Get Your Kids Into Gardening
Looking for ways to encourage your children to grow their own? Stephen Shirley reveals how quick-reward projects and colourful plants can help keep the little ones intrigued.
Gardening with children is rewarding on many levels, perhaps the most cherished being that you’ll get to share time and an interest with your loved ones. And by teaching them to grow their own, you’ll be instilling in them an important skill that will surely benefit them as adults. What’s more, children are far more likely to eat something they’ve grown themselves – so there’s no better way to convince them to eat their ‘five a day’!
If you want to get them involved on the plot, the first thing you’ll need to do is ignite their interest with projects that yield ‘instant’ results, as children are naturally drawn to visibly fast results. Once they’re on board, you can start to mix in a few longer-term projects and introduce them to other fruit and veg, such as colourful croppers.
Sustaining Interest
Don’t rest on your laurels once your kids appear hooked on gardening. It’s important to keep putting effort in, even if sometimes it seems to go completely unrewarded. One of the best ways to keep them coming back is to set aside an individual patch for each child. It may seem extravagant if room on your plot is at a premium, but it will help them to develop a sense of possessive pride for their own space, as well as a respect for everyone else’s. Try not to dictate how they treat it. Curvy rows, soil castles and worm houses are all fine – at least they’re out on the plot!
It’s completely natural for a child to not want to work on his or her patch all of the time. Hours of weeding and digging won’t appeal to many young ones, so accept that you’ll end up doing the legwork when it comes to some of these more mundane tasks, while your child gets to do the more interesting bits! But if you garden on an allotment, lay down the rule that they can’t go home after 10 minutes. Prepare for the inevitable cries of “I’m thirsty”, “I’m hungry” and “I’m bored” by bringing appropriate drinks and snacks along (unless you’re there to harvest) and consider keeping a box of garden toys in the shed. If part of their patch turns into a toy-car rally track, don’t worry – at least they’re still enjoy the outdoors.
Be prepared to spend a little money to fuel their enthusiasm. Kids love having their own set of proper child-sized garden tools, for example, and will find them easier and safer to use. They’ll leave yours alone, too! Buy genuine scaled-down versions rather than toys. If you’re purchasing seeds or plants, ask if there’s anything they like the look of growing. Don’t refuse a request just because it’s not quite what you’d choose – after all, it’s their patch, not yours!
5 Easy-Grow Veg For Kids
- Cress grows quickly enough to satisfy even the most impatient of youngsters! Help them draw a face on a used boiled egg shell, fill it with damp cotton wool and sow the seeds into it. In no time at all the small head will have a full complement of cress hair! Old egg boxes can be chopped into sections and glued together to become cress caterpillars.
- French Beans grow impressively speedily up cane and wigwam structures (be sure to top the supports with suitable eye protection), and can be picked and eaten fresh on the plot. And what child isn’t filled with awe at the idea of recreating Jack and the Beanstalk? Runner beans can also be used, but make certain that your kids only eat the young pickings – tough and stringy older pods may put them off for good!
- Beetroot is a relatively quick cropper. The seed is small enough for you to teach more precise sowing techniques, but large enough for tiny hands to manage. Later in the cycle, you’ll be able to instruct them in the art of thinning, too. Kids love the sweet taste of oven-roasted beetroot chips.
- Courgettes produce a vast number of fruits once they start cropping, and the speed at which they grow fascinates children. Grow a few round or yellow-fruiting types for an interesting variety of shapes and colours. Young kids may not enjoy the harvest itself, but it’s easy to hide in soups and pasta dishes.
- Babycorn makes for a great addition to the school lunch box. It’s much easier to grow than conventional sweetcorn, as it can be started later to avoid crop-damaging low temperatures. It also doesn’t need to be grown in blocks, as it doesn’t require pollination. Children will be amazed that such a tall plant can grow from a tiny seed.
Project 1 - Lettuce Letters
Considering most children turn their noses up at a bowl of salad, lettuce may not seem like an obvious first choice. But it’s extremely fast growing, and if they pick and eat the young, sweet leaves, they may quickly realise what they’re missing out on! Couple that with the excitement of spelling their initials, and you’re on to a winner. All you need for this project is a packet of mixed lettuce seed (the various colours and leaf shapes will give added interest), a short length of bamboo cane and a watering can – within a few weeks, your little ones will be enjoying their own cut-and-come-again harvest.
