Seeds

The large, irregularly shaped fruits of Marmande have a great taste and are ideal for cooking, sandwiches and salads. A favourite in the Mediterranean, it usually performs well in British conditions. Sow March to May. Harvest July to September

A great but undervalued autumn and winter vegetable, swede is delicious mashed with carrot or diced and added to hearty stews and casseroles. Clubroot & mildew resistant. Finely textured globe roots. Sow between April to June.

Tiny pickled onions and cubed cheese on a cocktail stick may no longer be sophisticated, but it’s still a perfect partnership - and we love it! Paris Silverskin is also good for using raw in summer salads. So easy and quick growing. Summer/Autumn harvest. Heirloom variety. Sow Date: Mar-Jun

Turnips are often underrated, but not by gardeners who appreciate their delicate, fine flavour. Purple Top Milan is especially flavoursome. Pick when no more than 5cm (2in) across for the best flavour. Turnips do best in well-dug soils which have not been recently manured. Best results are achieved from plants which are grown with plenty of moisture and harvested while young. Sowing Outdoors: March - July. Harvest May - September.

Grow your own chilli peppers. Perfect for curries and Mexican dishes. Sow February - May. Harvest August - September.

Unwin's Lettuce (Endive) 'Can Can' produce dense heads, packed with delicious frilly leaves. Pick as required for ultimate freshness. Sow Indoors: March - July. Sow Outdoors: April - July. Harvest: May- September.

Virtually all the heavyweight ‘show’ onions were developed from this excellent globe variety. It has a fine globe shape, golden skin and a mild flavour, and the bulbs will store through the winter and spring. A great all-rounder, which still takes some beating. Good storage qualities. Mild flavour. Sow:Jan-Apr. Blooms: Aug-Sep.

It may have been around since 1870, but it is still worth growing James Scarlet Intermediate. It yields a heavy maincrop of long pointed roots, which can be picked young or lifted in late autumn and stored for winter use. Sow March to July, Harvest July to November.

For a fresh, crisp green salad mix, look no further than this delightful combination of complementary flavours. Spicy salad rocket, tasty Greek cress, mild Mizuna, crunchy Tat Soi and crisp Pak Choi make this an easy to grow and very satisfying salad combination. Serve with your favourite salad dressing. Divine. Produces long fruits. High yielding. Sow:Mar-Aug. Blooms: May-Sep.

Known as the Spanish Tapas Chilli, Padron varies intensely in the heat so be warned! As a rule, these Chillis get hotter the older they get - pick when young and green for a milder flavour or allow to mature for more heat. Sow February - April. Harvest July - October.

Very sweet and tasty, the bite size, rich orange fruits are borne on long, heavy trusses, and stay in good condition for several weeks. Equally reliable whether grown outdoors or in a greenhouse, Sungold has a growing band of followers who believe its flavour is unbeatable. Grow indoors or outdoors. Rich orange fruits. Sow:Jan-May. Blooms: Jul-Sep.

Rhodos has exotic bell shaped marron flowers with a deep calyx which are in wonderful contrast to the deep green smooth foliage. It grows rapidly and is mostly grown as a climber, but is equally attractive grown in hanging baskets. Add a touch of the exotic to your garden! Bronze-green foliage. Dwarf variety. Sow Date: Jan-Mar.