Aromata is a truimph of sensorial plant breeding - intensely selected for flavour and texture, yielding a slim, butter-yellow variety with a firm texture and intense aroma. A brave new world of culinary possibilities has been opened! Say goodbye to bland, spongy parsnips and hello to crisp, tender roots. This variety is well suited to eating raw - think remoulade and coleslaw.Another great variety from Kultursaat breeders in Germany, developed from an accession from the IPK Leibniz gene bank. Read the breeders story below.Sow: April-early May in May. Kitchen: Pairs with savoury (bacon, marmite), fats (blue cheese, hard cheese), spices (nutmeg, cumin, anise), watercress.Notes: Seeds are slow to germinate, keep soil damp. Thin seedlings to 5cm and keep weeded. Roots are sweetest when harvested after the first frost.
1g / ~200 seeds
Germ 92% Aug 25The Story Behind the Variety...Back in the 90s, breeders at Kultursaat noted a big inconsistency in flavour and texture within individual parsnip varieties. Single varieties yield roots which tasted completely different - some were bland, some sweet, some spongy and some bitter. So they embarked on a long journey to create a variety which excelled in flavour and texture. As a root vegetable and biennial seed crop, the challenge was to find a method to taste test each root whilst keeping them in good enough condition to replant and save seed from the following year. Their solution was to remove a small core from each parsnip to taste. Hundreds of parsnips were tested and the roots with the best eating qualities were replanted to save seed from. This was done for years until the variety was just right. The finishing flourish was to test the variety in different soil types, showing it could grow well in clay, loamy, sandy and upland soils.https://www.kultursaat.org/dateien/zuechtung/sorten_englisch/aromata-en.pdf
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST***
Thrupp is a very special parsnip and an example of the wonders that can come out of community seed saving. This genetically diverse, modern-landrace parsnip was originally bred by Amanda Godber at an allotment site in Stroud, Thrupp has been stewarded by Down to Earth Stroud and the Stroud Community Seed Bank for years.
It was brought to my attention by seed steward Dan Fox of Two Acre Farm in the Mendips. Dan has put lots of work into trialling, selecting and adapting the parsnip and the seed offered here has been grown on his farm. He describes them as 'proper parsnips' with very little forking - a very rare variety which is strongly adapted to the South West climate.
1g (approx 200 seeds)
Pastinaca sativa
The best tasting perpetual spinach out there - sweet, tender, verdant green leaves on slim stems. Verde da Taglio is an easy-to-grow Italian heirloom which is perfect for gardeners who want to make the most out of their growing space. A couple of sowings will provide you with year-round greens. This is one of our favourite greens in the catalogue - we grow it every year without fail.Sow: April (undercover) & July (outside or undercover) for continuous supply. Plant: 4 weeks after sowing, or sow direct.Harvest: Baby leaves in 6 weeks, big leaves in 8-10 weeks. Harvest outside leaves.Kitchen: Eat baby leaves raw and cook older leaves - steam, sautee, or braise. Cook stems a little longer than leaves. Pairs with acid (lemon, balsamic vinegar, lime), fats (goats cheese, walnuts, coconut milk, butter), salty (olives, feta, parmesan), aromatics (chilli, nutmeg, dill, fennel, thyme).1.5g / ~75 seedsGerm 82% July 25
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 / 400 seeds
Germ 97% Oct 25
Marys Niagra 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.
~20 seeds
Germ 91% Aug 25
A fruity mix of baby pink, cherry red and deep plum flowers on strong stems. Also known as pincushion flowers, these are some of the sweetest cut flowers you can grow. They are loved by pollinators and make a handsome, naturalistic addition to your garden.Sow: Mar-May or Sept-Oct for overwintering seedlings. Undercover or outside depending on soil conditions. Lightly cover seed - needs light to germinate.Plant: 30cm apartHarvest: Harvest when flowers are just starting to open or harvest seed heads. Expect 60cm stem length.Vase: 5-7 days picked fresh.~50 seedsScaTBM-00105-JNY-CGerm 67% Aug 25
A colourful collection of our bestselling cut flowers - all in beautiful shades of pink, rose, lilac and white. Carefully curated by Ellen, this Pop of Pink Seed Gift Collection, is full of seeds saved from our farm & locally adapted to UK growing conditions. The open-pollinated varieties in this gift bag have been handpicked to create a cheerful display of rosy pink, soft lilac and lacy white blooms perfect for cutting. The gift that keeps on giving - a few packets of seed will bring bucketfuls of sustainable blooms, all summer long.
