Steam the buds and eat the tender bases of the leaves dipped in melted butter or vinaigrette. The heart, once you reach it, is the real prize. A stunning architectural plant that doubles as a genuine food crop.

🌱 Growing at a glance
🌱 Sowing: February–May or August–September
☀️ Light: Full sun
💧 Water: Deep, regular watering
🌡️ Germination: 14–21 days
📏 Height: 1.2–1.5 m
🪴 Spacing: 90–100 cm
⏳ Harvest: From the second year onwards

🌿 Growing tips
Start seeds early for stronger plants and protect young growth from frost. After harvesting the main central bud, allow side shoots to develop for smaller secondary artichokes. Mulch well over winter in colder areas.

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The leaves are large, tender, and intensely fragrant. Pinch off the growing tips regularly and the plant bushes out and keeps producing. One pot on a warm windowsill will give you fresh basil from May to October.

🌱 Sowing information
Sow indoors February to July, surface sow or barely cover. Seeds need light to germinate. Keep warm (18 to 25°C) and moist. Germination takes 7 to 14 days. Can be sown in succession every 3 to 4 weeks for a continuous supply.

☀️ Light exposure
Full sun and shelter from wind. Basil hates cold draughts. A warm windowsill, conservatory or polytunnel is ideal. In Ireland, outdoor growing works from June in a sheltered spot.

💧 Water needs
Water regularly but do not let the soil get waterlogged. Morning watering is best. Avoid wetting the leaves, which can encourage fungal problems. Well drained compost in pots is ideal.

🌡️ Germination temperature and time
Seeds germinate in 7 to 14 days at 18 to 25°C. They need warmth and light. A heated propagator or warm windowsill speeds things up. Do not sow outdoors until soil is reliably warm.

📏 Plant spacing and final size
Grows to 30 to 50cm tall. Space 25 to 30cm apart if planting in a bed, or grow one plant per 15cm pot. Pinch out the growing tip when the plant has 6 to 8 leaves to encourage bushy growth.

🌼 Harvesting notes
Harvest continuously from spring to autumn. Pick or pinch leaves regularly to prevent flowering. Once basil flowers, the leaves lose some of their flavour, so keep pinching.

🍽️ In the kitchen
Pesto alla genovese, caprese, torn over pizza margherita, stirred into pasta at the last second. Never cook it. Always add it fresh, right before serving.

📖 Want to make the most of your herbs? Our recipe guide “Welly to Belly: Italian Herbs at Home” has simple, real Italian recipes for every herb you grow. Get your copy and start cooking with what you grow.

Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: surface sow (needs light)
📅 Sow: February to July (indoors or warm spot)
☀️ Light: Full sun, sheltered from wind
🌡️ Germination: 7 to 14 days at 18 to 25°C
📏 Height: 30 to 50cm. Space: 25 to 30cm
🪴 Container friendly: yes, 15cm pot minimum
⏳ Harvest: continuously, spring to autumn
🧪 Approx. seed quantity: 8g per packet

Vintage 1928 variety from Franchi Sementi, est. 1783. Open pollinated, OGM free.

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Fine texture and juicy consistency. Roast it, boil it, pickle it, or grate it raw into salads. The leaves are edible too, used like spinach. One packet gives you enough roots to last the season.

🌱 Sowing information
Sow from late March to June in fine, stone‑free soil. Make shallow drills 2 cm deep and 30 cm apart; sow seeds 3–5 cm apart, cover lightly and water. For earliest crops, use cloches or fleece. Pre‑soaking seeds can speed germination.
☀️ Light exposure
Prefers full sun but tolerates light partial shade. In Ireland, a bright, well‑drained bed ensures good root shape and colour.
💧 Water needs
Keep soil evenly moist, especially during germination. Avoid drought followed by heavy watering to prevent splitting. Mulching helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.
🌡️ Germination temperature & time
Germinates at 7–10 °C, usually emerging in 7–14 days. Late‑March sowings typically match suitable soil conditions.
📏 Plant spacing & final size
Thin seedlings to 8–10 cm apart, with 25–30 cm between rows. This spacing supports uniform, well‑coloured roots.
🌼 Harvesting notes
Harvest baby beets at golf‑ball size or allow to reach 5–7 cm for fuller roots. Lift gently, twist off leaves to reduce bleeding, and store in a cool, dark place or process promptly.