Step by step:
1 Prepare the plot in advance, allowing a 40cm square for each letter in a suitable bed. Alternatively, for each letter fill one 30-40cm pot with compost. Help your children draw out a 1cm deep drill, using the bamboo cane, in the shape of their initials.
2 Assist your children in thinly sowing the lettuce seed into the drill. If they’re very young you can make it easier for them to successfully sow thinly by pre-mixing the seed with a little dry sand. Help them to carefully cover the drill with soil or compost, without disturbing the seed.
3 Let them water the area (without flooding) and encourage them to check the watering every few days. Your kids will soon tell you when the seedlings emerge. Encourage your child to let them grow to around 8cm tall before helping to harvest the lettuce by trimming with scissors.
Project 2 - Halloween Pumpkin
This is a longer term project, but kids who have experienced Halloween, will love the prospect of being able to carve their own home-grown pumpkin. Ask your child whether they’d prefer to grow one or two big pumpkins or lots of small ones. Varieties such as ‘Jack Be Little’ are reliable croppers, producing upwards of 10 miniature fruits that are great for decorating with a black marker pen. They can also be hollowed out to make child-sized bowls, while the flesh can be used in soups, pies or risottos. For this project, you’ll need pumpkin seeds, a 7cm pot for each seed (filled with fresh seed compost), and either a large (40cm) tub of compost or a square metre of prepared ground for planting out.
Step by step:
- Help your children to sow the seeds individually in pots. They should be inserted with the blunt end point downwards into the compost, and the rounded or pointed end uppermost. Push in until they’re out of sight. Have your child water them thoroughly, then germinate at 25C. Once the leaves develop, reduce the temperature to around 18-21C.
- Continue growing on under protection until all fear of frost has passed (late May or June). Ask your children to help you plant them out into their final positions or containers. If the weather is still poor, protect the plants with a cloche or windbreak. Encourage your little ones to water them regularly and keep the ground free of weeds.
- If you’re growing large-fruiting varieties, allow only one or two pumpkins to develop per plant. You can allow smaller-fruiting types to mature their entire crop. For extra fun, help your child engrave their name into the skin of the young fruit – as it swells, so will the letters! Harvest the pumpkins when the foliage dies back or before mildew takes hold.
Show-Stopping Crops
Kids love a colourful plot, so why not take advantage of some of these attractively-hued crops?
- Bright orange carrots are always a winner, but you can also get hold of the roots in other shades – ‘Atomic Red’, ‘Cosmic Purple’ and ‘Solar Yellow’ can all liven up both plot and plate.
- Grown like conventional sweetcorn, strawberry popcorn produces small rounded cobs that are deep red in colour. But kids will be even more interested in the resulting dried kernels, which can be microwaved or ‘popped’ in a saucepan to make sweet popcorn.
- Children either love or hate the taste of cauliflower, but whichever side they fall on they’ll love growing unusual varieties ‘Graffiti’ (purple), ‘Trevi’ (lime green) and ‘Sunset’ (orange). Don’t worry about caterpillar damage – most kids delight in hunting and collecting them!
- Whether grown outdoors or in, tomatoes are great for brightening up a veg patch. Choose varieties such as ‘Purple Calabash’ (purple), ‘Sungold (orange-yellow) or stripy types like ‘Tigerella’ for a visual feast.
- Few children can resist strawberries. They’re easy to maintain, and will also put up with a fair amount of accidental trampling – although you can avoid this altogether by growing in hanging baskets. Smaller woodland types (Fragaria vesca cultivars) are the perfect size for small mouths.
- My daughter can’t get enough raspberries. The yellow fruits of ‘All Gold’ seem to be very popular with youngsters, probably because of their crumbly texture as well as their colour. Make sure your children know the difference between ripe and unripe berries to avoid wastage.
Other Fun Projects
Build A Scarecrow
No child-friendly veg patch should be without a scarecrow. Kids love making them – especially if it’s sporting clothes they have grown out of. Make a cross-shaped frame from stout bamboo canes or timber before ‘dressing’ this and stuffing with straw or hay.
Create An Insect House
These are easy and fun to construct. All you need is a few off-cuts of bamboo cane and a half log drilled with holes. You’ll find plenty of simple designs on the internet. The resultant house will provide a haven for beneficial insects such as lacewings, ladybirds and solitary bees – as well as a never-ending source of wonder for the children.