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST***
Cosmos 'Daydream'
Strawflower 'Silvery Rose'
Lupin 'Lilac Javelin'
Ammi 'Green Mist'
Ageratum 'Timeless Mix'
Why buy this collection?
Perfect for Container Growing: Features 7 colourful varieties, all chosen because they grow well and look beautiful grown in pots. Anyone can make a beautiful and tasty garden - be it a courtyard, terrace or balcony.
UK Sourced & Adapted: Our seeds are selected for their resilience and ability to thrive in the British climate, giving you the best chance of success! Most of our varieties are produced on our organically managed, 3 acre farm in Dorset.
Sustainable & Eco-friendly: We only sell open-pollinated & heirloom varieties (no F1 hybrids) which means you can save your own seeds for the next year.
A Thoughtful Christmas Present: Sharing seeds over the darkest months of the year is an ancient tradition we can all be part of. Our gift collections are beautifully packaged in a plastic-free, eco-friendly gift bag made from recycled cotton - perfect for anyone who wants to experience the joy of growing your own produce.
Gift mindfully this Christmas and give a gift that grows! Our Top of the Pots Seed Collection is the ultimate Christmas gift for small-space gardeners, inspiring joy, hope and growth in the year ahead.
Smooth, round crimson roots with a good crunch. They look particularly beautiful sliced into rounds, pure white flesh contrasting with the bright red skin. They taste best pulled straight out of the ground, soil rubbed off on a trouser leg. Eat from marble sized, all the way to the size of a ping pong ball. You'll be surprised at how big the roots can get without getting spongy or spicy. This variety has a particularly long harvest window and is resistant to downy mildew. Sow: February (undercover) until May. Sow little and often.Harvest: 4 weeks from sowing, longer if sown early.Kitchen: Raw, pickled or braised. Pairs well with fats (melted butter, aioli, sour cream, yogurt, walnuts), aromatics (rosemary, anise, thyme, dill, mint), citrus (lemon).4g / ~275 seedsGerm: 89% Aug 25
Our vibrant collection of rare, heirloom vegetable seeds make an excellent gift for the nature-friendly kitchen gardener in your life. Our Rare Seeds Luxury Vegetable Seed Gift Collection has been carefully curated by Ellen to offer something new to the gourmet gardener. Locally adapted to UK growing conditions, most of the varieties in this collection have been saved on our 3 acre farm in Dorset, giving you the best chance of kitchen garden success!
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST***
Broccoli 'Piracicaba'
Climbing French Bean 'Marvel of Venice'
Perpetual Spinach 'Verde da Taglio'
Physalis 'Mary’s Niagra'
Shallot 'Cuisse de Poulet du Poitou'
Salad Rocket 'Astro'
Cucumber 'Mideast Peace'
Why buy this collection?
Rare & Gourmet Seeds: Features 7 unusual varieties, all grown and selected for flavour. Many of the varieties and selections we offer aren't available anywhere else - perfect for the gardener who has everything!
UK Sourced & Adapted: Our seeds are selected for their resilience and ability to thrive in the British climate, giving you the best chance of success! Most of our varieties are produced on our organically managed, 3 acre farm in Dorset.
Sustainable & Eco-friendly: We only sell open-pollinated & heirloom varieties (no F1 hybrids) which means you can save your own seeds for the next year.
A Thoughtful Christmas Present: Sharing seeds over the darkest months of the year is an ancient tradition we can all be part of. Our gift collections are beautifully packaged in a plastic-free, eco-friendly gift bag made from recycled cotton - perfect for anyone who wants to experience the joy of growing your own produce.
Gift mindfully this Christmas and give a gift that grows! Our Rare Seeds Luxury Vegetable Seed Collection is the ultimate Christmas gift, putting flavour back into the kitchen garden and inspiring joy, hope and growth in the year ahead.
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST***
The sweetest onion in our catalogue with a rich flavour only found in homegrown onions. Long Red Florence is a very versatile Italian heirloom variety which can be cropped as quick-growing, bright purple salad onions or left to mature into elongated, red bulbs. The mature bulbs are so sweet and full-flavoured, delicious in salads or as a rich base for any dish.
Sow in March - 3-5 seeds per modules a la Charles Dowding. Harvest fresh and you can use the stems too. Later harvests have a more pungent flavour. Not the best storage onion, best eaten within a couple of months of harvest.