Bullet Technical Data
• 🌱 Sowing depth: 2 cm
• 📅 Planting months (Ireland): March–end June
• ☀️ Light: Full sun to light partial shade
• 🌡️ Germination: 7–14 days at 7–10 °C
• 📏 Plant height: 25–40 cm foliage; 5–7 cm roots
• 🪴 Spacing: 8–10 cm plants; 25–30 cm rows
• ⏳ Days to maturity: 50–70 days
• 🧪 Seeds per packet: approx. 480

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One of the fastest salad crops you can grow. Ready in about four weeks from sowing. Sow a short row every two to three weeks and you will never buy a bag of mixed leaves from the supermarket again.

Bullet Technical Data
• 🌱 Sowing depth: 0.5–1 cm
• 📅 Planting months (Ireland): February–September in small batches
• ☀️ Light: Full sun to light partial shade
• 🌡️ Germination: 7–14 days at 10–18 °C
• 📏 Plant height: 10–20 cm at harvest
• 🪴 Spacing: Dense for baby leaves; 10–15 cm for rosettes
• ⏳ Days to maturity: 25–35 days to first cut
• 🧪 Seeds per packet: approx. 4000

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These are not just pretty flowers. They serve a purpose. More butterflies in your garden means a healthier, more balanced ecosystem. And watching them is one of the genuine pleasures of having a garden.

🌱 Sowing information
Sow from February to July directly outdoors. Rake lightly to cover and keep the soil moist until germination.
☀️ Light exposure
Thrives in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
💧 Water needs
Water regularly during establishment. Once mature, the mix becomes moderately drought‑tolerant.
🌡️ Germination temperature & time
Germinates in 10–20 days under mild temperatures.
📏 Plant spacing & final size
Broadcast sowing. Plants reach 20–80 cm depending on species.

Bullet Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: surface to 0.5 cm
📅 Sow: February–July
☀️ Light: full sun / partial shade
🌡️ Germination: 10–20 days
📏 Height: 20–80 cm
🪴 Spacing: broadcast sowing
⏳ Flowering: May–October
🔢 Seeds: approx. standard packet

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The flavour is sweet and mild. Excellent for coleslaw, sauerkraut, soups and slow-cooked dishes. A reliable workhorse variety that earns its place in any kitchen garden.

Cabbage ‘Langedijk’ is a productive late variety from Holland, forming solid, round heads of medium size with tightly wrapped, smooth, light green leaves. Excellent for extended winter harvests and storage, its mild, sweet flavour is perfect for coleslaw, hearty soups, and traditional braised dishes. This packet contains approximately 1200 seeds.

🌱 Sow from Oct-Feb. Ideal for overwintering to produce heads in late spring/early summer.
☀️ Prefers full sun. A bright, open site is best for solid head formation.
💧 Keep soil moist. Consistent watering is key during establishment and head formation.
📏 Forms compact, solid heads. Harvest from late spring onwards from autumn/winter sowings.

Bullet Technical Data
🌱 Depth: 1.5 cm
📅 Sow: October to February
☀️ Light: Full sun
🌡️ Germ: 7-12 days
📏 Height/Spread: Medium, compact round head
🪴 Space: 40-50 cm apart
⏳ Harvest: May-July (from autumn/winter sowing)
🪙 Seeds: Approx. 1200 seeds

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Start indoors in spring for the longest possible growing season. The fruits are excellent in desserts, jams, chutneys and as a garnish. Pop one in your mouth straight from the plant and you will understand why people grow them.

🌱 Sowing information
Sow from February to May in trays or pots. Cover lightly and keep warm until germination.
☀️ Light exposure
Requires full sun for strong growth and fruit sweetness.
💧 Water needs
Water regularly, keeping the soil moist but never waterlogged.
🌡️ Germination temperature & time
Germinates in 10–20 days under warm, steady temperatures.
📏 Plant spacing & final size
Transplant seedlings 40–50 cm apart. Plants reach 80–120 cm in height.

Bullet Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: 0.5 cm
📅 Sow: February–May
☀️ Light: full sun
🌡️ Germination: 10–20 days
📏 Height: 80–120 cm
🪴 Spacing: 40–50 cm
⏳ Harvest: August–October
🔢 Seeds: approx. standard packet

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A fun alternative to standard orange carrots. Excellent for roasting together, where the different colours hold up and the varying flavours complement each other. Good starting point if you want to try something different.

🌱 Sowing depth: approx. 1 cm​