Useful Contacts
Stephen Shirley is a father of two young girls and Managing Director of Victoriana Nursery Gardens. He and his wife Serena assist in a range of school gardening projects. Stephen has also co-designed the ‘A World Outside The Classroom’ exhibit for this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live show. Victoriana stocks the full range of Joseph Bentley children’s gardening tools and features an entire ‘Gardening With Children’ section on its website. Discounts on seeds and plants (20%), as well as books, sundries and tools (10%) are available to school gardening clubs. To find out more call 01233 740 529 or visit victoriananursery.co.uk
This article first appeared in Grow Your Own magazine. To download a pdf copy of the original article click on the image below...
Beetroot Seed 'Boltardy'
A bolt-resistant variety of beetroot which produces deep red roots with a sweet flavour. Very popular for early sowings.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 100 seeds.
Beetroot Seed 'Burpees Golden'
A Victorian variety that produces sweet, tasty orange-yellow coloured roots that don't bleed or stain. Particularly tasty when harvested as baby beets.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 90 seeds.
Black Turtle Beans
Very popular in Latin American dishes and a really meaty meat substitute! A store cupboard essential! Grow just as you would Dwarf French beans and then dry.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 50 seeds
Borlotto Bean Seed 'Lingua di Fuoco'
A colourful dual-purpose bean that can be used conventionally just like a Climbing French Bean, or dried and used in soups and stews. Perfect for winter storage.
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Supplied as a packet of approximately 30 seeds.
Broad Bean Seed 'Monica'
A quick-maturing, high-yielding broad bean suitable for early, mid, late and over-winter sowings. Produces long pods with delicious creamy white beans.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 75 seeds.
Broad Bean Seed 'The Sutton'
A dwarf broad bean ideal for the smaller plot, producing deliciously tender beans. Extremely hardy and perfect for over-wintering.
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Supplied as a packet of approximately 75 seeds.
Carrot Seed - All Year Round Blend
A carefully blended selection of carrot seed varieties that can be sown almost any time of year to produce a worthwhile crop. The easy way to grow carrots!
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 2000 seeds.
Carrot Seed - Cosmic Colour Collection
Vibrant red, white, purple and sulphur yellow carrots will bring colour to the dining table. Crisp and sweet flavour. (includes some F1 Hybrid varieties).
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 500 seeds.
Carrot Seed 'Paris Market Atlas'
Short and stubby, almost spherical carrots. Perfect for growing in shallow soils or containers. A novel alternative to conventional carrots, with a lovely flavour.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 500 seeds.
Carrot Seed 'Resistafly'
A carrot fly-resistant variety with an excellent flavour and a good crunch. Best grown as second early or maincrop. F1 Hybrid.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 500 seeds.
Cauliflower Seed 'Snowball'
A long-established favourite with tight heads that truly are snow-white in colour. Excellent keeping qualities. Suitable for growing and cropping every season.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 60 seeds.
Climbing French Bean Seed 'Blue Lake'
A stringless variety of this popular bean. Gorgeously sweet flavour either raw or cooked, and well suited for freezing or drying. Can be dried and used as a haricot.
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Supplied as a packet of approximately 115 seeds.
Climbing French Bean Seed 'Fasold'
A black-seeded variety that produces heavy crops of pencil-thick beans with good flavour and very good freezing qualities.
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Supplied as a packet of approximately 75 seeds.
Courgette Seed 'Eight Ball'
Rich green round fruits have an excellent flavour and texture. Very heavy cropping and reliable with a compact habit. F1 Hybrid.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of 10 seeds.
Courgette Seed 'One Ball'
Compact and high-yielding. Produces golden-yellow rounded fruits with a lovely flavour and meaty flesh. F1 Hybrid.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of 10 seeds.
Courgette Seed 'Taxi'
A distinctly different courgette, having a bright yellow outer skin and a crisp texture. High-yielding and very reliable. F1 hybrid.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of 10 seeds.
Courgette Seed 'Zucchini'
A traditional variety of courgette in both senses - it's straight and it's green. Heavy cropping with a bush habit. F1 Hhybrid.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of 10 seeds.
Dwarf French Bean Seed 'Hildora'
A delicious, colourful, high-yielding, long, yellow French Bean, which is easy to grow and keeps its colour when cooked. Can be grown inside or out.