Sow: multi-sow 3-5 seeds per module for bulbs or clusters of 10 for spring onions, March undercover
Plant: 20cm spacing between modules
Harvest: July-August
Kitchen: Pairs with everything. Use raw or cooked in a myriad of dishes.
~1g /250 seeds We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Allium cepaGerm 91% Sept 25
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST***
Rossa di Milano is a stunning, deep red Italian heirloom with broad shoulders, tapering down to a narrow root. One we're really excited to bring to UK gardeners. A reliable variety to grow from seed, we sow in February and harvest in late summer. A brilliant storage variety - worth a try if you're after lovely sweet red onions which keep all winter.
Sow in March - 3-5 seeds per modules a la Charles Dowding. Harvest fresh and you can use the stems too. Later harvests have a more pungent flavour. Dry the bulbs out after harvest and they'll keep until December.
Sow: multi-sow 3-5 seeds per module for bulbs or clusters of 10 for spring onions, March undercover
Plant: 20cm spacing between modules
Harvest: July-August
Kitchen: Pairs with everything. Use raw or cooked in a myriad of dishes.
~1g /250 seeds We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Allium cepaGerm 98% Sept 25
White mignonette is a sweet-smelling wild plant which has found its way into back gardens across the world. In Europe it has been cultivated since ancient times and is foraged as a delectable wild plant in Greece and Italy. We love it for its wispy spires of star shaped flowers which grow up to 1m tall. The flowers have a sweet honey scent - not quite as strong as its cousin Reseda odorata, but enough to add another dimension to summer bouquets.Sow: Sow March-May, broadcast then prick out (seeds are tiny). Plant: 8 weeks after sowingHarvest: July-September. Pick when bottom third of flowers are open, or when seed heads have already formed. Be gentle, stems are delicate. Stems 60-80cm. Vase: Expect vase life of 5 daysNotes: Prefers well drained soil.~0.25g/250 seedsGerm 64% Jul 25
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST***
Green Purslane is a lifeline for any gardener who wants to grow fresh salad leaves through the heat of summer. Harvest the chunky tips for succulent leaves with a slight lemon-y tang. Very high in Vitamin E. Grow in between your tomatoes in the greenhouse or outside.
This Green Purslane we offer in the catalogue is distinct from Summer Purslane which is more widely available. Green Purslane is more delicate, closer to the wild form. We find it slower to flower and a much nicer texture than Summer Purslane, which can get a bit slimy.
Sow: April-July
Plant: 4 weeks after sowing at 20cm apart or interplant with your tomatoes.
Harvest: 8 weeks after sowing
Kitchen: Best eaten fresh in salads.
0.25g (approx 500 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Portulaca oleracea
Germ Rate: 99% Sept 25
Mibuna is your answer to home grown greens from autumn to early spring. Gentle peppery flavour that is hotter than Mizuna, milder than Golden Frills. The leaves are elongated and flex backwards, making a small well for salad dressings to sit in. They are a deep, healthy green colour.Mibuna originated from the Mibu region of Kyoto City in Japan, where it was bred from a mizuna hybrid. It's been cultivated from 1804. Use Mibuna as you would Mizuna - a baby leaf salad, a stir fry green or wilted in ramen. In Japan its mixed with kombu (an umami flavour-rich seaweed) and chilli to make a quick salty pickle called asazuke. A crisp, spicy, umami flavoured side dish - exceptionally moreish.Sow: mid March-May & Aug-Sept (undercover or outside)Plant: densely for baby leaves, 20cm for salad leavesHarvest: 4-8 weeks after sowingKitchen: Eat fresh, pickled or stir fried. Pairs with citrus (lemon, lime, ponzu), aromatics and spices (coriander, ginger, five spice, chilli), alliums (spring onion, garlic, garlic chives), fats (sesame, cashew).Notes: Early sowings benefit from fleece. Sowings bolt around the solstice. Long harvest period, particularly over winter - you'll have greens from October into spring.
Download our Winter Salads Growing Guide to learn more about growing winter greens.
