GROWING

Beat devastating downy mildew which can often ruin onion crops with this highly resistant variety. Handsome, pale-brown-skinned bulbs are ready to harvest in late summer and are excellent for storage.Sow seed indoors in individual pots or in a seed tray at a depth of 6mm (¼in) using free-draining, seed-sowing compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag at a temperature of 15-20°C (59-68°F) until after germination which usually takes 10-12 days. Once germinated, grow on at 10-15°C (50-59°F) until all risk of frost has passed and plants are large enough to plant outdoors - usually at the 3-4 leaf stage - at a distance of 10cm (4in) apart. Cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects. Water thoroughly after planting and as bulbs swell. Alternatively, sow outdoors mid March to mid April thinly at a depth of 1cm (½in) and a distance of 30cm (12in) between rows.

British breeding brings us this high-quality red onion variety with a more uniform shape, darker red skin and longer storage potential than ‘Red Baron’. An added bonus is its excellent resistance to bolting. ‘Red Herald’ will suit those who like a red onion with a strong distinctive taste.Sow seed indoors in individual pots or a seed tray at a depth of 6mm (¼in) using free-draining, seed-sowing compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag at a temperature of 15-20°C (59-68°F) until after germination which usually takes 10-12 days. Once germinated, grow on at 10-15°C (50-59°F) until all risk of frost has passed and plants are large enough to plant outdoors at a distance of 10cm (4in) apart. Cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects. Water thoroughly after planting and as bulbs swell.Alternatively, sow outdoors mid March to mid April thinly at a depth of 1cm (½in) and a distance of 30cm (12in) between rows.

Increasingly popular vegetable for early summer to autumn harvesting. Once the central head has been cut, there are plenty of tender sideshoots over several weeks if cut regularly.Sow seed thinly 6mm (¼in) deep, and cover with a sprinkling of dry vermiculite or finely sieved compost. Place the seed and tray in a propagator or seal inside a polythene bag and keep at around 18-21?C (65-70?F) until seeds germinate. This will take about 4-7 days.When the seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots or multi-cell trays. Plant out once the plants are approximately 10-15cm (4-6in) tall, into well-prepared soil allowing 38cm (15in) apart each way. Alternatively, sow thinly in a well-prepared seedbed, 1cm (½in) deep, and plant out when large enough to handle allowing 38cm (15in) apart each way. Sow successionally for extended harvest.To continue the organic life cycle of these seeds, gardeners should follow recognised organic growing methods, avoiding the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides.

"This is a reliable outdoor trailing cucumber variety, producing large yields of 20cm (8in) long, dark-skinned fruits from July when harvested regularly.Plants show some resistance to powdery and downy mildew. Do not remove the male flowers.""Sow seed 1cm (½in) deep in 7.5cm (3in) pots of free-draining compost. Place pots in a propagator or seal in a polythene bag and keep at 21-25?C (70-77?F) until after germination which usually takes7-10 days. "Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions for a few days before planting out 1m (3ft) apart after all risk of frost is gone. Do not remove the male flowers. Best grown outdoors to trail on the soil. Pick fruits regularly when small to ensure continuous cropping. Feed and water regularly for increased yields.To continue the organic life cycle of these seeds, gardeners should follow recognised organic growing methods, avoiding the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides.