For delivery in time for CHRISTMAS, order BEFORE Thursday 18th December 10pm --- We are on holiday between Monday 22nd Dec - Friday 2nd Jan. --- Orders placed after 18th Dec will be send out Monday Jan 5th
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!
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.
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 bipinnatus0.5g (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.
An exceedingly elegant French Marigold, with long stems, aromatic foliage and deep red flowers edged with gold. They are extremely easy to grow (and save seed from) and extremely useful in a cut garden. One sowing will give you buckets of foliage followed by bunches of richly coloured flowers.
Cinnabar is a Great Dixter original (go visit this garden if you haven't already) - selected from a particularly tall specimen found in their borders. When I say tall, I mean tall - Cinnabar reaches 1.2m, so don’t plant it in between your tomatoes! Give it its own area of the garden to flourish in.
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 7 days.
Approx 100 seeds
Germ 85% 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).
Approx 20 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Solanum lycopersicum
Germ Rate: 100% Oct 25
Lilia is a lovely little spring onion - vibrant red, right to the core. Leaves are a deeper shade of green than most spring onion varieties. We love to harvest this variety once it has begun to bulb up. The gorgeous, shiny salad onions have a mild flavour, lending themselves to be eaten raw.
Sow: Feb-March undercover, April-July outside. Sow clusters of 10 in modules or sow direct 5cm apart. Stagger sowings every 8 weeks for continuous supply.
Plant: 4-6 weeks after sowing, plant clusters 20cm apart
Harvest: June-October
Kitchen: Best used in salads or slowly caramelised.
Notes: Keep cool while germinating. Temperatures above 20C inhibit germination.
Allium cepa
1.5g (approx 375 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 92% Sept 25
A fabulously large podded heirloom mangetout, originating from the south of France. Brilliant to grow with kids because the sweet, 12cm long pods are easy to spot and pick. The peas keep on the vines for ages before they get starchy or stringy. Unlike most modern pea varieties, Carouby de Maussane produces long vines (up to 1.5m) and has an extended harvest season - ideal for home gardeners.
Sow: March to May outside
Harvest: June - July
Kitchen: Steam or sautee. Pairs well with alliums (garlic, onions, shallots), fats (butter, feta, smoked fish, bacon), aromatics (mint, dill, parsley, chilli).
18g (approx 100 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Pisum sativum
Germ Rate: 96% Oct 25
Let me introduce you to the winner of our 2024 outdoor dwarf tomato trials! Uralski Ranniy is a Russian heirloom tomato which performs extremely well for us in South West England. It produces mini-beefsteak tomatoes, the size of a salad tomato but beautifully ridged. They are excellent eaten fresh but come into their own when they're cooked down into sauces or fried for breakfast. Happy growing outside, and will yield well in a sunny spot.
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).
Approx 20 seeds We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Solanum lycopersicum
Germ Rate: 88% Oct 25
The best dwarf french bean we've found for delectable, fine green beans. The beans are straight, narrow - what we think of as a true French bean, quite different from thicker green bean varieties. The plants are upright with strong growth to support heavy harvests.
Like many dwarf varieties, Faraday has been bred to produce abundant beans over a few weeks. Sow a second succession for late summer harvests, or a later maturing variety such as Dior.
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).
7.5g (approx 45 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Phaseolus vulgaris
Germ Rate: 94% Sept 25
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.
Approx 20 seeds We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Phaseolus vulgaris
Germ Rate: 98% 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)Germ: 71% Aug 25
An opportunity to grow a very rare, dual-use variety. Orach is a drought resistant plant, producing very tasty salad leaves and cooking greens, not dissimilar to spinach. Rose Gold produces zesty green leaves on pink stems. When the plant goes to seed, the party really begins, with tall, pink and gold spangly seed heads. Use fresh, dry or just enjoy the sound of them rustling in the wind.
Plants come back best when self sown - allow at least one plant to self sow for next year's supply.
Sow: April undercover, May-June outside.
Plant: 4-6 weeks after sowing at 30cm. Wait until risk of frost has passed.
Harvest: Young leaves for eating. Pick stems when flowers are half open. 60cm stem length.
Vase: Expect a vase life of 7 days.
Approx 100 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Atriplex hortensis
If you can call a courgette bodacious, then Costata Romanesco is the one. Big bold plants, with flowers bright and brazen, it really is something to behold. This Italian heirloom has been bred to produce exceptionally large flowers - perfect for stuffing with goats cheese, dipping in batter and frying. The courgettes themselves are also second-to-none. Beautiful striped skins, firm texture and nutty flavour.You’ll only need one or two plants to feed a family. Grow a couple more and you’ll be feeding the whole street.
Sow: April (undercover, ideally at 21C), late May outside
Plant: end May, 60cm spacing
Harvest: July-Sept
Kitchen: Slow cook, BBQ or roast. Pairs with fats (pine nuts, goats cheese, ricotta, feta, halloumi), citrus (lemon) salty flavours (capers, olives, anchovy, bacon), aromatics (coriander, dill, basil, marjoram).