~1g/450 seedsGerm 96% July 25
Stridolo (A.K.A. Sculpit) is the cultivated form of wild plant Bladder Campion. It's a beautiful Italian heirloom which we love to grow as a delicate addition to salad mixes. The glaucous green foliage is very elegant. Leaves are succulent with a mild flavour - a little aromatic with a mild, pleasant bitterness. One sowing will last you the year. We also love the dainty white flowers for cutting.Sow: April-MayPlant: 4 weeks after sowing once soil has warmedHarvest: 8-10 weeks after sowingKitchen: Use fresh or just wilted. Used in Italy as part of a bitter greens mix, in pasta and egg dishes.~0.25g/400 seedsSaLStr-00120-CNS-CGerm 99% Sept 25
A tasty Chinese mustard with brightly coloured stems ranging from purple to fuchsia to baby pink. Leaves are shiny with serrated edges, coloured vivid green or deep burgundy. A colourful addition to baby salad mixes but also tastes great cooked.Vivid choi is slow to bolt, cold hardy and versatile in the kitchen. A good choice for home gardeners looking to grow delicious greens you can't buy in the shops.Sow: mid March-May & Aug-Sept (undercover or outside)Plant: densely for baby leaves, 20cm for salad leavesHarvest: 4-8 weeks after sowingKitchen: Eat fresh, braised or stir fried. Pairs with citrus (lemon, lime), aromatics and spices (coriander, ginger, five spice, chilli), alliums (spring onion, garlic, garlic chives), fats (sesame, cashew).Notes: Early sowings benefit from fleece. Sowings bolt around the solstice. Long harvest period, particularly over winter - you'll have greens from October into spring. Cool weather and plant maturity bring out the purple and pink colouring.
Download our Winter Salads Growing Guide to learn more about growing winter greens.~1g/450 seeds
Germ: 97% July 25
Golden Frills is a vigorous variety, producing an abundance of lacy, golden-green leaves. A stalwart mustard for cut-and-come again winter salads. The young leaves are mild, becoming more peppery as the plant ages. I find slugs and snails tend to leave this variety alone - perhaps because of its unique leaf shape. Harvest the yellow flowering tips too - they're spicy and sweet.Golden Frills, along with a lot of the popular Asian greens, was popularised in the UK by the godmother of Grow Your Own, Joy Larkcom. Her book 'The Salad Garden' originally published in 1987 is seminal. Her careful recommendations are both tasty and decorative to 'feed the body and the spirit'.Sow: mid March-May & Aug-Sept (undercover or outside)Plant: densely for baby leaves, 20cm for salad leavesHarvest: 4-8 weeks after sowingKitchen: Eat fresh or stir fried. Pairs with citrus (lemon, lime, ponzu), aromatics and spices (turmeric, ginger, five spice, chilli), alliums (spring onion, garlic, garlic chives), fats (sesame, cashew).Notes: Early sowings benefit from fleece. Sowings bolt around the solstice. Long harvest period, particularly over winter - you'll have greens from October into spring.
~1g/450 seedsGerm 87% Aug 25
Mizuna is one of the most popular winter salad leaves out there. It produces succulent, green winter leaves with a mild, peppery flavour. It is more vigorous than the other winter salad leaves we offer and very frost tolerant. A brilliant bulker for winter and early spring salad mixes. Sow: mid March-May & Aug-Sept (undercover or outside)Plant: densely for baby leaves, 20cm for salad leavesHarvest: 4-8 weeks after sowingKitchen: Eat fresh, pickled or stir fried. Pairs with citrus (lemon, lime, ponzu), aromatics and spices (coriander, ginger, five spice, chilli), alliums (spring onion, garlic, garlic chives), fats (sesame, cashew).Notes: Early sowings benefit from fleece. Sowings bolt around the solstice. Long harvest period, particularly over winter - you'll have greens from October into spring.1g / ~450 seedsGerm 94% Aug 25
Lacey, magenta leaves which are more refined than similar varieties available such as 'Purple Frills' and 'Ruby Streaks'. A stalwart salad mustard for cut-and-come again winter salads. The young leaves are mild, becoming more peppery as the plant ages. Slugs and snails tend to leave this variety alone - perhaps because of its unique leaf shape. The young leaves are mild and become more spicy as they age and spring approaches.
As with most of the salad greens in this catalogue, their use in the UK can all be traced back to the godmother of Grow Your Own, Joy Larkcom. Her book 'The Salad Garden' originally published in 1987 is a seminal work on the subject. Her careful recommendations are both tasty and decorative, as she puts it, salad vegetables which 'feed the body and the spirit'.Sow: mid March-May & Aug-Sept (undercover or outside)
Plant: densely for baby leaves, 20cm for salad leaves
Harvest: 4-8 weeks after sowing
Kitchen: Eat fresh or stir fried. Pairs with citrus (lemon, lime, ponzu), aromatics and spices (turmeric, ginger, five spice, chilli), alliums (spring onion, garlic, garlic chives), fats (sesame, cashew).
