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
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: 86% Jan 26
Fireworks makes a beautiful addition to your garden (vegetable or ornamental) and a very nutritious addition to your plate. You can 'eat the rainbow' by growing just one variety! It's a celebration of colour and diversity. You'll find stems in icy white, canary yellow, zesty orange, and cerise red with leaves ranging from verdant green to deep burgundy.
Say goodbye to uniformity and say hello to diverse form and colour. This is a diverse interbreeding population of plants rather than a single variety. If you dig up a seed cluster as its germinating and you'll see different coloured shoots stretching out of a single cluster. Each cluster is made up of several individual seeds, each with their own unique genetics. What a joy.
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).
Beta vulgaris var. cicla
1.5g (approx 75 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 84% Sept 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
An early spring treat for anyone who loves butterhead lettuces. Leaves are bright green, buttery soft, lightly dimpled and pleasantly sweet from growing in the cool. A key addition to my quest for a year round supply of butterhead lettuces! Harvest as a looseleaf salad mix by harvesting individual leaves or wait until for the dense heads to form in early spring.Lettuce is a very ancient crop, originally domesticated by the ancient Egyptians for its seeds and sap which were used as a pain killer and sedative. The Romans went on to cultivate lettuce for its leaves and used it as a braising green.Sow: Sept-November undercoverPlant: 4-6 weeks after sowing, plant 20cm apartHarvest: Feb-AprilKitchen: Best used in salads.Notes: Best grown undercover. 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 in early spring. Do not let seeds get hot when germinating. 15C is ideal, anything above 18C encourages seed dormancy.
Also available in our 'Cool Greens' winter salad seed collection.
Download our Winter Salads Growing Guide to learn more about growing winter greens.
0.25g (approx 200 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.Germ Rate: 70% July 25
Sunshine yellow, golf ball sized tomatoes which are always the earliest to ripen. A great tomato to kick off the season and for areas with a cooler climate. This British heirloom dates back to 1890s and produces prodigious quantities of delicious, juicy salad tomatoes. Like all yellow tomatoes they have a mild, fresh flavour - perfect for salads.
Sow: March, with heat (25C)
Harvest: July-September
Kitchen: Pairs with savoury (anchovies, capers, cured pork), aromatic (basil, coriander, thyme), spicy (anise, clove, chilli, cinnamon), fats (avocado, cream cheese).
Notes: Potato-leaved variety - broader leaves than standard tomatoes.
Approx 15 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 96% Aug 25
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.
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
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 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.
Pizzo is a lovely broad-leaved salad mustard with squiggly serrated edges. It adds verdant volume to winter salad pickings. Its visually similar to 'Green in Snow' but much milder. Definitely our preference for a productive winter salad leaf.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.
Download our Winter Salads Growing Guide to learn more about growing winter greens.1g (approx 450 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ: 88% Sept 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.
Brassica napus
1g (approx 250 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 80% Sept 25
Introducing your Christmas dinner Brussels sprout variety! Groninger produces classic green, dense sprouts from November to December. Unlike F1 varieties, Groninger crops over a longer period of time so you won't get overwhelmed by sprouts. Its tried and tested mid-season sprout variety which has been awarded the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the RHS. This means they've trialed it against lots of other varieties and found it to be exceptional. Classic sprout flavour - earthy, with a hint of bitterness which mellows in cool weather. Try them roasted - its by far the best way to eat them. Oh, and don't miss out on the sprout tops - the rosette of leaves at the top of the plant which resembles a cabbage - it's our favourite part of the plant!Sow: March-April (undercover or outside with fleece or cloche)Plant: May, 60cm spacingHarvest: Nov-Dec Kitchen: Roast, bake, braise or shred fresh sprouts into salads. 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.0.5g (approx 125 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 94% Aug 25
Our favourite oak leaf lettuce. Cerbiatta brings a beautiful and unusual silhouette to your salad bowl. Originating from Italy, Cerbiatta is bright green and crunchy with a strong - for want of a better word - lettuce-y flavour. I find it very vigorous and well suited to growing for cut and come again salad greens or in a loose leaf mix. Crowned with RHS AGM award.