Notes: Protect early plantings from frost. This variety has a tendency to develop yellow patterns on the leaves. This is a quirk of the variety, not a defect or disease.
~15 seeds
Germ 92% Oct 25
A kale that needs very little introduction. Nero di Toscana has a reputation for being the kale of choice for any gardening gourmet. The long, deep green leaves are more tender than standard curly kales with a flavour that sweetens after the first frost. A Tuscan heirloom which has been bred to withstand both hot and cold temperatures, you can harvest this kale from late summer to early spring.
Sow: March-April (undercover or outside with fleece or cloche)
Plant: May, 45cm apart
Harvest: Late summer- early autumn
Kitchen: Roast, steam, sautee or braise. Pairs with acidic flavours (lemon, white wine), fats (sesame, bacon, chorizo, walnuts, parmesan), alliums (garlic, leeks), aromatics & spice (mustard, cumin, parsley, coriander, ginger, chilli).
Notes: To avoid massive cabbage heads, grow no further than 45cm apart. As with all brassicas, plant deep to avoid toppling
0.5g (approx 150 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Brassica oleracea
Germ Rate: 97% Oct 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.
approx 15 seeds
Cucurbita moshata
Germ Rate: 98% Oct 25
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.
Approx 20 seeds We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Phaseolus vulgaris
Germ Rate: 80% Oct 25
Vibrant green leaves a top long, slender white stems with no bulbing. Ishikura is a fantastically robust and frost hardy Japanese variety with a crisp texture and mild onion flavour. Awarded an RHS AGM for its vigorous growth. Sow every couple of months for harvests throughout the year.
Sow: Feb-March undercover, April-September outside. Sow clusters of 10 in modules or sow direct 5cm apart. Stagger sowings every 8 weeks for continuous supply.
Plant: 4-6 weeks after sowing, plant clusters 20cm apart
Harvest: Year round
Kitchen: Best used in salads or slowly caramelised.
Notes: Keep cool while germinating. Temperatures above 20C inhibit germination.
Allium fistulosum
1.5g (approx 375 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 91% Sept 25
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)
Germ 73% Aug 25
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
Maravilla de Verano was the stand out lettuce in our 2025 lettuce trial (one of the driest summers on record). While all the other varieties had bolted or turned bitter, this beauty stayed luscious, succulent and sweet. It's a glorious Batavian type with large green leaves, tinged with red. A standout variety for summer salad production and great for gardeners who tend to forget to water their plants.
Sow: Feb-May undercover, May-July outside. Stagger sowings for continuous supply.
Plant: 4-6 weeks after sowing, plant 20cm apart
Harvest: Feb-April
Kitchen: Best used in salads.
Notes: To make the most out of your space, you can sow/plant 10cm apart then harvest every other plant leaving the remaining half to head up. Do not let seeds get hot when germinating. 15C is ideal, anything above 18C encourages seed dormancy.
0.25g (approx 200 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Lactuca sativa
Germ Rate: 100% Sept 25
The OG heirloom sweetcorn variety which is the ancestral parent of many hybrid varieties. It is early and sweet with satisfyingly large yellow kernels.
Sweetcorn is one of the best vegetable varieties to grow because the ears are so much sweeter when picked fresh. Plant in a block rather than row to ensure good pollen circulation and full kernels. Our favourite way to eat it is rubbed with lemon, salt and chilli then barbecued or grilled.
Sow: April-May (undercover), end May-early June (direct)
Plant: 2 weeks after sowing into warm soil, 45cm apart.
Harvest: September
Kitchen: Boil, grill or barbecue. Pairs with spice (chilli, paprika), salty (soy sauce, capers, feta, bacon), aromatics (coriander, thyme), citrus (lime).
Notes: If growing in modules, plant seedlings promptly - they don't like to get pot bound.
10g (approx 40 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Zea mays
Germ Rate: 85% Oct 25
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 true British heirloom, dating back to 12th century and hailing from the North of England. Once a staple, today they are most frequently found doused in salt and vinegar. They are as delicious as they sound.
Carlin peas are traditional drying peas, grown to harvest and eat as a pulse rather than the sweet fresh peas we're more familiar with. Grow these fuss-free plants and feel the wholesome satisfaction of loading up your store cupboard with home grown pulses this winter!
Sow: March to May outside
Harvest: June - July
Kitchen: Steam or sautee. Pairs well with alliums (garlic, onions, shallots), fats (butter, feta, smoked fish, bacon), aromatics (mint, dill, parsley, chilli).
18g (approx 100 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Pisum sativum
Germ Rate: 98% Oct 25
Cornflowers are some of the most robust cut flowers out there - they thrive in poor soil and are rarely bothered by pests and diseases. They attract a wide range of pollinators to your garden and I often find them covered with hoverflies.Flowers are edible - sprinkle the petals in salads or in cocktails.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: 4 weeks after sowing at 30cm.Harvest: Expect 60-80cm stem length.Vase: Pick when flowers are beginning to open for vase life of 5 days.1g (approx 200 seeds)Germ 79% Aug 25
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
