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
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 (approx 75 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 82% July 25
Agretti is a revelation. Like so many Italian heirlooms, it looks elegant and tastes delicious. A salty, seductively succulent green. You can cut stems at 20cm long and blanch it or just cut the tips to use in salads. Keep cutting it back and it will send up fresh stems for picking. One sowing last the year. Grows well undercover or outside once frosts have passed.Sow: Valentines day-April undercover.Plant: 4-6 weeks after sowing.Harvest: After 6-8 weeks.Kitchen: Eat tips raw or cook stems - steam, sautee, or blanch. Pairs with acid (lemon, balsamic vinegar, lime), fats (walnuts, coconut milk, butter), salty (olives, feta, parmesan), aromatics (chilli).Notes: Agretti has a reputation for being hard to germinate. This is because the seeds need to be really fresh to germinate well. We only sell the fresh stuff. 1g (approx 60 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 78% Jan 26
A loose heading broccoli which tastes divine - sweet & succulent stems completely devoid of the sulfurous flavour found in standard calabrese. Piracicaba (from Brazil) is a heat tolerant variety which can be grown right through the summer. The first mini broccoli head is followed by tonnes of side shoots. A great variety for small gardens because you get so many harvest from one plant.
Also a great one for market gardeners - read all about it here: https://growingformarket.com/articles/piracicabaSow: March-April (undercover or outside with fleece or cloche)Plant: May, 60cm spacingHarvest: Nov-Dec Kitchen: Roast or steam. Pairs with acidic flavours (lemon, balsamic vinegar). fats (bacon, ham, blue cheese, parmesan), nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, chestnuts), aromatics (parsley, thyme).Notes: Plant deep and firm plants in very well to avoid toppling.0.4g (approx 100 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 85% Aug 25
Brit Pop is our solution to a very British problem - the late summer runner bean glut. Those few weeks in August when you have runner beans growing out of your ears and your neighbours, fellow allotmenteers and in-laws are trying to sneak their excess runners into your doorstep. Brit Pop is a beautifully diverse mix of varieties which all flower and pod up at slightly different times - giving you an extended harvest, without a massive glut. Each year we allow the plants to freely pollinate and set seed, keeping our Brit Pop population diverse. And if that's not a good enough reason to buy them, just look at the seeds themselves - a stunning mix of purples, pinks, blacks, blues, whites and browns - no two are the same!These are very rare seeds which we have a limited supply of. There is nothing similar on offer in the UK and we continue to bulk these up year-on-year.Sow: May in pots or modulesPlant: 1-2 weeks after sowing, 30cm apart.Harvest: July-SeptemberKitchen: Steam or sautee. Pairs well with alliums (garlic, onions, shallots), citrus (lemon), fruity (tomato), salty (feta, olives, capers), fats (ricotta, butter, bacon, almonds), aromatics (paprika, cumin, parsley, chilli), Notes: Protect emerging seeds from rodents. Plants need a strudy structure to climb up. Plants will have different flower colours - red, white and bicoloured - maybe some apricot shades if you're very lucky.
25g (approx 15 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 84% Jan 26
Lovely golden globe-shaped beetroot that bring a bit of sunshine to your plate. This variety has very strong, healthy, upright stems which are sturdy enough to bunch or cook as a green. The roots have a intense, turmeric-yellow colour which persists even after cooking. With such bright colouring, surely these beets are brimming with antioxidants. Beetroot are one of the easiest crops to grow but are a bit of a marmite crop in the kitchen. We find the yellow varieties have a milder, and more aromatic flavour than their red counterparts.Sow: April-July, can be sown in modules or directPlant: 4 weeks after sowing.Harvest: June-OctoberKitchen: Roast or boil. Pairs well with spices (cinnamon, chili, cumin), acid (lemon, balsamic vinegar), fats (goats cheese, feta, walnuts, pinenuts, hazelnuts, pecans), salty (capers, olives), aromatics (mint, parsley, dill, fennel, thyme).4g (approx 200 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 89% Sept 25
Our Desert Island onion. Cuisse de Poulet du Poitou is a banana shallot bursting with savoury-sweetness. Its mild enough to be served raw but really sings when cooked low and slow. The bulbs are about the size of an onion - you get proper shallot flavour without the extensive peeling. And they're beautiful - elegant, elongated bulbs with a rusty-rose skin.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, March undercoverPlant: 20cm spacing between modulesHarvest: July-AugustKitchen: Pairs with everything. Use raw or cooked in a myriad of dishes.1g (approx 250 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 94% Sept 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
Glossy courgettes in the deepest, darkest green. This well-behaved variety grows in neat, bushy clumps and throws out courgettes over a long period. A great variety to avoid a courgette glut. This is an all-round scrappy variety which was bred in the US for drought tolerance and mildew resistance. The plants have incredibly extensive root systems and are highly adapted to organic cultivation.Sow: April (undercover, ideally at 21C), late May outsidePlant: end May, 60cm spacingHarvest: July-SeptKitchen: 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).Approx 15 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 86% Feb 25
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.
