SEEDS

A decorative spinach variety bringing flavour and colour to the plate. Unusual red veining and red stems make this a stand out variety on the veg patch. Excellent as a baby leaf for salad use, when picked around 35 days from sowing. The leaf veining becomes more pronounced as the plants mature into large leaves. Good downy mildew resistance, but water regularly in hot spells to prevent bolting. Direct sow spinach outdoors from March to August in well prepared, fertile, moist soil in sun or semi shade. Early spring and autumn sowings can also be made under cloches or in the border soil of a cold greenhouse. Sow seeds thinly at a depth of 1cm (½in) in drills 30cm (12in) apart in soil which has been raked to a fine tilth.When large enough to handle, thin out seedlings to 5cm (2in) apart. The thinnings are ideal for adding to salads. Sow every 3 to 4 weeks for a continual supply of spinach leaves throughout summer and autumn.

"A dual purpose Italian variety with a pungent flavour. Spring Onion Lilia is best grown as a salad onion with nice, dark green leaves and a shiny, intense red inner core.Onion Lilia can also be grown as a maincrop, storing bulb onion. When fully mature it shows off its defined red and white inner rings."Sow seeds March-August for salads, March-April as a bulb onion. Seeds are best sown thickly in broad drills for pulling as salad/ bunching onions. Sow 13mm (½in) deep, in drills 30cm (12in) apart. If sowing for mature bulbs, sow seed more thinly.No need to thin seedlings for salads. If for bulbs, thin to 5cm (2in) for smaller bulbs or 1cm (4in) for larger bulbs.Will grow in any fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Keep well watered.

Visually attractive mix of summer squash producing green, yellow and creamy pale-green, oval-shaped squash on bushy plants with an open habit and reduced-spined stems for easier harvesting. Fruits are less watery and have firmer flesh than many other squash and courgette varieties which means they lend themselves well to slicing and grilling. Their taste is also much richer than other varieties.Sow seed 2cm (¾in) deep in 7.5cm (3in) pots of good seed compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag and place at 21-25°C (70-77°F) until after germination which takes 5-7 days. Can also be sown direct outdoors from mid-May once the soil has warmed and risk of frost has passed, 2.5cm (1in) deep at 75cm (30in) apart in rows 75cm (30in) apart.Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions for a few days before planting out after all risk of frost has passed, 75cm (30in) apart each way. Feed with potash fertiliser once fruiting begins. Water and pick fruits regularly to extend the harvesting season.SERVING SUGGESTION: For barbecues, stir fries, stuffing and baking.

A high-yielding semi leafless variety, needing no support when grown in a block. These floriferous pea plants produce heavy crops of crunchy, stringless 8cm (3in) pods over a long period if picked regularly to encourage further flower development. Sugar Lace consistently showed high resistance to Furarium wilt and intermediate resistance to powdery mildew in our trials. Use netting supports if grown in rows.Sow every 10 days to ensure successional crops. Sow 5cm (2in) deep in flat-bottomed drills spacing about 2.5-5cm (1-2in) apart, and in rows 75cm (30in) apart.Water plants regularly, especially when in flower as this will improve the crop. Pick the pods regularly once they are swollen with peas, eat pods whole or add to stir fried. Regular picking will encourage further flowering.