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Supplied as a packet of approximately 250 seeds.
Dwarf French Bean Seed 'Purple Queen'
A beautiful dark purple dwarf French Bean, plants reach approximately 14" (35 cm) tall. Has a good yield and is delicious cooked or raw. Easy to grow from seed.
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Supplied as a packet of approximately 250 seeds.
Dwarf French Bean Seed 'Tendergreen'
Light green pods have distinctive purple markings and good flavour; virtually stringless and well suited for freezing. Support not essential.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 250 seeds.
Dwarf French Bean Seed 'Tendergreen'
Light green pods have distinctive purple markings and good flavour; virtually stringless and well suited for freezing. Support not essential.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 250 seeds.
Fine Curled Salad Cress Seed
Everyone should grow this! From sowing to eating in less than a week! True salad cress, not Rape, which is often mis-sold as salad cress.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 2000 seeds.
Grow Your Own Peas and Beans Gift Pack
A pea and bean seed collection, including French, Runner, Broad beans and climbing peas, all with amazing flavour and good croppers.
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Supplied as 4 packets of seeds, guidance and a gift bag.
Land Cress Seed
With a flavour virtually identical to watercress this is perfect for those who do not have a pond, stream or boggy area. Fast-growing and reliable.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 200 seeds.
Lettuce Seed 'Hendersons Black Seeded Simpson'
Over 150 years old! Gorgeously sweet flavour and a satisfying crisp texture. An extremely hardy variety that can be grown almost any time of year.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 100 seeds.
Lettuce Seed 'Lobjoit's Green Cos'
Everything a lettuce should be. Deep green, self folding, leaves. Crunchy hearts and an excellent flavour. Slow to bolt as well.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 100 seeds.
Lettuce Seed - In Perpetuity Blend
Our carefully blended selection of 15 distinct varieties of lettuce. Will provide both varietal interest and the potential of year-round cropping from one packet of seed.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 250 seeds.
Mungbean Sprouting Seed
Mungbeans are delicious and so quick and easy to grow (taking only 2-5 days). Full of goodness (and low in calories), great added to stir-fries or salads.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 400 seeds.
Pumpkin Seed 'Atlantic Giant'
Not for the faint-hearted! These astonishing huge pale orange fruits hold the world record for both weight and diameter.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of 5 seeds.
Pumpkin Seed 'Jack Be Little'
One of the smallest pumpkins.A fully grown fruit barely fills the hand. Wonderful for stuffing, or as 'glasses' for Halloween party drinks, or for making miniature lanterns.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of 5 seeds.
Pumpkin Seed Selection
A pumpkin patch in a packet! Different shapes, sizes and even colours. A splendid 'fun' selection sure to delight children and adults alike - whether eaten or carved. (includes some F1 Hybrid varieties).
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Supplied as a packet of 10 different pumpkin seeds (not individually named).
Rainbow Cauliflower Seed
A blend of four of the most unusual cauliflowers around! Will produce violet, orange, green and 'turreted' heads (includes some F1 Hybrid varieties).
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Supplied as a packet of approximately 25 seeds.
Runner Bean Seed 'Polestar'
A heavy-cropping variety that produces bright green fleshy pods that are completely stringless. Early cropper.
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Supplied as a packet of approximately 30 seeds.
Squash Seed 'Crown Prince'
Winter Squash. The best storing variety of squash we know - and probably the best flavoured, too. Grey-blue skinned fruits have rich orange flesh.
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Supplied as a packet of 5 seeds.
Squash Seed 'Hunter'
Winter Squash. Pale cream-skinned fruits have rich golden orange flesh which is exceptionally sweet. Specifically bred for the UK climate.
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Supplied as a packet of 5 seeds.
Squash Seed 'Kabocha'
Winter Squash. Also known as Japanese Pumpkin. Rich orange flesh is protected by a thick dark green striped pale green skin. Exceptionally good keeping qualities. F1 Hybrid.
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Supplied as a packet of 5 seeds.
Squash Seed 'Spaghetti'
Winter Squash. Fantastic in every way! The plump rugby ball-shaped fruits mature to a pale yellow orange. Flesh resembles spaghetti when cooked.
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Supplied as a packet of 5 seeds.
