February

Cutting celery or Leaf celery is the type that is used in Europe. It looks similar to parsley but tastes like regular stalk celery, but with a slightly stronger, herbier taste. It is a darker green, with thin, rounded, flexible stalks and curly, aromatic leaves; it is much easier to grow than its big brother.

While there are now several varieties of leaf celery, one of the most popular is Par-Cel. Resembling curled parsley with the flavour of celery., this Dutch heirloom can be difficult to find in most grocers. Originated from Holland, it was dispersed by German settlers, which is why it is also known as Zwolsche Krul.

With a unique combination of characteristics, Celtuce is named after its celery-like stalks and lettuce-like leaves. The flavours are mild and delicate. The crispy and tender stalks are stir-fried or used in soups while the leaves are used in salads or cooked like spinach.

Camomile is a most useful plant. It can be used to make beautiful lawns and raised beds, an infusion of the plant is an ideal family remedy, calming and sedative, perfect for restlessness or travel sickness, while for gardeners the tea is effective as a spray to prevent 'damping-off' of seedlings

Swiss Chard is a good choice for the beginner or busy gardener, it will give you tasty spinach type leaves for up to 12 months from a single sowing. 'Canary Yellow' has an upright growth, they plants can also be used as an ornamental plant. Deliciously succulent, they are worth growing for the colour alone.

Chervil 'Massa' has a sophisticated yet gentle, aniseedy warmth. It is a dark green selection with smooth leaves and good plant vigour, it has better cold tolerance than standard Chervil and is used for autumn sowings, it also bolts much later.

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.