Allotments

Cabbage ‘Wirosa F1' is a very useful early variety of savoy Cabbage, with finely blistered leaves and a vigorous plant habit. Reliable and frost hardy, the cycle plantation to harvest is around 160 days. It can be sown early under glass for the earliest harvests.

Carrot ‘Kuroda’ is a refined Chantenay strain that is widely adaptable, suitable for growth almost everywhere. Producing high quality, uniform roots of great flavour, it is highly tolerant to heat and thrives in even the poorest of soils, use as a main crop for enormous yields that mature late in the season, Kuroda keeps well in cold storage and is an awesome juicer.

Launched in 2005, Purple carrots caused a great stir at grower's and farmers markets. With compelling health benefits and a thumbs-up from taste testers they have quickly established themselves as an interesting choice of many home growers. 'Purple Dragon' has a beautiful purple skin, the deep velvety exterior gives way to a starburst of brilliant orange at the core.

It is very uplifting to go to the garden on a cold December day to harvest a perfect, intricately woven, beautiful white head of cauliflower. “All Year Round” produces good quality white heads and is an excellent all-purpose variety for successional sowing.

'Autumn Giant' is a well-known and respected maincrop cauliflower with large dense white curds which are thoroughly protected by the leaves. Sow in mid spring for an autumn harvest, or late spring, for a winter harvest.

The Giant of Naples cauliflower is a popular open-pollinated heirloom, a typical variety from the South of Italy. Attractive, good tasting white heads that are medium sized with a hemispherical shape. If left to mature they can weigh 1.6 to 1.8 kg.

One of the most beautiful vegetables and a true Objet d'Art. Each complex, symmetrical head features whorls of chartreuse green florets, in a complex, bewitching design, an amazing example of phyllotaxis - the fractal patterning that appears in nature.

Cauliflower Snowball is a superb heritage variety from the 1890's, this regular favourite has certainly stood the test of time. This easy maintenance variety is very suitable for the home gardener, the pure white, snowball-sized heads can be harvested when small or left to mature.

'Golden Self Blanching' produces thick, crisp, juicy, aromatic stalks of celery with solid hearts that have no hint of bitterness or stings. This dwarf variety is ideal for smaller gardens and does not need blanching. It produces naturally cream-coloured stalks with a crisp, crunchy texture and mild flavour.

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.

Choy Sum is one of the most popular vegetables in China and is now also widely used in the western world. With tender, delicious stems and flower buds, the flavour can be described as midway between cabbage and spinach. Choy Sum 'Gunsho' is a vigorous and productive 80 day type.

Instantly recognisable in Cantonese cuisine. Choy Sum 'Purple Stem' is an absolute fabulous vegetable. You use the whole plant: Flowers, buds, leaves and stems, and if allowed to mature and bolt, yellow flowers will shoot and the plant becomes sweeter and more succulent.

To the organic gardener, Comfrey is invaluable. It’s easy to grow, easy to use and incredibly beneficial to the garden. Leaves can be used as a top dressing or chopped and mixed with leaf mould to make a base for potting compost. You can make your own organic liquid feed or use as a compost activator.

'Plomyk' is a corn variety that is grown for its dried seeds that are later used to make delicious, home-made popcorn. Usually sown in May to June and harvested August to September. Perfect for home made popcorn at a party or movie night!

Courgette Ambassador F1 is an attractive variety and an outstanding hybrid that gives attractive dark green courgettes over a long period. A popular professionally-grown variety and well known for the home gardener, it is an early fruiting, high yielding courgette which matures in fifty days.