Plants

Tomato Green Zebra (Solanum lycopersicum)

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

Light yellow/green fruit when fully ripe

GROW: likes light, heat and fertile soil, plant outside or in greenhouse, support, water regularly

H150cm by S45cm

EAT: yummy fruits

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Beetroot Burpees Gold

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

Sweet mild flavour, golden colour

GROW: shade tolerant, in rows in ground or in 25cm pot, plants have been multisown (Charles Dowding method)

H50cm by S45cm

EAT: leaves in salad or like spinach, sparingly if growing on, bulbs when golf ball size – too big they get woody. Eat raw grated, boil, roast, pickle

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Tomato Gardener’s Delight (Solanum lycopersicum)

Annual~ organic seed + compost

Trusses of small, sweet fruit

GROW: likes light, heat and fertile soil, plant outside or in greenhouse, support, water regularly

H200cm by S50cm

EAT: yummy fruits

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Beetroot Boltardy

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

GROW: shade tolerant, in rows in ground or in 25cm pot, plants have been multisown (Charles Dowding method)

H50cm by S45cm

EAT: leaves in salad or like spinach, sparingly if growing on, bulbs when golf ball size – too big they get woody. Eat raw grated, boil, roast, pickle

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Thai Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

Purple/green leaves, sweet anise taste, pink flowers

GROW: sun, greenhouse or windowsill, hot sunny spot outside. Tomato companion. Cut top off main shoot to promote bushy side growth, remove flowers until later in the season.Keep moist, avoid watering foliage

H50cm by S30cm

EAT: leaves – salad, tea, flavour curries; flower – salad

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Spring Onion White Lisbon

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

Long while stem, Heritage variety, introduced before 1787

GROW: full sun, in between slow growing veg like Brussels, or in gaps between plants.

H45cm by S10cm

EAT: leaves and bulb in salad

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Red Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

Dark red leaves, pungent flavour

GROW: sun, greenhouse, windowsill. Cut top off main shoot to promote bushy side growth, remove flowers until later in the season. Keep moist, avoid watering foliage

H50cm by S25cm

EAT: leaves/flowers – salads or in cooking

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Chamomile (German/Matricaria recutica)

Annual ~ organic compost

GROW: sun, well-drained soil, self-sows freely

H50cm by S30cm

EAT: Use flowers in herb tea, leaves edible but bitter

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Large leaved Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

GROW: sun, greenhouse or windowsill, hot sunny spot outside. Tomato companion. Cut top off main shoot to promote bushy side growth, remove flowers until later in the season. Keep moist, avoid watering foliage

H45cm by S25cm

EAT: leaves – salad, wrap mozzarella

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Garlic Chives

Perennial ~ organic compost

GROW: sunny spot, rich, moist soil

H30cm by S30cm

EAT: fresh leaves, flavour lost when cooked, flowers

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Cinnamon Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

Intense, warm, spicy cinnamon aroma

GROW: sun, greenhouse or windowsill, hot sunny spot outside. Tomato companion. Cut top off main shoot to promote bushy side growth, remove flowers until later in the season. Keep moist, avoid watering foliage

H75cm by S50cm

EAT: leaves – fruit salads, chutney, chicken, with apple, curries

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Red Sunflower

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

Large red/yellow flower, brown centre, heart shape leaves

GROW: easy to grow, needs staking. Bigger pot = bigger plant. Leave seed heads on overwinter for birds

H300cm by S30cm

EAT: seed, raw, cooked, or sprout

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Crimson King Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

Wonderful spicy aroma of cloves

GROW: sun, greenhouse or windowsill, hot sunny spot outside. Tomato companion. Cut top off main shoot to promote bushy side growth, remove flowers until later in the season.Keep moist, avoid watering foliage

H50cm by S30cm

EAT: leaves – salads, with tomato

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Sea Beet (Beta Vulgaris Maritima)

Perennial ~ organic seed + compost

Ancestor to beetroot, chard, foragers/wild food

GROW: deep soil, lots of organic matter

H100cm by S40cm

EAT: superior to spinach for taste, eat young leaves raw, older cooked, eat roots like sweet potato

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Chilli Bolivian Rainbow (Capsicum annuum)

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

Compact, overhanging, fruit ripens from violet, beige, yellow, orange and red. GROW: grow on in a pot, sunny spot inside/greenhouse or sheltered outside

H50cm by S30cm

EAT: fruits – dry them, or freeze until ready to use. Hot! Hot! Hot!

