Brassicas

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.

Dwarf Canton White is a short and squat variety, often known as Baby or Squat Pak Choi. Tender and delicious, with a compact habit, this fast growing vegetable can be harvested at any stage, for 'baby leaf or left to mature to thick succulent white stems.

Pak Choi "F1 Hanakan" is an outstanding green stem hybrid for babyleaf or for miniveg (straight to wok) specification. Dwarf, hourglass shaped heads, with lovely broad based green stems. The flavour is sweet with a hint of mustard. Not only tasty, but good for you. Whatever next?!?

Swede is one of the easiest vegetables to grow and well-suited to the novice gardener, few other crops are quite so straightforward. A favorite with growers, Swede 'Best of All' is an old variety that produced globe shaped roots with purple tops and yellow flesh, it is very hardy and reliable with good storing qualities.

Tatsoi or Rosette Pak Choi is among the most popular of oriental greens and one of the best vegetables to grow in a cool climate. The spoon-shaped, evenly spaced leaves form a plant worthy to be grown for its decorative value alone. Given enough room the plants will form beautiful wide rosettes of regular, concentric circles.

No one interested in vegetable growing can fail to be inspired by the Chinese people and the diversity and productivity of their vegetables. ‘F1 Kuro’ is a traditional Pak Choi and Tatsoi cross, that produces plants with an upright habit, luminescent green flat stems and tender, dark green, thick glossy leaves.

Turnip ‘Goldana’ is an improved version of the popular turnip Golden Ball. A maincrop variety that produces uniform round golden roots with tender creamy-yellow flesh. They are much sweeter than regular turnips with an excellent flavour. They can be harvested as a mini-veg or left to mature.

Purple Top Milan is a classic Italian heirloom variety and is still as popular as ever. Highly ornamental, it has smooth creamy-white flat roots with bright purple shoulders and pure white flesh. A strap-leaved variety, quick to mature and early cropping, it is an ideal 'catch crop' between slower growing vegetables.