Toothsome cucumbers with beautiful deep-green, shiny skin. 'Mideast Peace' has a everything you want in a cucumber - sweet flavour, crunchy texture and it keeps well. Its one of the most robust cucumber varieties we've grown. The plant photos in this description were taken in October! As with all Lebanese-type cucumbers, the fruit are stouter than a standard supermarket cuc - they max out at 15cm. A true dual purpose variety - harvest thumb-sized for pickles or to palm-sized for Shirazi salads all summer long.The vines grow from 1-1.5m and can be trained on strings or left to sprawl although the cucumbers are better quality when trained. Mideast Peace was bred by Dr. Alan Kapuler of Peace Seeds (Corvallis, Oregon) for cool climates and we've found this variety to be both early and prolific in unpredictable British summers.Sow: April on a sunny windowsill or heated propagator at 21C.Plant: Harden off and plant into unheated greenhouse/polytunnel after risk of frost has passed. Usually ready to transplant 4 weeks after sowing. Plant at 60cm spacing, train up strings or leave to sprawl.Harvest: As baby cucs for pickles or for salads.Kitchen: Pickle or eat raw. Pairs with citrus (lemon, lime), aromatics and spices (dill, fennel, coriander, ginger, chilli, black pepper), alliums (spring onion, garlic, garlic chives), fats (sesame, cashew).Notes: Plants can be trained up strings or left to sprawl (and will take up a lot of room!).
Approx 20 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 94% Aug 25
We love 'Bronze Queen' for its unusual deep bronze flowers which dangle daintily from the stem. Nicotiana are stately, long stemmed plant which look like they should be difficult to grow. But they're not. Keep the plants well picked and one sowing will keep you in flowers all summer long. Nicotiana are moth pollinated flower so are a brilliant flower to incorporate into a pollinator friendly garden.Sow: March to April. Needs light to germinate. Broadcast in seed trays and prick out (seeds are very small)Plant: 30cm apartHarvest: For longest vase life harvest when a third of the flowers are open. Expect stems of 80cm which feel sticky to touch.Vase: Expect vase life of a 10 days
Approx 100 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 68% Oct 25
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
A total stunner. Papery blooms start off a deep shade of fuchsia before mellowing out to a silvery rose. An elegant colour which looks beautiful fresh or dried. A brilliant cut flower which can be used fresh but comes into its own when dried. Pick at the height of flowering, bind together in generous bunches and hang them to dry upside down and the colour will intensify. You'll have colourful blooms to brighten up the house and take you through the winter months and beyond. There's a reason this is known as the 'everlasting flower' and 'immortelle'!Helichrysums are Australian natives which are very robust and drought tolerant.Sow: Sow undercover in April or outside direct in May. Benefits from warm soil.Plant: 4 weeks after sowingHarvest: July-September. Pick when flowers are half open. Stems 80cm or longer.Vase: Can be used fresh or dry. To dry, strip off foliage, tie in a bunch and hang upside down. Flower colours will intensify.0.25g (approx 300 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 72% Aug 25
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
A chance to buy some very rare seeds. This seed is a cross between Cynoglossum ‘Firmament’ (blue, pictured) and ‘Mystic Pink’ (rose, pictured).
Expect mostly blues with the chance of some surprises in soft rose and lilacs. We love Cynoglossum because it flowers so abundantly, attracting incredible populations of bees to your garden.
Sow: Valentines day to end April. Darkness aids germination.Plant: May, after risk of frost has passed.Harvest: June-October. Pick a quarter of flowers on stem are open.Vase: Tips are prone to wilting. Pick in the cool and if stems wilt, sear the stems. Submerge cut edge in boiling water for 10 seconds then return to cold water.Notes: Cynoglossum self seeds.
1g (approx 200 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 71% Aug 25
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
A productive salad leaf and stalwart cut flower rolled into one. Wrinkle Cress grows quickly and abundantly, adding pep to your salads from autumn through to spring. As the days lengthen, plants throw up shoots full of tiny white flowers which gradually transforming into graceful seed heads. The seed heads can be picked when glaucous green or when dry and silvery. They are super versatile - an easy way to add texture to late summer and autumn arrangements. Use fresh or dried.