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Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)

Perennial ~ organic seed + compost

Tall woody herb, pink mauve flowers loved by bees and birds

GROW: semi-shade, dryer conditions, 

H60cm by S80cm

EAT: leaves raw or cooked, dry, tea

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Black Cumin (Nigella Sativa)

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

Aromatic herb

GROW: deep hummus rich soil, sun (inhibits legumes)

H40cm by S20cm

EAT: seed – in naan bread, curries, pickles, cakes

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Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Perennial ~ organic seed + compost

Not the bulb type – this is an anise herb from same family, evergreen

GROW: mineral accumulator, sun or part shade, well-drained/dry (inhibits beans, tomatoes and kohl rabi)

H200cm by S70cm

EAT: young leaves, flowers, seeds, stems, raw or cooked, root – parsnip like

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Dwarf Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

Compact habit, flowers in red, orange and yellow. Tomato companion.

GROW: virtually anywhere, likes poor soil 

H30cm by S40cm

EAT: leaves and flowers in salads, seeds picked like capers

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Baby Sweetcorn

Annual

GROW: sunny spot, raised bed or ground as need a bit of space, plant in grids ofr polination, try a pot though!

H100cm by S40cm

EAT: cobs

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Chocolate Cherry Tomato

Annual 

Deep cocoa colour, tiny tomato

GROW: likes light, heat and fertile soil, plant outside or in greenhouse, support, water regularly

H180cm by S45cm

EAT: yummy fruits

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Dill (Anethum graveolens)

Annual

GROW: rich loose soil, full sun (inhibits carrots, companion for corn, cabbage)

H80cm by S20cm

EAT: fresh leaves with salad, fish, seeds + flower heads for pickling cucumbers or chutneys

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Chilli – mixed varieties

Annual

GROW: pot on, sunny spot, windowsill or greenhouse, sheltered outside

H50cm by S30cm

EAT: fruits

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Borage

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

GROW: easy, dry sunny spot, loose stony soil, easily self-sows

H60cm by S30cm

EAT: leaves raw, chopped up finely in salad or cooked, use in Pimms like cucumber, flowers, tea, flowers colour vinegar blue!

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Butternut Squash

Annual

Dense sweet orange flesh

GROW: can grow vertically, hungry plants, remove leaves covering squashes

H50cm by S150cm

EAT: roast, soup, risotto

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Spring Onion Ischikrona

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

Fast growing Japanese bunching onion, no bulb, long white stems, dark green leaves

GROW: very hardy, water well, stems can grow to an inch in diameter

H cm by S cm

EAT: use as spring onion or leek, good for thai curry topping!

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Celery

Annual

GROW: likes moist soil

H50cm by S25cm

EAT: raw in salads or braised

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Broad Leaf Sorrel

Perennial (grow as annual for leaves)

Sharp lemon flavour

GROW: moist soil, tolerates shade, 

H60cm by S30cm

EAT: sparingly – leaves, raw or cooked, flowers in salads

Interesting plant – look it up on PFAF

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Welsh Onion (Allium fistulosum)

Perennial ~ organic seed + compost

Use as chives or spring onion

GROW: well drained soil, full sun/shade

H40cm by S25cm

EAT: fresh/raw in salads or garnish, loose flavour if cooked

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Mixed salad leaves

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

GROW: in troughs or beds, protect from full sun as tend to bolt. Cut and come again.

