosts in October, in a wonderful 5-month display. As a bonus, the leaves are lightly scented too which only adds to the appeal of this charming plant. This salvia is winter hardy and will die back underground in the autumn only to burst into life again with fresh new growth each spring. In cooler summers, you will get whiter flowers, and in hot ones you will get lots of purple. This Salvia is really easy to care for and flowers prolifically with minimal care perfect for beginners!
This charming mix of species crocus are early flowering, so will bring fresh spring colour to your garden from March to April. In a mixture of blues, yellows, and white, each bloom compliments the other and will provide you with a stunning display in your garden. Being low-growing, they are suitable for planting at the front of beds and borders or for naturalising through grass. This wonderful crocus mix is also great for pots and containers to brighten up your patio, decking or balcony. They will come back every year in greater numbers and are perfect for planting under shrubs and trees. Supplied as a pack of 30 bulbs, size 5/7, ready for planting.
Large-flowered Blue Crocus, the name says it all! Providing early colour, the cup-shaped blooms are abundant and striking in a deep shade of violet-blue. This wonderful variety is great for container displays on your balcony or decking. In fact, these crocuses will grow almost anywhere in the garden too, even happy in light shade and prefer a free-draining soil. Good for naturalizing as they return reliably and are perfect for planting under shrubs and trees. Leave the bulbs in the ground after the flowers have died back, and they will reward you with bigger, better displays, each year for many years to come. Supplied as a pack of 20 bulbs, size 7/8 ready for planting in autumn.
Large-flowered Yellow Crocus, the name says it all! Providing early colour, the cup-shaped blooms are abundant and striking in a deep shade of golden-yellow. This wonderful variety is great for container displays on your balcony or decking. In fact, these crocuses will grow almost anywhere in the garden too, even happy in light shade and prefer a free-draining soil. Good for naturalizing as they return reliably and are perfect for planting under shrubs and trees. Leave the bulbs in the ground after the flowers have died back, and they will reward you with bigger, better displays, each year for many years to come. Supplied as a pack of 20 bulbs, size 7/8 ready for planting in autumn.
Large-flowered White Crocus, the name says it all! Providing early colour, the cup-shaped blooms are abundant and striking elegance in pure white. This wonderful variety is great for container displays on your balcony or decking. In fact, these crocuses will grow almost anywhere in the garden too, even happy in light shade and prefer a free-draining soil. Good for naturalizing as they return reliably and are perfect for planting under shrubs and trees. Leave the bulbs in the ground after the flowers have died back, and they will reward you with bigger, better displays, each year for many years to come. Supplied as a pack of 20 bulbs, size 7/8 ready for planting in autumn.
Large-flowered Striped Crocus, the name says it all! Providing early colour, the cup-shaped blooms are abundant and striking in silvery lilac and dark striped petals. This wonderful variety is great for container displays on your balcony or decking. In fact, these crocuses will grow almost anywhere in the garden too, even happy in light shade and prefer a free-draining soil. Good for naturalizing as they return reliably and are perfect for planting under shrubs and trees. Leave the bulbs in the ground after the flowers have died back, and they will reward you with bigger, better displays, each year for many years to come. Supplied as a pack of 20 bulbs, size 7/8 ready for planting in autumn.
These beautiful Hyacinth Pink blooms will make a perfect addition to your spring floral displays. Hyacinths are very easy to grow both indoors and outdoors too, filling your home or garden with amazing colour and fabulous, heady scent. An iconic spring flower, for best effect your pot of hyacinths is absolutely ideal in a cool room, where they will release their delicious scent for everyone to enjoy. In fact, they'll last twice as long as when grown in a warm room! Ideal to bring early spring colour into your home, simply slip the planted pot into a decorative container whey they will come into flower from February. Once the flowers have finished, they can be planted into the garden. When planted in beds or borders, they will fill your garden with powerful fragrance each April (naturalised bulbs flower slightly later than their pot-grown kin) and of course these beautiful flowers can be cut to make magnificent indoor cut flower displays too! They are really easy to grow; once planted, leave them in the ground and they will flower for many years getting bigger and better each year. Supplied as a pack 7 bulbs, size 14/15 ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 40cm and width of 10cm.
These stunning Hyacinth White blooms will make a perfect addition to your spring floral displays. Hyacinths are very easy to grow both indoors and outdoors too, filling your home or garden with amazing colour and fabulous, heady scent. An iconic spring flower, for best effect your pot of hyacinths is absolutely ideal in a cool room, where they will release their delicious scent for everyone to enjoy. In fact, they'll last twice as long as when grown in a warm room! Ideal to bring early spring colour into your home, simply slip the planted pot into a decorative container whey they will come into flower from February. Once the flowers have finished, they can be planted into the garden. When planted in beds or borders, they will fill your garden with powerful fragrance each April (naturalised bulbs flower slightly later than their pot-grown kin) and of course these beautiful flowers can be cut to make magnificent indoor cut flower displays too! They are really easy to grow; once planted, leave them in the ground and they will flower for many years getting bigger and better each year. Supplied as a pack 7 bulbs, size 14/15 ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 40cm and width of 10cm.