Squash Seed 'Turks Turban'
Winter Squash. A fruit hard to mistake! Sweet orange fruits with multi-coloured protuberances. Excellent keeping qualities.
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Supplied as a packet of 5 seeds.
Strawberry Plant 'Rambling Cascade'
Large, bright red strawberries have a real taste-of-old flavour. Runners can be up to 6 feet (1.8 metres) long, making this variety perfect for hanging baskets or training to climb. Self fertile.
Available Now
Supplied as 7cm pot grown plants.
Strawberry Seed 'Sweet Temptation'
Possibly the cheapest way to establish your own strawberry bed. Produce heavy crops of sweet and juicy fruits on compact plants. Self-fertile.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 25 seeds.
Sweetcorn Seed Minipop
Babycorn. Four or five pale yellow babycorns are produced on each plant. Vigorous in habit and easy to grow with no pollination concerns. F1 Hybrid.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 30 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Abraham Lincoln'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Large beefsteak fruits have smooth deep red skin and a rich dense flesh. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Ailsa Craig'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Medium-sized fruits have a fine flavour - some say the finest. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Aker's West Virginia'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Large, slightly flattened tomatoes in clusters of two with a delicious flavour. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Amateur'
Bush Tomato. A heavy cropping variety that is very well suited to growing outside. Suitable for protected growing also. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Amish Paste'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Large sized plum tomatoes have deep red skin and a rich dense flesh ideal for pasting. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Aunt Ginny's Purple'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Originating from Germany, produces large, deep-pink purple fruits of exceptional flavour. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Auriga'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. An excellent variety for outdoor growing. Produces high yields of medium-sized golden-orange fruit that have an almost melon flavour. Very juicy!
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Austin's Red Pear'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. A cherry tomato that looks like a pear! Bright red fruits are lovely and sweet and satisfyingly firm. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Banana Legs'
Bush Tomato. 4 " (10 cm) long, bright yellow banana shaped fruits. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 10 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Black Cherry'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Mahogany-brown cherry tomatoes are produced in profusion. Good disease resistance. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Black from Tula'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. The largest of the black tomato varieties. 3" - 4" dark brown to purple fruits. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Black Krim'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. A very old beefsteak variety that produces heavy crops of large dark brown-red fruits with firm flesh. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Black Plum'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Deep mahogany-red fruits resemble small plum tomatoes. Tangy sweet flavour. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Blizzard'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Now exclusive to us! Huge crops of juicy billiard ball-sized fruits. Sets well even in low light. Suitable for protected growing only. A dehybridised reselection, and now open pollinated.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Bloody Butcher'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Excellent for cooler growing conditions, early and heavy cropping! Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Carmello'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Very large beefsteak fruits have a rich and deep flavour and very little seed. A dehybridised reselection, and now open pollinated.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Caspian Pink'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. One of the best pink tomatoes there is. Large, sweet and juicy fruits. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Christmas Grapes'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Produces lovely bunches of red grape-sized fruits, 10-20 per cluster. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Clou'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Bright orange-yellow fruits hang in dense bunches. Highly blight-resistant and perfect for growing both outside and under protection. Open pollinated.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Cream Sausage'
Bush Tomato. Creamy-white sausage shaped tomatoes - excellent for making sauces. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Cuostralee'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Large beefsteak fruits have a pleated shape and a really deep and intense flavour. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'De Barrao Paste'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. An old Russian variety that produces heavy crops of plum tomatoes. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Egyptian'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Purportedly descended from seeds found in an Egyptian tomb. Dense and fleshy, near plum-shaped fruits. Suitable for protected growing only. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Fireworks'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. The largest early-fruiting tomato there is, and with a great flavour too! Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Gardener's Delight'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Just a little larger than most cherry tomatoes. Excellent flavour and reliable even in cooler years. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Gartenperle'
Basket Tomato. Masses of cherry-sized fruits are produced on this wonderful trailing variety. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Ghost Cherry'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Produces masses of very sweet, white cherry tomatoes. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Giant Delicious'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Huge Beefsteak fruits are filled with juicy, meaty flesh. One slice will fill a sandwich. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Gogoshari Striped'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Red and yellow striped fruits are semi-hollow. Perfect for stuffing. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Gold Medal'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Medium-sized golden yellow fruits with thick walls but very little flesh, ideal for stuffing. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Gold Rush Currant'
Bush Tomato. Tiny golden yellow fruits burst in the mouth to reveal huge flavour. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Gold Rush Currant'
Bush Tomato. Tiny golden yellow fruits burst in the mouth to reveal huge flavour. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Golden Sunrise'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Bright golden-yellow table tennis to billiard ball-sized fruits. Early into cropping. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Green Sausage'
Bush Tomato. 3" long, yellow-green, sausage shaped fruits have a lovely sweet taste. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Harry's Italian Plum'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. A plum tomato from Italy with a real history! Large fruits are extremely meaty with a lovely flavour. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Hawaiian Pineapple'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Huge beefsteak fruits. Pale yellow-red skin and deep orange meaty flesh. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Hog's Heart'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Long, red heart-shaped to banana-shaped fruits are sweetly flavoured. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Indigo Blue Berries'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato, a beautiful blue-black cherry-sized fruit that is packed full of antioxidants and goodness. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Indigo Rose'