EAT: leaves, flowers

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Beetroot Tondo di Chiogga

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

White rings in bright red flesh

GROW: shade tolerant, in rows in ground or in 25cm pot, plants have been multisown (Charles Dowding method)

H50cm by S15cm

EAT: leaves in salad or like spinach, sparingly if growing on, bulbs when golf ball size – too big they get woody. Eat raw grated, boil, roast, pickle

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Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Perennial ~ organic seed + compost

Evergreen shrub

GROW: sun, light soil

H20cm by S30cm

EAT: leaves and flowering tops, good with mushrooms and courgettes

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Marjoram

Perennial ~ organic seed + compost

Earthy flavour, hints pine, citrus

GROW: sunny, shelter spot, well-drained soil in ground or pot and indoors, drought tolerant

H50cm by S25cm

EAT: harvest before flowering, use fresh or dry

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Wild Pansy (Viola Tricolour)

Annual ~ Organic seed + compost

Pretty purple, white and yellow flowers

GROW: deadhead regularly to promote new blooms, 

H20cm by S15cm

EAT: flowers – cake makers delight! 

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Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) Holy Hay

Perennial ~ organic seed + compost

GROW: legume (nitrogen fixing, soil improver, deep tap root), free draining sandy/chalky soil, sun,

H100cm by S cm

EAT: not commonly eaten by humans, leave it for the bees, PFAF database states leaves edible

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Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Perennial ~ organic seed + compost

Evergreen shrub (also a compost activator)

GROW: sun, dryer soil, drought tolerant. Companion for rosemary, cabbage and carrots

H70cm by S40cm

EAT: leaves and flowers, tea

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Tarragon (not sure if french or russian, seed packet went in exchange box!)

Perennial (short lived) ~ organic compost

Aromatic aniseed leaves

GROW: well watered, pinch off flowers for constant supply of leaves

H cm by S cm

EAT: salads, chicken, bernaise, vinegar infusion

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Red Currant Cherry Tomato

A ‘close to wild’ tomato, masses of tiny fruit clusters

GROW: likes light, heat and fertile soil, plant outside or in greenhouse, support, water regularly

H150cm by S45cm

EAT: yummy fuit

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Red-veined Sorrel

Perennial (grown as annual for leaves)

GROW: tolerates shade, easy to grow

H100cm by S50cm

EAT: young leaves, raw or cooked as spinach

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Cosmos/Orange Cosmea (Cosmos sulphureus)

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

*Only this variety of cosmos is edible

GROW: full sun, moist well-drained soil, deadhead regularly

H60cm by S40cm

EAT: young leaves and flowers in salads

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Calendula officinalis (pot marigold)

Annual ~ organic seed + compost

GROW: almost anywhere, light shade

H60cm by S50cm

EAT: leaves – in salads; petals – fresh in salads, dried – use like saffron to add colour to foods

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Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Perennial ~ organic seed + compost

GROW: sunny spot, rich moist soil, good for clay, tolerates semi-shade, dynamic accumulator, companion for roses, beets, carrots and chamomile

H30cm by S30cm

EAT: leaves, flowers, bulbs like spring onions

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Trailing Nasturtium

Perennial ~ organic seed + compost

GROW: climber/trailing abundant plant, needs sun, poor soil = more flowers, tomato companion, caterpillars love it.

H350cm by S150cm

EAT: leaves and flowers in salads, seeds picked like capers

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Gold Rush Cherry Tomato

Small bright yellow fruit on long trusses

GROW: likes light, heat and fertile soil, plant outside or in greenhouse, support, water regularly

H cm by S cm

EAT: yummy fruit

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Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)

Perennial ~ organic compost

THIS PLANT IS FOOD FOR THE BUTTERFLIES & BIRDS

GROW: sun, deep rich clay soil

H180cm by S100cm

DON’T EAT ME

Interesting herbal lore – see PFAF database