K-L

One of the most instantly recognisable vegetables in Cantonese cuisine. Choy Sum ‘Fuubi’ is one of the most uniform and productive, widely grown by the specialist producers of this crop. This slow flowering, late maturing variety is tolerant of low temperatures. It has good holding ability with deep green leaves and a quality stem that is smooth and fleshy.

Kale 'F1 Oldenbor' is a frost resistant medium-tall variety with beautiful medium-green coloured, finely curled leaves. Disease resistant with uniform plant growth, it is unsurpassed for extra-mild, sweet Kale tang. Ultra-hardy, it is suitable for autumn and winter harvest. 28 days for baby kale; 60 days mature.

With deeply cut, slate green oak-like leaves ‘Red Russian’ is one of the tenderest and sweetest kales available. Sow under cover in autumn for baby leaves after four to six weeks, or directly outdoors for over-wintering. This hardy crop can provide nutritious leaves even in the depths of winter.

Some years ago, we knew kale as a hearty winter meal, suddenly its popularity soared and ‘Kale Madness’ erupted. Now available in all manner of shapes, sizes and colours. 'Scarlet Curled' Kale is a highly attractive and ultra-hardy variety, the leaves intensify in colour turning to violet-red after a few frosts.

Kale 'Black Magic' is an improved Italian Black Kale, bred to be more tender with better flavour. The winter hardy plants more cold tolerant, vigorous and slower-to-bolt than other Italian kales. They form an easy-to-harvest rosette of very dark, savoyed leaves with a flavour that is rich and mild.

Until recently Cavolo Nero, or 'Tuscan Kale', was one of Italy's best kept secrets. Simply adored, especially in the north of Italy, it has been an essential fare of traditional dishes for centuries. Cavolo Nero can now be found in garden markets, specialist greengrocers and trendy restaurants throughout Europe.

'Delicacy Purple' is much improved over the previous Vienna varieties, producing a crop that is slightly more tender and with more flavour, it has good standing ability, is low growing and matures quickly, progressing from sowing to harvesting in a couple of months.

'Delicacy White' is much improved over the previous Vienna varieties, producing pale green globe shaped roots with a crisp white flesh.Sow from late February to the end of August for a continuous supply. “Delicacy White” is an ideal companion to “Delicacy Purple” as it matures a little earlier.

Komatsuna ‘F1 Comred’ has rich ruby red leaves and contrasting green stems. Ideal as baby greens, the flat, round leaves are tinted red above and green with red veins below, they maintain their colour under crop covers or glasshouse. The plants are uniform with excellent upright growth for easy harvest.

Komatsuna, F1 Samurai is a robust and reliable Komatsuna, it is longstanding and with good yield potential. With a dark green round/oval leaf and a nice upright habit they are easy to harvest. It can be sown virtually every month of the year, for glasshouse or tunnel crops or open field.

Bulls Blood 'Atlanta Red' is a heat tolerant summer variety which holds its magnificent red colour in high temperatures. Used by commercial growers for both baby leaf and mixed salad leaves, this dual purpose variety can be harvested at any stage of growth, use the leaves in salads or steamed like spinach, or the roots can be left to grow like any other beetroot.

Perpetual Spinach 'Everglade' is a modern selection with an upright habit and dark green compact leaves that contrast sharply with bright white stems. It responds particularly well to repeat cutting and is one of the easiest and most productive vegetables for a small space.

Leek Musselburgh is named for a coastal market town on the Firth of Forth. Introduced in 1834, it has remained popular ever since. It is extremely hardy and can be picked over winter from December to April when there is little else in the garden. A very hardy leek and a very dependable performer.

Leek Winter Giant 3 is an extremely hardy leek, it will put up with blistering gales and frost without a pause. Harvest from October to March. The solid, long white stems are exhibition quality with an outstanding flavour.

Melissa officinalis or 'Lemon balm' is a highly-scented herb, best known for its use in tea, but this very special herb has a number other uses. If you enjoy the liquors Benedictine and Chartreuse you may find the taste familiar as lemon balm is an ingredient in both.