Notes: Early sowings benefit from fleece. Sowings bolt around the solstice.
Also available in our 'Cool Greens' winter salad seed collection. Download our Winter Salads Growing Guide to learn more about growing winter greens.
~1g/450 seeds
81% July 25
An unusual rocket variety with deep green, broad leaves which aren't lobed like standard rocket varieties. It is slower growing and slower to bolt than more vigorous alternatives such as 'Victoria'. A substantial, peppery leaf for salads harvested between autumn and spring.Sow: mid March-May & Aug-Sept (undercover or outside)Plant: densely for baby leaves, 20cm for salad leavesHarvest: 4-8 weeks after sowingKitchen: Eat fresh or just wilted. Pairs with citrus (lemon, balsamic vinegar), aromatics (basil, dill, mint) and spices (chilli), salty (capers, olives, feta), fats (blue cheese, goats cheese, pine nuts).Notes: Early sowings benefit from fleece.
Download our Winter Salads Growing Guide to learn more about growing winter greens.~0.5g/250 seedsGerm 92% Jul 25
Our pick for a classic salad rocket - green, lobed leaves with strong peppery flavour. A fast growing, vigorous variety which works well as a cut-and-come-again salad leaf. It bolts faster than our other salad rocket variety 'Astro' which is slower growing. Ideally, you'll sow this variety thickly in successions. The flowers are a delicious salad ingredient too. It makes a flavoursome addition to salads from autumn until early spring. Sow: mid March-May & Aug-Sept (undercover or outside)Plant: densely for baby leaves, 20cm for salad leavesHarvest: 4-8 weeks after sowingKitchen: Eat fresh or just wilted. Pairs with citrus (lemon, balsamic vinegar), aromatics (basil, dill, mint) and spices (chilli), salty (capers, olives, feta), fats (blue cheese, goats cheese, pine nuts).Notes: Early sowings benefit from fleece. Sowings bolt around the solstice.~1g/500 seedsRocVic-00112-CNS-CGerm 98% Aug 25
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST***
This kale is popular for a reason! Also known as 'Ragged Jack', its blue-green leaves have jagged edges and delicate purple stems and are some of the most tender greens around. Cold weather brings a sweeter flavour and a bright magenta colouring in the leaves.
Red Russian Kale came to Europe from North Siberia and its impressive frost hardiness has meant its been grown all over the Northern hemisphere. The 'Red' in the name refers to communism rather than the colour of the plant. In the US this variety is nicknamed 'Communist Kale'. Whatever your political persuasion, your bound to be impressed by this popular heirloom Kale.
Sow: mid March-May & Aug-Sept (undercover or outside)
Plant: densely for baby leaves, 20cm for salad leaves, 30cm for cooking greens.
Harvest: 4-8 weeks after sowing
Kitchen: Eat fresh or stir fried. Pairs with citrus (lemon, lime, ponzu), aromatics and spices (turmeric, ginger, five spice, chilli), alliums (spring onion, garlic, garlic chives), fats (sesame, cashew).
Notes: Early sowings benefit from fleece. Long harvest period, particularly over winter - you'll have greens from October into spring.
1g (approx 250 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Brassica napus
Germ Rate: 80% Sept 25
A bullet-proof cut flower with a strong 'cocktails-on-the-beach' vibe. Salmon pink, bright orange and soft yellow all on one stem - sounds OTT but somehow it's just right. Our selection of 'Orange Wonder' has a mix of bright colours as well as plants with more muted colouring. This joyous plant has become a firm farm favourite, brightening up our summer with flowers from June to September. 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. ~50 seedsGerm 68% Aug 25
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST***
A robust, slow-to-bolt spinach with beautiful deep green leaves. If you're looking for a spinach to succession sow throughout the year - this is the one for you. Sow in successions every 4-6 weeks from March until September. Awarded the prestigious RHS AGM for its thick, succulent leaves and upright growth habit. As with all spinach varieties, Matador is high in vitamins A and C.
Sow: March to Sept. Sow early sowings undercover.
Plant: densely for baby leaves, 20cm for greens
Harvest: 4-8 weeks after sowing
Kitchen: Eat young leaves fresh, mature leaves just wilted. Pairs with citrus (lemon, lime), aromatics and spices (basil, turmeric, cumin, chilli), alliums (spring onion, garlic, garlic chives), fats (sesame, cashew, bacon, feta).
Notes: Early sowings benefit from fleece. Succession sow for continuous supply.
Spinacia oleracea
5g (approx 460 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ: 82% Aug 25
