For many years we have grown a fairly limited range of vegetable plants for sale by mail order, whilst at the same time growing a far larger range to satisfy the planting needs of our own display vegetable garden, and selling off the surplus to our calling customers. In 2008 we received many many enquiries and requests form our mail order customers for various vegetable plants - and so by popular demand we have now drastically increased our range of veg plants available by mail order.
As is true of our Vegetable Seeds, everything we list we grow and eat ourselves so we can genuinely advise on the flavours and growing characteristics of all - and of course our plants are produced from the very seeds we sell so we know their provenance too! All our plants are grown using entirely natural methods (make sure you read Are We Organic?) in peat based compost formulated here on the nursery.
We actually now have two vegetable gardens here at the nursery - the display vegetable garden which is cared for by Brian Gray, overseen by Jeremy Shirley (who has nearly seventy years experience of vegetable growing) which can be viewed by anyone who visits the nursery; additionally there is the private 'Girl's Garden' which is the domain of Molly Shirley (6) and Milly Shirley (4), helped by Mummy and Daddy (Serena and Stephen). Combined these give us the depth of experience to advise on all aspects of vegetable growing - from allotment growing to vegetable growing with children.
Whatever the time of year, the plants we despatch are fully hardened off and ready to plant out so you can be confident of success. Put simply if a variety of vegetable is marked as 'Available Now' we have plants suitable for immediate dispatch that are ready to plant out - and, perhaps more importantly for the novice, we consider it an appropriate time to be planting them out.
This is a reliable variety that can produce fine heads for eating in late Summer, and thereafter every year.Not only a food provider but also a More about Artichoke Plant 'Green Globe'
A much improved version of 'Green Globe'. Not an F1 Hybrid or genetically modified. Seed grown from rigorous re-selection. Mature plants produce 6-8 More about Artichoke Plant 'Imperial Star'
The traditional artichoke with a twist! Produces eye catching purple 'heads' for eating in late Summer, and thereafter every year.Not only a food More about Artichoke Plant 'Romanesco'
Know anyone who loves asparagus? Then this is a far more cost effective way of getting lots, although they will have to be a little patient. More about Asparagus Lovers Kit
Supplied as 10 Jersey Knight Asparagus and one Joseph Bentley Asparagus Knife.
A tried and trusted heritage variety from the 1800's that has won acclaim for adaptability, reliability, yield and flavour - even now many commercial More about Asparagus Plant 'Connover's Colossal'
Supplied as compost block grown plants (not bare root crowns).
This is fairly new variety of Asparagus bred by Aspara Pacific in New Zealand and is considered to be one of the highest yielding purple types More about Asparagus Plant 'Crimson Pacific'
Supplied as compost block grown plants (not bare root crowns).
This is a superior variety of Asparagus that produces premium quality spears up to 2cm thick. Cropping potential is enormous and whilst it is what is More about Asparagus Plant 'Jersey Knight'
Supplied as compost block grown plants (not bare root crowns).
Loved by many, hated by most school kids - yet such a nutritious vegetable so beneficial to health and the digestive system, and so versatile.Try it More about Cabbage Plant - All Year Round Blend
Red Cabbages are something just a little bit different and special.Whilst they can be cooked and eaten like any conventional cabbage they really come More about Cabbage Plant - Red Selection
Savoy cabbages are quite simply fantasticProbably the hardiest of all the cabbage family these will thrive in a cold damp Winter and will withstand More about Cabbage Plant - Savoy Selection
A vegetable widely cultivated in Victorian England that is related to the Globe Artichoke - except it's the stems that are cooked and used in late More about Cardoon Plant 'Gobo De Nizza'
An excellent multi-headed cauliflower that is perennial in habit. Each plant will produce approximately ten or more tennis ball sized heads per year More about Cauliflower Plant - Cut 'n' Come Again
Whilst some may pretend Goji Berries are new to the UK and a secret to the Western world it is well documented that Goji’s were first introduced to More about Goji Berry Plant
Supplied as compost block grown plants approximately 4" - 6" tall.
Our very careful evaluation reveals the problem and needs of the home gardener who is used to sowing one variety - often 50% or more that are grown More about Lettuce Plant - In Perpetuity Blend
One of the best varieties of lettuce of all time first grown by the old codger (Jeremy Shirley) in the 1950's. An excellent variety that produces More about Lettuce Plant 'Lobjoit's Green Cos'
Grows to around 2½ft tall (without the need for support) and always produces a heavy crop of sweet delicious peas - so sweet and More about Pea Plant 'Douce Provence'
Vegetable or fruit? There are two schools of thought!The variety we offer grows well in open ground and forces well when roots or clumps are lifted More about Rhubarb Plant 'Victoria'
Once described as the poor man’s Asparagus this is now fast becoming a ‘trendy’ garnish in many of the gourmet restaurants. That said, this is a More about Samphire Plant
This vegetable long predates Victorian times and was once a most popular vegetable; the blanched shoots, young flower heads and very young leaves can More about Seakale Plant 'Lillywhite'
Here is your opportunity to grow something very different and worthwhile. Forget conventional ways of growing tomatoes with this species that is More about Tamarillo Tree Tomato Plant
Supplied as pot grown plants approximately 8" tall.