Sow: mid March-May & Aug-Sept (undercover or outside)
Plant: direct sow or plant 10-20cm apart
Harvest: Salad leaves 4-8 weeks after sowing. Cut seed heads when the uppermost flowers have faded.
Kitchen: Eat fresh in winter and early spring salads. Pairs with citrus (orange, lemon, lime), aromatics and spices (coriander, ginger, five spice, chilli), alliums (spring onion, garlic), fats (sesame, cashew).
Vase: Expect fresh seed heads to last for a week.
1g (approx 400 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 97% Oct 25
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
Gardener's Sweetheart is an overachiever. It produces trusses as long as your forearm, laden with cute red tomatoes, shaped like anatomical hearts. Unusually for most heirloom varieties, Gardener's Sweetheart has a high resistance to splitting so you can leave whole trusses of tomatoes to ripen before picking them. The tomatoes have a lovely firm texture (they make great sauces too) and sweet flavour.
As with many tomatoes, the flavour of this variety is deadened with over-watering. Once plants are established, water the absolute bare minimum (if growing in open ground) and you will be rewarded with the sweetest fruits.
Gardeners Sweetheart is a vining, (indeterminate) variety which is best grown undercover, grown up strings - either in the ground or in containers.
Sow: March, with heat (25C)
Harvest: July-September
Kitchen: Pairs with savoury (anchovies, capers, cured pork), aromatic (basil, coriander, thyme), spicy (anise, clove, cinnamon), fats (avocado, cream cheese).
Solanum lycopersicum
Approx 20 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 100% Oct 25
Marys Niagara is strictly suited to gardeners with a sweet tooth who welcome a little wildness into their gardens. Also known as cape gooseberries, these berries are all individually wrapped in a papery husk. The orange berries inside taste like the layer of caramelized pineapple you get on a pineapple upside down cake. Totally delicious.Despite having their roots in North America, these grow with wild abandon - the plants are big and the fruits are plentiful. They grow 30cm up and then start to bush outwards to almost 3 foot wide! We think they would look tremendous cascading down the side of a container. Fruits fall off the plant when ripe. You can give them a little shake to encourage them and leave to ripen fully on a window sill. Fruits keep well.Sow: March-April with heat (21-25C)Plant: 50-100cm apartHarvest: July-SeptemberKitchen: Eat straight off the plant or incorporate into fruity desserts - they're particularly good in pavlovaNotes: This variety grows well outside.
Approx 20 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 91% Aug 25
The daintiest winter squash we grow! The plants are much less brutish than other varieties, co-existing well with the other plant life in your vegetable patch.
The squashes themselves are small too - rarely weighing over a kilo - making them the perfect size to roast whole. Fruits have a creamy texture and thin, digestible skins so no need for peeling. If the season is long, the fruits will mature to a dusty orange - pick at any stage.
Sow: April (undercover, ideally at 21C), late May outside
Plant: end May, 60cm spacing
Harvest: Sept-Oct
Kitchen: Roasted whole. Pairs with fats (hazelnuts, peanut, walnuts, goats cheese, feta), citrus (lemon, lime), aromatics & spices (coriander, sage, rosemary, thyme, chilli).
Notes: Protect early plantings from frost.
Cucurbita moshata
Approx 20 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 98% Oct 25
An electric combination of apricot orange and lavender pink. These are show stoppers with a bit of rustic charm. Their big blousey blooms have jagged edges, often combined with a delicate inner circle of petals, similar to 'Fizzy White'. They often stop us in our tracks as we're walking through the field. Like all cosmos, they attract a tonne of bees and beneficial insects to your garden.
Sow: Mar-April undercover, May-June outside.
Plant: 4-6 weeks after sowing at 30cm. Wait until risk of frost has passed.
Harvest: Pick stems when flowers are half open. 60cm stem length.
Vase: Expect a vase life of 5 days.
Cosmos bipinnatus
0.5g (approx 75 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ: 83% Sept 25
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
Gypsophila 'Covent Garden' is a classic cut flower, beloved by anthophiles everywhere for its light stature and larger-than-average pure white blooms. Easy to grow. Sow seeds direct in spring or early summer and the plants take off like a bat out of hell. For this reason, Gypsophila makes a brilliant summer gap-filler.
Sow: Best direct sown from mid-March to June or Sept. This is a 'one-and-done' flower - sow a couple of successions for constant supply.
Harvest: Pick when half the flowers on the stem are open.
Vase: Expect vase life of a week.
0.5g (approx 450 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 100% Aug 25
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
An early and prolific member of the habanero family of chillis which has a distinctively lemony and aromatic. Its flavour rivals the more widely available 'Lemon Drop' and we include this in our catalogue because of its earliness, bountiful yields and small stature. Its perfect for container growing and doesn't need to be staked.
This is a chilli we grow for one reason only - to make an unforgettable fermented chilli sauce. The chillis are on the spicy side so we often cut them half and half with sweet peppers. This variety dries well but disappointingly doesn't retain its bright lemon-yellow colour after drying, although it does keep its flavour.Sow: Valentines day to end March, with heat (25C)Harvest: July-SeptemberKitchen: Pairs with savoury (olives, bacon, cured pork), aromatic (parsley, coriander, oregano, ginger), spicy (paprika, cumin, cinnamon), fats (avocado, soft cheese, eggs).Notes: Grow in greenhouse or similar.
Approx 20 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 88% Jan 26
Crisp, sunshine yellow beans with a bright, buttery flavour. One of the best tasting French beans we've grown. We offer the white seeded strain of this variety which we think is more tender than the black seeded type. The pods are wide and flattened and tend to curve if grown outside. An easy-to-harvest variety on account of the brightly coloured beans.
Our original seed for this variety was gifted to us by incredible heirloom bean seed producer Pippa Rosen from Beans & Herbs.
Sow: April undercover, May-June outside
Plant: 30cm apart
Harvest: July-September, pick regularly.
Kitchen: Cook lightly and pair with savoury (parmesan, bacon), aromatic (tarragon, ginger), acid (white wine, lemon), fats (olive oil, almonds).
Notes: This is a climbing French bean and will easily grow to 6ft so stake accordingly.
Phaseolus vulgaris
15g (approx 40 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 98% Oct 25
An ethereal sweet pea with long stems and excellent scent. The flowers are a soft blue (verging on lilac) with full and frilly petals which hold their ground in an arrangement. An excellent sweet pea grown in the garden or for cutting. Grow undercover for extra long stems. Bred by Chris Hammer and introduced by Unwins way back in 1990.
Sow: Late Oct-Nov for overwintering seedlings or Valentines day to end of March. Resist sowing in the depths of winter.Plant: 20cm apart, enrich with compostHarvest: When uppermost 2 buds are closed.Vase: Expect vase life of 4-5 days.
Approx 40 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 86% Aug 25
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
Finally, a deep purple bean that actually tastes good! The pods are slender, slightly flattened and beautifully straight. They start off as soft lilac flowers which are something to be appreciated in their own right. As with most purple vegetables, the purple colour disappears once they're cooked. Fun while it last though, and the beans are easy to spot when you're harvesting. Blooming Prairie is a dwarf French bean and the plants will grow to 30cm off the ground - no need to stake.
Sow: April undercover, May-June outside
Plant: 30cm apart
Harvest: July-September, pick regularly.
Kitchen: Cook lightly and pair with savoury (parmesan, bacon), aromatic (tarragon, ginger), acid (white wine, lemon), fats (olive oil, almonds).
Notes: Sow a second succession in June for continuous harvest.
Phaseolus vulgaris
9g (approx 30 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 80% Oct 25
Little Finger is one of the best carrots to grow with children. They are fast growing, sweet tasting and a very satisfying size. The medium-long roots grow up to a finger-width wide (hence the name) so they are ideal left whole and crunched as kids snacks or crudites. Unlike most carrot varieties, Little Finger is specifically adapted to clay soils - one to try if you’re still trying to grow your first straight carrot!