Cordon (vine) Tomato. Full of goodness and antioxidants this variety ripens to a deep brown/black colour on the top (paler at the bottom) and has incredible flavour.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Jersey Devil'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. 5" - 6" long tapered bright red fruits. Meaty flesh perfect for sauces and pastes. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Jumbley'
A little bit of fun! For those who like to experiment and take a chance this is a mix of varieties that we grow here. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. All are open pollinated heritage (heirloom) varieties.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 20 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Long Keeper'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. A late ripening beefsteak variety that can be grown in the normal way or picked green to ripen in storage over the winter. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Long Tom'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Heavy crops of meaty sweet fruits that can be up to 9" long. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Matt's Wild Cherry'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Sweet and delicious cherry tomatoes are born on open trusses. Vigorous and very prolific. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Mexico Midget'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Gorgeously sweet cherry tomatoes are born on very neat and compact trusses. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Money Maker'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. A tried and trusted old variety. Produces good yields of flavoursome fruit. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Nepal'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Large, smooth fruits have crimson skin and a really sweet flavour. A good variety for storing and late ripening. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Outdoor Girl'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. An early variety well suited to growing outside. Heavy crops of billiard ball sized fruits with a good flavour. Also suitable for protected. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Paul Robeson'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Dusky dark red beefsteak fruits have an earthy and sweet flavour. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Pink Grapefruit'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Dark yellow fruits have pink blushed flesh. Sweet-sharp taste with citrus overtones. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Pink Lemon'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Lemon shaped yellow fruits have yellow-orange flesh blushed pink. Firm and meaty texture. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Primabella'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Arguably the most blight resistant variety of tomato currently available. Sweet juicy cherry tomatoes hang in bunches like grapes. Suitable for both outdoor and protected growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Primavera'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. A highly blight resistant variety cocktail tomato suitable for both outdoor and protected growing. Juicy and sweet fruits almost melt in the mouth. Open pollinated.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Purple Calabash'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Ugly purple-blue fruits have a pleasantly sharp tomato flavour. Perfect for salsas. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Red Fig'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Large trusses of bright red 'fig'-shaped'cherry tomatoes are produced in profusion. Very sweet and juicy. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'San Marzano Redorta'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. A superior form of 'San Marzano'. Large, delicious, full-flavoured plum tomatoes. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 10 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Shirley'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Early cropping and reliable. Heavy crops of billiard ball-sized red fruits with an excellent flavour. Suitable for protected growing only. F1 Hybrid.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 10 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Shirleys' Pixie'
Bush Tomato. Produces heavy crops of medium-sized fruits with a rich traditional flavour. Also useful for autumn and winter cropping. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. A dehybridised reselection, and now open pollinated.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Snow White'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. One of the palest coloured tomatoes there is! Masses of gorgeously sweet fruits. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Striped Stuffer'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Bell pepper-shaped bright red fruits are striped golden orange. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Sungold'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Masses of golden-orange cherry tomatoes. Heavy cropping and very reliable. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. F1 Hybrid.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Super Sweet 100'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato.So very well named! Produces long trusses with masses of oh-so sweet cherry-sized fruits. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. F1 Hybrid.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Surender's Indian Curry'
Bush Tomato. A sour tomato from India particularly well suited for use in curries and similar ethnic dishes. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Sweet Pea Currant'
Bush Tomato. Pea sized red fruits are sweet and juicy. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Taxi'
Bush Tomato. Bright yellow, gorgeously sweet fruits - almost acid-free. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Thai Pink'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Small, pale pink egg-shaped fruits ripen to a deep pink. Very heavy cropping. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Tigerella'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Billiard ball sized ruits are red striped with green. Firm fruit with a good flavour. Suitable for protected growing only. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Tiny Tim'
Bush Tomato. A tiny dwarf variety that will happily live on a windowsill and fruit at no more than 12" tall. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Tomatoberry'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato.Bright red heart-shaped fruits have a lovely sweet flavour and satisfying crunch. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Vintage Wine'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Large pink beefsteak fruits with golden-yellow stripes. Sweet and subtly flavoured meaty flesh. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Yellow Pear'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Small golden-yellow pear-shaped fruits are produced in clusters. A real lunch-box treat! Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Zapotec Pleated'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. A very, very old variety producing bright red deeply pleated fruits. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. Open pollinated heritage (heirloom) variety.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Zhefen Short'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Heavy crops of large, slightly oval fruits that are sweet and juicy. Early to ripen.Suitable for protected and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Raspberry Cane 'All Gold'
Autumn fruiting (Primocane). The best of all the yellow raspberries! Sweet golden fruits almost crumble in your hand when picked. Canes are spined. Self Fertile.
Available from APPROXIMATELY November
Supplied as bare root canes pruned to approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
Raspberry Cane 'Autumn Bliss'
Autumn fruiting (Primocane). Mid dark red fruits have a pleasant flavour. Berry size remains fairly constant through the season. Canes are spined. Self Fertile.
Available from APPROXIMATELY November
Supplied as bare root canes pruned to approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
Raspberry Cane 'Autumn Treasure'
Autumn fruiting (Primocane). Large bright coloured fruits have a gorgeously sweet flavour and very little acid - and keep well. Excellent disease resistance. Canes are spine free. Self Fertile.
Available from APPROXIMATELY November
Supplied as bare root canes pruned to approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
Raspberry Cane 'Glen Ample'
Summer fruiting (Floricane). A high-yielding mid-season variety that produces large berries with good flavour and colour. Canes are spine free. Self Fertile.
Available from APPROXIMATELY November
Supplied as bare root canes pruned to approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
Raspberry Cane 'Malling Minerva'
Summer fruiting (Floricane). An early fruiting variety which produces heavy yields of good sized flavoursome fruits with excellent keeping qualities. Canes are spine free. Self Fertile.
Available from APPROXIMATELY November
Supplied as bare root canes pruned to approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
Strawberry Plant 'Royal Sovereign'
Dating back to 1892, this really is a heritage strawberry. Medium-sized fruits have a juicy taste of yesteryear that really is special. Self-fertile.
Available from APPROXIMATELY November
Supplied as good-sized bare root plants.
The Ultimate Raspberry Cane Collection
A fine gift for the raspberry lover that will ensure a plentiful supply of raspberries throughout the summer and autumn season. Self fertile.
Available from APPROXIMATELY late November / early December
Supplied as bare root raspberry canes approximately 12" (30 cm) tall.
Squash Seed 'Harlequin'
Winter Squash. A highly attractive green, gold and yellow striped acorn / dumpling squash. Exceptionally sweet flesh. F1 Hybrid.
Currently Not Available To Purchase - Available from - SOLD OUT UNTIL NEXT YEAR - 2025
Supplied as a packet of 5 seeds.
Strawberry Plant 'Malwina'
A late-season variety. Deep glossy red fruits have a gorgeous sweet flavour. Withstands rain well and has a good tolerance to disease. Self fertile.
Currently Not Available To Purchase - Available from - We Need To Check Stock
Supplied as good-sized bare-root plants.
Tomato Seed 'Amy's Sugar Gem'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Golf ball sized fruits are gorgeously sweet and very meaty. Very heavy cropping. Open pollinated, heritage (heirloom) variety.
Currently Not Available To Purchase - Available from - SOLD OUT UNTIL NEXT YEAR - 2025
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Tomato Seed 'Tigro'
Cordon (Vine) Tomato. Intense red cherry tomato fruits have dark stripes. Suitable for protected and outdoor growing. F1 Hybrid.
Currently Not Available To Purchase - Available from - SOLD OUT UNTIL NEXT YEAR - 2025
Supplied as a packet of approximately 5 seeds.