Approx 15 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 92% Oct 25
Prepare to be wowed by the soft apricot orange of this stunning calendula. Flowers range from apricot to creamy yellow with (mostly) chestnut brown centers. The big, double flowers are borne on tall strong stems perfect for cutting. The full flowers also make this variety a great choice for gardeners who want to use petals as an edible or for herbal tea.Pot Marigolds are one of the most rewarding flowers to grow from seed. You'll have flowers all summer from a single spring sowing. They'll also self seed, giving you more flowers next year.Sow: September for overwintering seedlings. Sow undercover or outside Mar-May, depending on soil conditions.Plant: 4 weeks after sowing at 30cm.Harvest: Expect 50-60cm stem length, longer if grown inside.Vase: Pick when flowers are half open for best vase life of 5 days.0.35g (approx 35 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.Germ 71% 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.
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.
Portulaca oleracea
0.25g (approx 500 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 99% Sept 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 (approx 400 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 99% Sept 25
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 (approx 200 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
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
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
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
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.
Atriplex hortensis
0.2g (approx 100 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ rate: 62% 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 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).
Pisum sativum
18g (approx 100 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 98% Oct 25
Flageolet beans are some of the tastiest drying beans you can grow - so creamy, so good. We think of them as luxurious legumes, grown to feed French aristocrats in 17th century. Despite their pedigree, it's incredibly difficult to find seeds of these varieties in the UK. Flageolet Vert is our offering - a very rare variety which forms beautiful pale green beans which hold their shape when cooked. The plants are very productive, dwarf types.
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).
Phaseolus vulgaris
9.5g (approx 30 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 100% Oct 25
This heritage Italian variety of chicory is one of our favourites. Sweet flavour and crisp texture - this is a variety for chicory noobs. It rivals iceberg lettuce for crispness but with a much more aromatic, complex flavour. Outer, deep green leaves have more radicchio bitterness than the yellow hearts. Pan di Zucchero grow to an impressive size - about 40cm long - a satisfying green to grow. Sowing and planting timing is important to grow chicory successfully. Sow in mid-late July and plant out promptly. Chicory like to germinate in the cool. Sow: mid-late July. Keep seeds cool while germinating.Plant: 4 weeks after sowing.Harvest: October-December. Chicory is frost tolerant but the outside leaves can suffer, looking rotten and slimy. Hold your nerve and peel them away to reveal the jewel-like chicory heart. Kitchen: Best raw in salads but can also be cooked. Cut the hearts in half, marinate and griddle or barbecue. Pairs well with acid (lemon, balsamic vinegar, orange), fats (blue cheese, walnuts, hazelnuts), salty (capers), sweet (winter squash).0.5g (approx 350 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 72% Jul 25
Photo courtesy of Springtail Farm
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.
Allium cepa
1g (approx 250 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 98% Sept 25
Cottagers is one of the oldest kales the UK, dating back to a time when gardens weren't places to sit and admire, they were places to grow food, medicine and fibre. Cottagers is a tall, productive and exceptionally hardy variety - it will give you leaves all winter and tasty shoots in the spring. The plants are beautiful with glaucous green leaves and purple ribs.
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
Brassica oleracea
Approx 100 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 96% Oct 25
Grow vegetables you'll be hard pressed to find in the supermarket! Find rare and unusual varieties to add to your productive garden. All tried and tested in the UK climate! Shop our seeds and sow something special!