Sow: May until mid-July, direct sow.
Harvest: At least 12 weeks from sowing.
Kitchen: Roast, braise or eat raw. Pairs well with acid (balsamic, white wine, lemon), aromatics (cumin, dill, mint, thyme, rosemary, coriander, ginger, chilli), fats (sesame, olive oil), alliums (leeks, garlic).
Notes: Sow late May to early June to avoid carrot root fly.
Daucus carota
1g (approx 800 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ: 77% Oct 25
'Green Mist' produces a profusion of billowing, cloud-like blooms. The umbels can be picked when small and green or once they've began to sparkle with little white flowers. They are extremely popular pollinators.
Ammi visnaga is taller than its close relative Ammi majus. The plants are tall and stately, growing to at least 1m tall. They are generous flowerers and make a real impact when grown on mass.
Sow: September-October for overwintering seedlings. Sow undercover or outside Mar-May, depending on soil conditions. Loves to be sown direct into the soil.Plant: 30cm apartHarvest: Expect 60cm stem length.Vase: For best vase life, pick when two thirds of the flowers on umbel are open. Vase life of 10 days.
N.B. Poisonous to livestock. Sap can cause skin irrigation in some people.
0.25g (approx 300 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ: 71% Aug 25
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
Often the best things in life are found in unlikely places. Who would have guessed that earliest and most productive pepper would hail from the warm Middle Eastern gardens of Turkey? Not us. But Turkish Dolma produces bountiful harvests of sweet, palm-sized peppers from July to September. The peppers are blocky with shiny skins which turn from green to red.Turkish Dolma has been bred to be picked green and stuffed ('dolma' is Turkish for 'stuffed) then baked. We find them very versatile peppers in the kitchen. Roast the young fruits whole and eat them seeds and all; fry them up for breakfast menemen (Turkish scrambled eggs) or let them ripen fully for the perfect snack pepper.Sow: Valentines day to end March, with heat (25C)Harvest: July-SeptemberKitchen: Pairs with savoury (olives, bacon, cured pork), aromatic (parsley, coriander, oregano, ginger), spicy (paprika, cumin, cinnamon), fats (avocado, soft cheese, eggs).Notes: Grow in greenhouse or similar. Stake plants using a tripod method - they don't get very tall but branches are liable to snap under the weight of their fruit.
Approx 20 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ rate: 82% Aug 25
A glorious mix of peaches, pinks, creams and apricots with lots of different flower forms - some more ruffly than others. This mix is essentially the children of Apricotta cosmos, cross-pollinated with the plethora of other varieties of cosmos in our field by roaming bees. Exactly what comes out is a surprise, but we can guarantee it'll be a beautiful one.Like all cosmos, they attract a tonne of bees and beneficial insects to your garden.
Sow: Mar-April undercover, May-June outside.
Plant: 4-6 weeks after sowing at 30cm. Wait until risk of frost has passed.
Harvest: Pick stems when flowers are half open. 60cm stem length.
Vase: Expect a vase life of 5 days.
Cosmos bipinnatus
0.75g (approx 75 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ: 86% Oct 25
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
We find it hard to resist Cosmos with its generous blooms and low maintenance attitude but Double Click Cranberries has really earned its place in our catalogue. These deep, carmine ruffled petals make gorgeous focal flowers in flower arrangements. The breeder has paid special attention to stem strength and you can tell, they are bomb proof. Unlike other flowers with bountiful petals, Cranberries nectar rich and brings a tonne of bees and beneficial insects to your garden.
Sow: Mar-April undercover, May-June outside.
Plant: 4-6 weeks after sowing at 30cm. Wait until risk of frost has passed.
Harvest: Pick stems when flowers are half open. 60cm stem length.
Vase: Expect a vase life of 5 days.
