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Carrot Adelaide is one of the earliest maturing varieties available. Short tops with smooth skinned, cylindrical roots, filling out quickly to give a crunchy sweet flavour. Ideal for sowing early in cold frames. Be the first to pull carrots this spring! Seeds are in the RHS Vegetable Collection.Sow January to February under cloches/frames. Sow March to August outdoors. Sow seeds thinly in well prepared, fertile soil 1-2cm (½ to ¾in) deep In broad drills. No thinning necessary for hunching carrots, otherwise thin to 2-2.5cm (¾ to 1in) or give slightly wider spacings if larger roots are required. Allow 15cm (6in) between each drill.Water only if necessary as excessive water may encourage leaf growth instead of roots. Earth up growing roots to prevent green crowns. Cover later sowings with fleece or fine netting to minimise carrot fly infestation. Water soil beforehand if dry to mPrefers well drained, moist, rich, cool conditions.

An outstanding garden variety, producing a uniform crop of heavy, cylindrical rich orange skinned and fleshed roots of 25-30cm (10-12in) length. A maincrop variety with excellent flavour, roots resist 'greening of crowns' and cracking and have excellent storing capabilities. Sow thinly, 12mm (1/2in) deep in well-prepared soil, in rows 30cm (12in) apart. Thin out seedlings if necessary, to 2.5cm (1in) apart. Water only if necessary as excessive water may encourage leaf growth instead of roots. Earth up growing roots with soil to prevent green crowns. Cover later sowings with fleece or fine netting to minimise carrot fly infestation. Water soil beforehand, if dry, to make lifting easier."SERVING SUGGESTION: Boil, roast, slice or stir-fry, also blend roots for adelicious carrot juice."

This ideal lunchbox snack, with optimum flavour, crunchy but juicy picked and eaten straight from the plant. Wash if necessary but no need to peel these 7cm (3in) 'mini munch cukes'. Each plant is prolific fruiting if picked every other day throughout the summer.Sow seed 1cm deep, in 7.5cm (3.5in) pots of free-draining compost. Place in a propagator and keep at a temperature of around 20-25C (68-77F) until after germination, usually 5-7 days.When first true leaves develop, transplant into 13cm (5in) pots. Finally, plant into 25cm (10in) pots or into growbags. Grow on at a minimum of 15C (59F). Train along wire, allowing the main shoot to reach the tip. Pinch out growing point and allow two sideshoots to trail downwards. Keep plants moist at all times and shade if necessary. Keep humidity high and pick fruits regularly.

A 'charentais' type of cantaloupe melon which can successfully ripen fruit outdoors. Smooth 10-12cm (4-5in) diameter 500g (1lb) fruits, pale cream-yellow skin with dark green striping that turns a more tan yellow when ripe with a sweet aroma. The salmon orange flesh is very sweet, juicy and perfumed. Sow seeds 1cm (1/2in) deep in pots or trays of good seed compost at a minimum of 20C (68F) under glass or in a propagator. Protect emerging seedlings from direct sunlight to avoid scorching. Alternatively only in the warmest areas, sow direct outdoors, 1-2cm (1/2-3/4in) deep from mid-May.Pot individual seedlings into 7.5cm (3in) pots of compost. Keep barely moist to avoid stem rot. Maintain temperature around 20C (68F). Harden off. For earliest crop plant under cloches or in a frame once frost risk has passed, or outdoors through black plastic/mulch and cover with fleece until established. Allow 75cm each way between plants. Pinch out growing point after 4 'true' leaves. Laterals will form. Train 4 laterals to 6 leaf stage then pinch out. Flowers should be pollinated by insects, otherwise hand pollinate using a male flower for up to 4 female flowers (those with a bump under the flower). Keep well watered and feed regularly with potash or tomato fertiliser. Can also be grown under glass.

Sweetcorn Lark is a tendersweet variety giving superior sweetness with a softer, less chewy texture than supersweets, making kernels more pleasurable to eat as well as easier to digest. Improved germination adds to the appeal. Sweetcorn Lark can be also grown with other varieties, so there is no need to isolate. Requires a fertile soil in a sunny position. Seeds are in the RHS Vegetable Collection."Sow seeds April to May 4cm (1½ inches) deep in 7.5cm (3 inch) pots of free draining compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag and place at 18-20C (64-68F) until after germination which takes 7 to 10 days. Do not exclude light as this helps germination.Seeds can also be sown direct outdoors once the soil has warmed, sow 2 seeds 5cm (2 inches) deep, 23cm (9 inches) apart, and in rows 45cm (18 inches) apart. Thin out to the strongest seedling."Gradually acclimatise indoor grown plants to outdoor conditions for a few days before planting out after all risk of frost.Keep well watered, and mulch during dry periods.

A mid-season supersweet type, Sweetcorn Ovation F1 produces large cobs of 20-23cm (8-9in) long, filled to the tip with 12-14 rows of delicious kernels with a delicious sugar-sweet flavour. Sweetcorn Ovation seeds in the RHS Vegetable Collection are vigorous plants which give impressive crops.Sow seeds individually, 2cm (¾in) deep in 5cm (2in) pots of good seed compost to avoid root disturbance. Sow at 15C (59F) under glass or in a propagator. Seeds can also be sown direct outside in warm soil from mid May.Grow on steadily and gradually harden off prior to planting out from late May, or once frost risk has passed. Grow in a block for best pollination, allowing 38cm (15in) between plants each way.