These gorgeous Hyacinth Woodstock have deep pink blooms that will make a perfect addition to your spring floral displays. Hyacinths are very easy to grow both indoors and outdoors too, filling your home or garden with amazing colour and fabulous, heady scent. An iconic spring flower, for best effect your pot of hyacinths is absolutely ideal in a cool room, where they will release their delicious scent for everyone to enjoy. In fact, they'll last twice as long as when grown in a warm room! Ideal to bring early spring colour into your home, simply slip the planted pot into a decorative container whey they will come into flower from February. Once the flowers have finished, they can be planted into the garden. When planted in beds or borders, they will fill your garden with powerful fragrance each April (naturalised bulbs flower slightly later than their pot-grown kin) and of course these beautiful flowers can be cut to make magnificent indoor cut flower displays too! They are really easy to grow; once planted, leave them in the ground and they will flower for many years getting bigger and better each year. Supplied as a pack 7 bulbs, size 14/15 ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 40cm and width of 10cm.
Narcissus Jetfire is a fantastic variety of daffodil, and it is certainly obvious where its name comes from! Bright yellow petals burst from a fiery-orange central trumpet, creating a wonderful contrast against the deep green stems. A real British favourite, Daffodils blowing in the breeze are a true sign that spring is approaching! With their distinctive flowers and sweet scent, they are a must-have for any garden and have been for hundreds of years. Plant them in pots, containers or straight in the ground this autumn for a fantastic display next spring and for years to come! They also make a fabulous cut flower - not least for their wonderfully strong fragrance - so be sure to plant enough to fill your vases several times over. Plant them in groups of 6-10 for maximum impact, in full sun or semi-shade, either on their own or with other spring-flowering bulbs of different colours for an eye-catching display. Supplied as a pack of 15 bulbs, size 8/10 ready for planting in the autumn.
One of the prettiest of daffodils, Narcissus 'Thalia' will add pleasing highlights to any garden in spring. Once a favourite of Victorian gardeners, the flowers emerge as a delicate greeny-white, maturing to bright creamy white as they open, contrasting beautifully against dark-green foliage. Sometimes known as 'Angel's Tears', this classic trumpet daffodil has multi-headed, downward-pointing blooms that will dance delightfully in a spring breeze. With stems of medium height, 'Thalia' is a versatile variety that will look great in the front of beds, borders and rock gardens, or in pots and containers. Plant them in groups or drifts through grass or underplant deciduous trees and shrubs, where they will naturalise easily and reward with bigger and better displays each year. They also make a fabulous cut flower - not least for their wonderfully strong fragrance - so be sure to plant enough to fill your vases several times over. Supplied as a pack of 15 bulbs for planting in the autumn. Plant them in groups of 6-10 for maximum impact, in full sun or semi-shade, either on their own or with other spring-flowering bulbs of different colours for an eye-catching display.
Narcissus 'Tête-à-Tête' is one of the most popular miniature daffodil varieties and a real British favourite, producing masses of golden-yellow flowers from late February to April. With paler yellow petals and darker trumpets, and 3-5 flowers per stem, they will be a star performer in your garden in spring. 'Tête-à-Tête's' miniature status makes it an ideal choice for pots and containers and also perfect for planting in the front of beds and borders. Fully hardy and vigorous, the bulbs will naturalise easily if planted in the ground, yielding bigger and better clumps each year. For a natural look, throw a handful of bulbs onto a grassy area and then plant them where they fall. Having a deliciously sweet scent, it makes a superb cut flower, so be sure to plant enough to fill your vases many times over. Fully deserving of its coveted RHS Award of Garden Merit, 'Tête-à-Tête' is a proven garden performer, guaranteed to be suitable for UK gardeners at every level of experience, so you can plant these bulbs with confidence that they will give stunning displays year after year. Supplied as a pack of 25 bulbs ready for immediate planting.
Narcissus Replete is a gorgeous and eye-catching double flowering variety that produces large, creamy apricot coloured blooms with dark orange centres that can reach over 10cm across. A real British favourite, Daffodils blowing in the breeze are a true sign that spring is approaching! With their distinctive flowers and sweet scent, they are a must-have for any garden and have been for hundreds of years. Plant them in pots, containers or straight in the ground this autumn for a fantastic display next spring and for years to come! They also make a fabulous cut flower - not least for their wonderfully strong fragrance - so be sure to plant enough to fill your vases several times over. Plant them in groups of 6-10 for maximum impact, in full sun or semi-shade, either on their own or with other spring-flowering bulbs of different colours for an eye-catching display. Supplied as a pack of 12 bulbs, size 12/14 ready for planting in the autumn.