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Wild Rocket is becoming increasingly popular for its spicy, peppery flavour, adding life to salads, sandwiches and garnishes. With successional sowings in an unheated greenhouse, this tasty wild rocket will provide fresh, peppery salad leaves virtually all year round.March to August, thinly in a well prepared seedbed in full sun, 6mm (¼in) deep in drills 30cm (12in) apart. Can also be sown in pots under glass from February to October for fresh leaves virtually all year round.Thin out seedlings to 23cm apart, or leave unthinned and pick as ‘baby leaves’. Keep well watered to minimise bolting running to seed) and pick young leaves regularly for best flavour.
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Lettuce Moonred is a small and compact romaine-type lettuce with lovely burgundy-coloured outer leaves and a lighter green centre. Its glossy crisp leaves are perfect for salads and sandwiches. Ideally suited to growing in pots, containers and window boxes.Sow thinly, 1cm (½in) deep in drills 30cm (12in) apart in soil which has been raked to a fine tilth. Water ground regularly, especially during dry periods.When large enough to handle, thin out seedlings to 23cm (9in) apart. Harvest as and when required. High downy mildew resistance.
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Still the premier garden lettuce in most people's vegetable patch. Iceberg Lettuce Webbs Wonderful has large, wrinkled leaves with a big tight centre of crisp, white leaf. An outstanding Iceberg Lettuce whether the summer is wet or dry, Webbs Wonderful is always slow to run to seed.Sow seeds thinly from spring to mid summer 6mm (¼in) deep in drills 38cm (15in) apart. A moist well drained soil which has had plenty of compost during the previous autumn is best. In very hot weather it is best to water the soil before sowing and to make sowings during the early afternoon.Thin out gradually to 3cm (12in) apart.Harvest when the head feels firm when gently pressed. The heads keep well in a fridge if they are wrapped in polythene film.
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Very popular across Europe, both the leaves and the roots are used in a variety of dishes and are highly nutritious, containing vitamins K, C, A, folate, iron, potassium and dietary fibre. Leaves can be used in the same ways as traditional parsley and taste like the Italian flat leaf variety. Roots have a distinctive, aromatic taste with hints of celery and carrot.Sow thinly, 1cm (½in) deep in drills 45cm (18in) apart. Sow clusters of 3 seeds every 15cm (6in) and thin out to the strongest seedling after germination. Germination can be very slow, often 25-30 days. Harvest the roots from September onwards, leaving them in the ground if required. Alternatively, lift and store in boxes of barely moist soil or sand.SERVING SUGGESTION: Roots can be baked, roasted or mashed and they are delicious used with other roots/tubers in soups and casseroles, adding a distinctive aromatic taste.
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A splendid exhibition variety of golden merit producing large globe shaped onions with a rich, golden straw coloured skin. As well as being a super show variety, Onion Ailsa Craig is also one of the best varieties for general cultivation producing large onions with an excellent mild flavour. Onion Ailsa Craig can also be autumn sown.Sow seeds during mid-late winter in a good seed compost, just covering the seeds with compost. Germination takes 14-21 days at 19-21C (65-70F). Higher temperatures may prevent germination.Transplant seedlings when 36mm (1½in) high into 9cm (3½in) pots. Making sure the tiny bulb is not covered. When well rooted move to a cold frame and plant out in early spring at 38cm (15in) apart in a sunny spot in a rich fertile soil.Keep the soil moist during dry spells. As the leaves start to yellow bend over the tops, leave 14 days then lift and store when thoroughly ripened.
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Unusual radish variety with a creamy white to pale green skin and bright pink, sweet and spicy-tasting central flesh which gives this variety its common name of ‘watermelon radish’. Great for adding colour and flavour to salads and stir fries.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.
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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.
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"Italian salad vegetable used to add zest, colour, texture and unique flavour to mixed salads. Ideal for autumn and early winter use, with outstanding weather resistance. Radicchio Treviso Precoce Mesola can also be used as a salad leaf through the spring and summer. Distinctive flavour and texture in a mixed salad.Prefers a fertile, well-drained soil in full sun."Sow seeds April-Sept for 'salad leaf, June-July for full sized heads. Sow seeds thinly, 1cm (½in) deep in drills 30cm (12in) apart. Thin seedlings when large enough to handle to 30cm (12in) apart. Later sowings will be less prone to bitterness.
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A white-skinned acorn type squash with tasty white inner flesh that can be baked, fluffed and seasoned to enjoy as a low carb/high fibre alternative to mashed potato! Fruits keep their colour well into autumn and store well, making them an ideal crop for the vegetable patch or kitchen garden.Sow 13mm (½in) deep in 7cm (3in) pots of a good, freedraining, moist seed compost, at 20-25°C (68-77°F). Place pots in a propagator or seal them inside a polythene bag until after germination which takes approx. 5-7 days.Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for a few days before planting out after all risk of frost has passed, 90cm (36in) apart. Can also be sown direct outdoors once the soil has warmed. Sow two seeds every 90cm (36in) and later thin to the strongest seedling.For delicious and healthy mash, just halve and bake cut side down; scoop out the cooked flesh, mash, add butter and season! Good source of vitamins A, C, E and K and of minerals, including potassium, iron and magnesium. High in antioxidants. See Thompson & Morgans website for further cooking suggestions.
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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.
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Quicker maturing and with a slightly milder taste than China Rose. Earliest sowings are ready in 50 days whilst later sowings provide delicious ‘winter radishes’. The smooth, pinky red-skinned roots are best pulled when about 10cm (4in) long. Superb sliced in salads and in stir fries.Sow April to July, earliest sowings ready in 50 days. Sow seeds thinly, 1cm (½in) deep in drills 30cm (12in) apart in soil which has been raked to a fine tilth.When large enough to handle, thin out seedlings to 1cm (4in) apart.Best pulled when 1cm (4in) in length. Later sowings store for winter salads.
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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.