Proven since our introduction in 1964 - the heavy cropping Remontant Strawberry that produces delicate sized fruit of superb flavour.Plant 10"-12" More about Tumbleberries
Supplied as compost block grown plants approximately 8" tall.
Very distinctive purple black fruits much used in Mediterranean and Indian cooking. Sometimes known as the 'Egg Plant' due to the shape of the More about Aubergine Plant 'Black Beauty'
Here is everyone's favourite with a better habit, excellent flavour and extended cropping.This variety also tends to be stringless too (unless you More about Bean Plant - Runner Bean 'Polestar'
What a useful and nutritious vegetable! Young leaves can be eaten as baby leaves. The small beets can be used as salad beetroot and then of course More about Beetroot Plant 'Boltardy'
Supplied as compost blocks each containing approximately four plantlets .
Have fun with our selection of four most unusual cauliflowers that can be eaten raw in salads, as baby vegetables or allowed to mature in the normal More about Cauliflower Plant - Rainbow Blend
Though strictly speaking described as an early cauliflower, Snowball is in fact far more versatile than that and can be used for Spring, Summer, More about Cauliflower Plant 'Snowball'
An old, well tried and tested, variety with a mild and pleasing taste.Brunswick makes a good keeping onion and is particularly attractive for More about Onion Plant 'Brunswick'
This is a name we have chosen for a little known very old vegetable or is it a fruit?You grow this and eat it as you would spinach, but the surprise More about Strawbini Plant - Strawberry Spinach
This in reality is a lost variety from the time of Lord Nelson, in fact that is one of the varieties in this mixed selection!Old Spice is not a large More about Sweet Pea Plant 'Old Spice' Mix
These were first grown by the late Eric Shirley in the 1940's at his home and allotment in Isleworth, Middlesex. They are renowned for both their More about Sweet Pea Plant 'Spencer' Mix
This blend of sweet peppers gives a full colour range that includes black, orange, red, purple, yellow and green.Sliced raw in salads, or in stir fry More about Sweet Pepper Plant - Rainbow Blend
This is the immature small cob that is great raw in salads and frequently used in Chinese cookery. You eat this when about 3"-4" in length. Each More about Sweetcorn Plant - Babycorn 'Minipop'
Over the last few years many vegetable gardeners (including ourselves) have been disappointed with the performance of their sweetcorn. Sweetcorn need More about Sweetcorn Plant 'Seville'
A gorgeous ornamental popcorn variety that produces an abundance of lovely 2 inch ears of deep, ruby red coloured corn which are shaped like More about Sweetcorn Plant 'Strawberry Popcorn'
This is the sweetest and earliest variety we have found producing gorgeous cobs packed full of sweet, juicy, plump kernels.Quite simply fantastic in More about Sweetcorn Plant 'Swift Early'
The American seed company R.H. Shumway (established in 1870) described this as a world beating tomato. The breeder of this exceptional tomato was H W More about Tomato Plant 'Abraham Lincoln'
A bush tomato that Mr Shirley senior first grew in the mid 1950’s . This was one of the very popular tomatoes for field growing under cloches. No More about Tomato Plant 'Amateur'
This is an heirloom variety from the Crimea. A variety that pre-dates the Russian Revolution of 1917!A deep purple red variety seldom seen in the UK. More about Tomato Plant 'Black Krim'
This worthwhile variety has been saved by us and is otherwise no longer available.Unlike many other varieties Blizzard has the ability to set fruit More about Tomato Plant 'Blizzard'
Delicious by name and by flavour. Amaze your friends with this superior, so meaty, tasty tomato. Use your surplus for juice or pulp down and deep More about Tomato Plant 'Giant Delicious'
This is a variety that produces large plum tomatoes (some of ugly shape, often oblong or almost square – not at all symmetrical). An unusual novelty More about Tomato Plant 'Harry's Italian Plum'
Very small fruit born in well spaced trusses. Very prolific and easy to grow.This is a variety that must be included in Summer salads - an old More about Tomato Plant 'Matt's Wild Cherry'
An early cropping greenhouse tomato of excellent habit. Reliable, good solid well coloured fruit.This can be grown for early fruiting, mid Summer or More about Tomato Plant 'Shirley'
One of the very best dwarf bush tomatoes for growth habit for of all year round. Originally raised by W.A. Burpee in America.Scarlet Pixie produces More about Tomato Plant 'Shirleys' Pixie'
This variety adds a new colour to salad and the salad bowl - it's bright golden yellow.Produces cascading trusses of thin skinned deep orange yellow More about Tomato Plant 'Sungold'
This extremely tasty tomato is grown in the conventional way and produces trusses of fruit slightly larger than a cherry tomato of really More about Tomato Plant 'Super Sweet 100'
Red and yellow striped fruits add interest to any dish! Tiger striped, hence the name.An old variety that is well worth growing. Good firm fruit of More about Tomato Plant 'Tigerella'
Tomatoes and potatoes growing from the same plant. These are for outdoor planting only.Specially featured many years ago in the book ‘Indoor Farming’ More about Tomtatoes
