SEEDS

These purple-topped and white-bottomed summer radishes provide an attractive splash of colour to the vegetable garden. Olive-shaped, peppery roots are ready to harvest from just 25 days after sowing. Sow successionally outdoors from March to September or in pots under glass to prolong the season.Sow thinly in broad drills, 1cm (½in) deep, 30cm (12in) apart in soil which has been raked to a fine tilth. Water ground regularly, especially during dry periods.Thin as necessary, allowing 2.5cm (1in) between seedlings and keep watered to prevent bolting (running to seed) and a harvest of hot, pithy roots.

Crisp, crunchy, mild and sweet. Radish French Breakfast 3 is ideal for decoration - make small uneven cuts around the outside of the radish, place in iced water and it will open up into floral shapes.Radishes grow well in most soils, but prefer rich, moist free draining soils. Sow seeds at regular intervals from early spring to early summer in well cultivated soil. Sow seeds very thinly 1cm (½in) deep in drills 15cm (6in) apart.Thin out the seedlings to 3-5cm apart.Water during dry spells. For summer sowings choose a moist cool spot to prevent running to seed. As radishes grow so fast and use less of the soil's goodness, use them totally as a catch crop with other slower maturing produce. Harvest as soon as the roots reach reasonable size, if left too long they will become hot and woody.

A visually stunning array of colorful radishes all with crisp, white, delicious flesh. All have round to plum-shaped roots with white, purple, red, red and white or stunning gold skins. Ideal for adding peppery warmth to summer salads or sandwiches.Sow thinly in 1cm (½in) deep broad drills 30cm (12in) apart, in soil which has been raked to a fine tilth. Water ground regularly, especially during dry periods.Thin as necessary, allowing 2.5cm (1in) between seedlings and keep watered to prevent bolting (running to seed) and hot, pithy roots.SERVING SUGGESTION: Either whole or sliced roots will add a range of colours to the salad bowl.

Large, juicy, bright red sticks. Started in heat in late winter Rhubarb Glaskins Perpetual can be harvested lightly the following year. Excellent for tarts, pies, jam, wine, forcing etc. and very easy to grow in any odd corner of the garden. Expect some variation in the seedlings.Sow the seeds in early spring individually 1.6mm (¼in) deep in 7.5cm (3in) pots of a good free draining seed compost. Keep the compost moist but not over wet until germination which takes 21-40 days at 20-25C (70-75F). Once the seedlings have emerged lower the temperature and later move to a cold frame before planting out in late spring.Plant carefully, so as not to disturb the roots, 1m (3ft) apart in a good, fertile garden soil to which plenty of compost has been added.Once planted do not move them again Water in dry weather, top dress around the crowns with a well rotted compost in early summer and repeat each year. In the second year a light picking can be made and in subsequent years, they can be picked until mid summer, always leaving at least 4 leaves per plant.