Grow your garden with our favourite heritage and heirloom vegetable and herb varieties.
All Vegetable & Herb Seeds
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Celeriac 'Monarch'
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/250 seedsGerm 82% Jul 25
£1.75
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Basil 'Greek Basil'
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/300 seedsGerm 74% July 25
£1.95
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Thyme
Thyme is a beautifully savoury herb which is very versatile in the kitchen - pick it fresh and it's even more aromatic. It's easy to grow - choose a sunny spot in a flower bed or pot and it will look after itself. It is a perennial herb which will last for years but we find it's best to resow every 3 years for strong lush growth. Sow: March - April (at around 18C)Plant: 30cm apart in MayKitchen: Use thyme to enhance the flavour of roasts, soups and stews. You can also pick the flowers and eat them in salads or as a garnish.Notes: Prefers well drained soil. On heavier soil, add gravel to hole before planting.~0.25g/1000 seedsGerm 79% July 25
£1.95
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Cabbage 'Violaceo di Verona'
We are really excited to be offering this rare and beautiful Northern Italian heirloom cabbage - Violaceo di Verona. It has lightly crinkled leaves which range from glaucous green to plum purple. This selection is a beautifully diverse - each plant has slightly different colouring and leaf texture. One thing that stays consistent is the flavour - the cabbages are top-knotch - deliciously sweet, particularly after cold weather. Plants are on the larger size, so perhaps not the most sensible choice for smaller gardens.Sow: March-April (undercover or outside with fleece or cloche)Plant: May, 45cm apartHarvest: Autumn-WinterKitchen: Roast, steam, sautee or braise. Pairs with acidic flavours (lemon, white wine). fats (sesame, bacon, chorizo, walnuts, parmesan), alliums (garlic, leeks), aromatics (mustard, cumin, parsley, coriander, thai sweet basil, ginger).Notes: To avoid massive cabbage heads, grow no further than 45cm apart. As with all brassicas, plant deep to avoid toppling.~0.5g/150 seedsGerm 95% Sept 25
£2.75
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Dwarf French Bean 'Blooming Prairie'
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST*** 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
£2.25
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Celery 'Tall Utah'
A classic American heirloom for all the celery lovers out there. Tall Utah produces a dense crop of crisp green stems under a canopy of healthy green leaves. The freshly picked celery have a crunch like no other and the leaves can be harvested as and when to use as a herb.Sow: March, 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: June-SeptemberKitchen: One third of the soffritto/mirepoix holy trinity - it is the base of many classic European dishes. Very versatile, particularly when cooked and pairs very well with aromatics (dill, rosemary, thyme, parsley), fats (blue cheese, walnuts, cream cheese).~0.1g/300 seedsClryTU-00050-MOL-OGGerm 70% Jul 25
£1.75
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Orach 'Rose Gold'
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST*** 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
£2.55
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Winter Squash 'Black Futsu'
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST*** 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
£2.25
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Sweet Pepper 'Turkish Delight'
An early sweet pepper that looks like a really long chilli. They produce slender, curling fruits as long as my forearm which begin pale green turning to orange then red. Eat them at any stage of the proceedings but our favourite is to pickle the still-green peppers whole with garlic and a bit of dill. The perfect kebab condiment. Or BBQ side. Or just to add a little sparkle to your packed lunch.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: Stake plants using a tripod method - they don't get very tall but branches are liable to snap under the weight of their fruit. Grow in greenhouse or similar.~20 seedsStock Ref: PepTDel-00137-WNO-CGerm 84% Aug 25
£2.50
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Cabbage 'Ormskirk' Savoy Type
The Ormskirk savoy cabbage is a English heirloom variety originating from the Lancashire market town Ormskirk. As you can imagine, this cabbage is no stranger to cold and wet weather. It will resist splitting, even in a wet winter. The leaves are heavily crinkled - verdant green on the outside with pale green hearts. This is one of the tastiest heirloom savoys around - the sweet leaves hold their bite after cooking. Sow: March-April (undercover or outside with fleece or cloche)Plant: May, 45cm apartHarvest: Autumn-WinterKitchen: Roast, steam, sautee or braise. Pairs with acidic flavours (lemon, white wine). fats (sesame, bacon, chorizo, walnuts, parmesan), alliums (garlic, leeks), aromatics (mustard, cumin, parsley, coriander, thai sweet basil, ginger).Notes: To avoid massive cabbage heads, grow no further than 45cm apart. As with all brassicas, plant deep to avoid toppling.~0.5g/150 seedsGerm: 94% Aug 25
£2.25
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Chard 'Swiss Chard'
A proper Swiss Chard with wide juicy stems and deep green, shiny leaves. A very different plant from our other varieties Fireworks and Verde da Taglia. We think of it as the European version of Pak Choi - a leafy green, bred for its crisp stems rather than its verdant leaves. For this reason it makes a great stir fry addition throughout the summer months when it's impossible to grow Pak Choi. It's a very generous green to grow - if you harvest individual stems, a couple of sowings will have you sorted for the year.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).~2.5g/150 seedsGerm: 81% Sept 25
£2.60
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Courgette 'Costata Romanesco'
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
£2.75
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Tuscan Kale 'Nero di Toscana'
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST*** 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
£1.95
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Aubergine 'Black Beauty'
Black Beauty is an early fruiting, large fruited aubergine variety. See how much hand strains under the weight of it! We've found this variety to be a reliable cropper even in difficult growing years. The aubergines it produces are both beautiful and delicious - shiny jet black skins with creamy white flesh. Aubergines are a long season crop and need to be started early and grown in a greenhouse. If you keep the plants well looked after, you'll be harvesting aubergines from August to October.Sow: Valentines day - March, with heat (25C), prick out and pot on to plant out after risk of frost has passed end of MayHarvest: August-SeptemberKitchen: Pairs with savoury (parmesan, miso, anchovies, capers, parmesan), aromatic (parsley, basil, coriander, thyme), spicy (anise, chilli, cinnamon), fats (seasame, goats cheese, mozzarella), alliums (garlic, spring onion).~15 seedsAubBB-00046-MOL-OGGerm 88% Aug 25
£2.25
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Rare Seeds Vegetable Seed Gift Collection | Heirloom Eco-Friendly Seeds for UK Gardeners | Gourmet Christmas Present
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.
£20.00
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Carrot 'Little Fingers'
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST*** 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. 1g (approx 800 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate. Daucus carota
£1.75
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Sweet Pepper 'Lesya'
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST*** 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. Approx 20 seeds We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate. Capsicum annuum Germ Rate: 78% Oct 25
£2.55
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Drying Pea 'Carlin'
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST*** 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
£2.25
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Dwarf French Bean 'Faraday'
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST*** 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
£2.25
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Chard 'Fireworks'
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST*** 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). 3g (approx 150 seeds) We pack seeds by weight, the number of seeds in a packet is an estimate. Beta vulgaris var. cicla Germ Rate: 84% Sept 25
£2.25
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Spinach 'Matador' Seeds
***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
£2.25
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Spring Onion 'Ishikura'
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST*** 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
£1.85
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Lettuce 'Maravilla de Verano'
***COMING NOVEMBER 1ST*** 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
£2.25
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Kohlrabi 'Azur Star'
There is a shade of electric purple found in vegetables which is hard to ignore. Azur star kohlrabi is a prime example of it. Smooth, bright purple vegetables which add gorgeous colour to autumn harvests.They have a mild, brassica flavour, similar to radish and can be used in similar ways. Try as crudites, grates in salads and slaws or baked in a gratin. Kohlrabi is often associated with Germany and Austria but the vegetable has a surprisingly long history in England. The first recording of field scale kohlrabi production dates all the way back to 1837. Sow: mid Feb-early March undercover or after mid June-July outsidePlant: April or July-August, 20-30cm spacingHarvest: June or September-OctoberKitchen: Make into salads, roast, bake or pickle. Pairs with citrus fruits (lemon), aromatics (coriander, chervil, dill), sweets (carrots, apples, honey), fats (parmesan, yogurt, sesame).Notes: Plants get woody at the base if left too long.~0.5g/150 seedsGerm 100% Aug 25
£2.45
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