Lettuce is a very ancient crop, originally domesticated by the ancient Egyptians for its seeds and sap which were used as a pain killer and sedative. The Romans went on to cultivate lettuce for its leaves and used it as a braising green.Sow: Feb-April 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.
Lactuca sativa
0.25g (approx 200 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 100% Sept 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
Thai Sweet Basil is a delight to grow for three reasons. Firstly, it is the perfect herb for Southeast Asian dishes, adding a complex bitter-sweet-spicy aroma to your cooking. Secondly its a glorious scented filler for flower arrangements - shiny green leaves, plum purple stems and a sweet anise scent. Thirdly, pollinators love it - leave it to flower and you can enjoy watching the bees buzzing around it all day.Its easy to grow but as with all basil, its best to grow it in a greenhouse or cloche for blemish-free leaves. If growing outside, wait until the soil and nights are warm before planting.Sow: mid March-July (at around 22C)Plant: 20-30cm apartHarvest: for leaves 8 weeks after sowingKitchen: Use fresh or cooked. Pairs with aromatics (lemongrass, coriander, mint), spices (ginger, cinnamon, chilli), fats (coconut milk, cashew), citrus (lemon, lime).Notes: Best grown undercover for unblemished foliage.0.5g (approx 200 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 71% Jul 25
Life is about the little things and having fresh herbs on hand is a joy. Grow a pot of chives and you'll have an abundant supply. They are generous producers which will happily self seed and bulk up year on year. Your bagel with cream cheese will never be without a sprinkling of chives.Sow: Direct sow into pots March-September (undercover or outside)Harvest: Lightly harvest 12 weeks after sowingKitchen: Pairs with proteins (eggs, fish, ham), fats (avocado, cream cheese), aromatics (chervil, basil, coriander, tarragon, parsley).Note: Chives are herbaceous perennials and die down over winter. They self-sow and clumps will bulk up. You can divide them in spring.0.25g (200 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 78% Jul 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
A very tasty sweet pepper with lipstick-red, heart-shaped fruits. Lesya is often touted as being one of the sweetest peppers around, we're a little dubious of the title, but what we will say is that Lesya reliably produces very tasty peppers with thick flesh, thin skins and rich flavour. And they're very popular with kids. Despite their compact size, these plants don't take well to being grown in pots.
Sow: Valentines day to end March, with heat (25C)
Harvest: July-September
Kitchen: 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.
Capsicum annuum
Approx 20 seeds. We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ Rate: 78% Oct 25
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 560 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ: 82% 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.
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
Celeriac 'Monarch' is a substantial winter vegetable with a subtle, refined taste. This variety produces large, smooth roots which are *relatively* easy to clean. Sow early, plant shallow and keep watered during the summer and you'll have nice big roots to harvest in the autumn. They store really well and make a great addition to the winter vegetable menu. We use them to make creamy soups and remoulades. We also love to grow them in the veg garden because they are fantastic at opening up heavy soils - their extensive root networks penetrate far down into the soil.Sow: March-April with heat (18C) or April in a greenhouse. Light aids germination - lightly cover seeds with fine compost or vermiculite. Seeds are small so it's easiest to broadcast sow then prick out.Plant: 8 weeks after sowingHarvest: August-OctoberKitchen: Mash, braise or grate into salads. Can also be used to replace celery in mirepoix. Pairs well with aromatics (chives, dill, rosemary, thyme, parsley), spices (chili, horseradish, mustard, caraway), fats (walnuts, creme fraiche, cream, butter), citrus (lemon).0.1g (approx 250 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 82% Jul 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 (approx 450 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.Germ 94% Aug 25
Cute, compact basil with bright, fresh flavour. Greek basil is Italian basil's smaller cousin - it has small leaves and only grows to 25cm high. It is sweeter than traditional Genovese types which we think makes it well suited to using in salads and as a garnish. Its small stature also makes it perfect for growing in pots on a window sill. Sow: mid March-July (at around 22C)Plant: 20cm apartHarvest: 8 weeks after sowingKitchen: Eat fresh or just wilted. Think pizza, pasta, pesto (and soup).Notes: Bolted plants bring in a tonne of pollinators.0.5g (approx 300 seeds). We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate.
Germ 74% July 25