Cosmos bipinnatus
0.75g (approx 75 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ: 82% Jan 26
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
A chance to get hold of some very exclusive seed! Snapdragon Winnow Mix is part of our breeding programme to develop more open pollinated snapdragon varieties. There are only 3 available in the UK and we think that isn't enough!We started with 20 different snapdragon varieties - all with white-peach-pink colour - and saved the seed to give you this mix. Grow these seeds and you're in for a surprise! They'll be a lovely diverse mix of plants in there - mostly with the same colouring as their parents. And who knows, you might even discover an amazing new snapdragon variety!It's fantastically easy to grow and is short-lived perennial so one sowing will give you flowers for a good few years. Bumblebees love snapdragons so it's a must-grow if you'd like to attract more to your garden.Sow: Valentines day to end of March or Sept-Oct for overwintering. Broadcast in seed trays and prick out (seeds are very small)Plant: 20-30cm apartHarvest: For longest vase life harvest when only 2 or 3 flowers have opened.Vase: Expect vase life of a week or longer.Notes: Overwinters best in free-draining soils.
0.03g (approx 250 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 84% Jan 26
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT liable goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
The cutest little french marigold on Earth! Bouncy mounds of rich red flowers with orange centres. Looks amazing in the brassica patch as an underplanting for your cabbages, sprouts and kales. Combine with electric purple 'Kalibos' cabbage for an arresting display, fit for any potager. One of the few flowers we sell which aren't great for cutting but we include it because the its such a lovely addition to a vegetable patch! The foliage smells amazing and flowers are edible. Sow: Mar-April undercover, May-June outside.Plant: 4-6 weeks after sowing at 20cm. Wait until risk of frost has passed.Harvest: Open flowers for salad garnishes
Tagetes tenuifolia
Approx 50 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ: 95% Jan 26
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
Lupins can be a bit hit-and-miss when it come to cut flowers. They're often too bulky or gawdy to sit well with other blooms. Lilac Javelin is something different. It's dainty flower heads delicately weave their way through an arrangement adding a lightness and spontaneity which is hard to replicate. Each individual flower unfurls white and a dash of yellow, ageing to a muted lilac. Very popular with bees.Plants are tall and a little gangly and benefit from staking. If you're growing them in a border, be sure to plant towards the back.
Sow: March-April indoors, May outside.
Plant: 30cm apart
Harvest: For longest vase life harvest when first flowers begin to open.
Vase: Expect vase life of a 7 days
Notes: All parts of this plant, including seeds are poisonous.
Approx 30 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 94% Sept 25
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
Bring a little old school cut flower magic to your plot.The fuzzy flowers of this variety come in shade of lilac, purple, magenta, dusky pink and white. Our selection favors the pastel shades.
Ageratum or floss flower is a sturdy cut flower, traditionally grown in the UK. They make incredibly productive plants - if you deadhead diligently, they will flower until November. Their long flowering season also makes them a great plant for feeding your local pollinators.Sow: March-May. Needs light to germinate. Broadcast in seed trays and prick out (seeds are very small)Plant: 30cm apartHarvest: Harvest when flowers are fully open - young stems are liable to wilt. Expect stems of 60cm.Vase: Expect vase life of a 7 days0.02g (approx 100 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 98% Aug 25
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
Gorgeous lacy umbels of fresh white flowers which add a touch of romance to your borders. Excellent cut flowers through spring to mid-summer. Blooms are very versatile in the garden and in the vase.
As with all umbellifers, they are very popular with pollinators and autumn sowing provide vital nectar for bees in spring.Sow: September-October for overwintering seedlings. Sow undercover or outside Mar-May, depending on soil conditions. Loves to be sown direct into the soil. Seed needs to be exposed to cold to germinate well.Plant: 30cm apartHarvest: Expect 60cm stem length.Vase: Pick when two thirds of the flowers on umbel are open. Vase life of 7 days.1g (approx 50 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 73% Aug 25
All cut flower seeds are subject to 20% VAT which is added at checkout. If your order contains VAT-able goods, 20% VAT is also charged on shipping.
Grow your garden with vegetable, flower and herb seeds harvested straight from the farm. The seed we offer here is all grown by us or another small farm nearby.