April

The classic tall Italian radicchio. Upright with red and white striped leaves with large pure white stems. Highly prized, this flavoursome early variety is grown in the Treviso area in winter and is eaten, root and all, simply pan fried or grilled. It has high resistance to cold.

‘Variegata di Castelfranco’ has a beautiful form with wavy leaves that are flecked with purple. It is one of the hardiest and easiest to grow at any time in the year. Traditionally sown in mid to late summer, the harvest begins in December and lasts well into winter.

These easy to grow chives are one of the famous fines herbes of French cuisine. Easily raised from seed, they are perennial bulbs that spread to form neat tufted clumps, ideal for edging beds and paths. They are particularly attractive when in flower and are a favourite of bees and other pollinating insects.

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.

Coriander 'Slobolt' is a variety for leaf production that is resistant to bolting and running to seed. It isn't a hard plant to grow and of course, fresh herbs and spices have far better flavours than dried ones. Home grown herbs are infinitely superior, the difference can be quite startling.

Coriander 'Leisure' has been bred specifically for large, flavoursome leaf production, a particularly fine variety of superb quality. Extra slow bolting, it is particularly suited to hot weather regions. It is an excellent herb for slightly shaded areas, is very easy to grow and makes a good window box herb.

Coriander is not one of the world's favourite flavourings, it's two of them. This dual purpose herb is grown both for its seeds or fresh young leaves. 'Santo' is probably the best variety of coriander for leaf production as the plant combines very slow bolting with an upright habit and excellent flavour.

'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!

Native to the eastern Mediterranean, Costmary leaves have an aroma which has been described as like garden mint with hints of balsam. Costmary is one of the most interesting and complex of all herbs, it can be used for many purposes, culinary, medicinal aromatherapy or ornamental.

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.

Courgette 'F1 Gold Rush' is an extremely beautiful variety with smooth, thin yellow skins and crisp flesh. It is an early, rich cropping courgette with tender flesh and an abundance of bright yellow fruits. The compact plants yield prolifically and are ideal for smaller gardens or pots.

The Genovese courgette is a popular early variety that is very productive. It produces beautiful, light green cylindrical fruits speckled with grey, with a smooth skin and has an excellent flavour. The plants have an open bush habit which is helpful when harvesting. Sow April until July, harvest June onwards.

Courgette 'Tondo di Piacenza' produces spherical, dark green glossy fruits with a firm texture and good flavour. This versatile variety can be cropped at different sizes depending on your preferred recipe. Harvest at golf ball size for eating whole in salads, or slightly larger for slicing into stir fries.