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Similar in taste to a cayenne chilli, but with a fruitier, sweeter note. Chillies can be used at any stage or ripeness, with the gorgeous purple being the mildest flavour. An old American heirloom variety, rediscovered back in 1944.Using a good quality, moist seed compost, sow your seeds in a propagator and cover with 6mm (¼in) compost. Place on a windowsill or in a greenhouse at approximately 21-24°C (70-75°F) to germinate, usually 7-14 days.Transfer seedlings into 7.5cm (3in) pots and grow on. Once they are 15cm (6in) tall, transfer to 25cm (10in) pots and keep warm on a sunny patio or ideally, in a greenhouse (once all chance of frost has passed). Once the first fruit has set, feed every two weeks with tomato food and provide support with canes as fruit ripen.
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Buxus spiral is perfect for either a sunny or more shaded area offering you flexibility to position where required in your garden. These topiary plants looks equally as stunning either in the ground or in a pot. The dense leaves and attractive shape of this ball buxus makes it ideal for topiary work.
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Unique climbing habit, saving space, and best grown in containers on the patio. Stems can be trained and tied to a trellis, stout cane, or netting and will produce dark green, cylindrical 15cm (6in) fruits in abundance if picked regularly.Sow seed 19mm (¾in) deep in 7.5cm (3in) pots of free-draining compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag and place at 20-25C (68-77F) until after germination which takes 5-7 days.Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for a few days before planting out once all risk of frost has passed, allowing 60cm (24in) between plants if they are to be supported. Keep well watered and pick fruits regularly for a long season of production. Can also be sown direct outdoors once the soil has warmed during May, preferably under cloches.Youngest fruits are delicious raw, just diced up in a mixed salad.
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‘Butterstick F1’ produces yellow straight-neck fruit in abundance. Proven top for performance, flavour and wide adaptability. Showing good mildew resistance in the garden, this variety has fruit with a firm texture and a sweet, nutty flavour. Perfect to harvest young and add to salads thinly sliced.Sow seeds singly 2.5cm (1in) deep into 7.5cm (3in) pots indoors or in a greenhouse. Can also be sown directly outdoors into warm, well-drained, moist soil after all risk of frost has passed, sowing 2-3 seeds at 60cm (24in) intervals and thinning out to the strongest seedling.Plant out in the garden after hardening off, when all risk of frost has passed, leaving 60cm (24in) each way between plants. Alternatively, plant in 45cm (18in) containers.
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A very heavy and early yielder of solid mid-green courgettes. The early yield is almost twice that of some other courgette varieties and it just keeps producing firm, remarkably heavy fruit right through the season. Courgette Defender has an open habit which lets you see and pick the fruits easily, and it has excellent resistance to Cucumber Mosaic Virus.Sow seeds in spring 1cm (½in) deep in a good seed compost. Germination usually takes 6-10 days at 24C (75F). Can also be sown where they are to crop in late spring/early summer once the soil has warmed up. Sow 3 seeds every 60cm (24in) and thin out to the best seedling.Transplant when large enough to handle into 8cm (3in) pots and grow on in cooler conditions. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 1-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost, 6cm (24in) apart in a sunny sheltered spot on rich well Water regularly and feed every 14 days once the courgettes start to develop pick regularly while small 1-16cm (4-6in) and don't leave any on to grow large or cropping will be impaired.
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Lingodor produces bright yellow cylindrical fruits of superb quality. It is a vigorous and productive plant, resistant to virus with a very good shelf life.SOWING INSTRUCTIONS: Sow seed at a depth of 2cm (¾in) in 7.5cm (3in) pots of free-draining, seed sowing compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag at a temperature of 20-25°C (68-77°F) until germination which takes 5-7 days. Do not exclude light, as this helps germination.GROWING INSTRUCTIONS: Once germinated, grow courgettes on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and courgette plants are large enough to be transplanted. Gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before planting courgettes outdoors in rich, fertile, well-drained soil in full sun at a distance of 90cm (36in) apart. Alternatively direct sow courgettes outdoors at a depth of 2cm (¾in) and a distance of 90cm (36in) apart. Sow 2 seeds per hole and thin out the weakest seedling per station after germination.
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British breeding and a world first in climbing golden skinned courgettes. Stunning space saving plant when grown up a trellis/arch. The fruits are less watery than many varieties so firmer when sliced for salads and stir fries. Harvest regularly to extend the season.Sow mid-April to early June under glass for transplanting outdoors. Sow 2cm (3/4in) deep in 7.5cm (3in) pots of good seed compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag and place at 21-25C (70-77F) 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 60cm (24in) apart in rows 60cm (24in) apart.Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions for a few days before planting out after all risk of frost has passed, 60cm (24in) apart each way. Group 3 plants together to ensure pollination. Feed with potash fertiliser once fruiting begins. Tie stems regularly to support the weight of fruit. Water and pick fruits regularly to extend the harvesting season.
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"Dark green, speckled courgettes, 15-20cm in length are produced on parthenocarpic plants - pollination by insects is not needed - whichshow good resistance to powdery mildew until late in the season.Fruits have a stronger flavour than many green courgette varieties.""Sow seed, 1cm (½in) deep in 7.5cm (3in) pots of free draining compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bagand place at 20-25°C (68-77°F) until after germination which takes 7-10 days. Do notexclude light as this helps germination.""Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost, minimum 75cm (30in) apart. Canalso be sown direct outdoors once the soil has warmed. Sow 2 seeds every 75cm(30in) and thin out to the best seedling."SERVING SUGGESTION: Use fresh courgette flowers stuffed with ricotta cheese or rice and vegetables
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Best grown as a half hardy annual in the greenhouse, but will fruit prolifically in a sunny spot outdoors. The vigorous slender vines will need support/netting to ramble and can be trimmed if become too rampant. The vines are carpeted with dainty yellow flowers which form huge numbers of larger grape-like fruits all summer. Fruits are firm, juicy with a refreshing cucumber and hint of lime flavour.Sow seed on the surface of a free-draining compost and cover with about 6mm (¼in) of compost or vermiculite. Place in a propagator at 21-24C (70-75F) until germination, then reduce to 18C (65F). Germination up to 21 days.Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 7.5cm (3in) pots. Plant out, 1 plant per 25cm (10in) container or 2 plants per growbag. Can also be planted outdoors in a sunny spot in late May/June once all risk of frost has passed. Plants will need support to ramble.
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A vigorous plant habit and excellent powdery mildew resistance makes this a reliable variety for the home gardener. ‘Bella’ produces good crops of bitter-free fruits of about 35cm (14in) in length with that true cucumber taste often missing in shop-bought fruits.Sow 1cm deep, in 7cm (3in) pots of free-draining compost. Place in a propagator and keep at a temperature of around 20-25C (68-77F) until 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.