Most Commonly Available Seeds

Antirrhinum Seeds

Available in 4 specific varieties (Dwarf – Ideal for Rockeries, Intermediate – ideal for cut flowers, Tall – for back of border and trailing – for hanging baskets) Antirrhinum more commonly known as snapdragons are a stunning addition to your garden giving you bright colorful flowers for your beds and borders.

Antirrhinums are a half hardy perennial but are best grown as a half hardy annual. Sow your Antirrhinum seeds January to May under glass in gentle heat for flowers July-October or Sow July to September in a cold frame for planting the following spring.

Antirrhinum seeds should germinate within 10-20 days. Transplant your seedlings 5 cm apart in seed trays and grow on. Gradually acclimatize the Antirrhinum plants to outside conditions before planting out 15cm apart in a sunny position.

Sunflower Seeds

Easy to grow and so many different varieties to choose from! Sunflower seeds are a real favorite with the children. They produce large daisy-like flowers, with very large brightly colored petals. These plants are ideal for cutting, and come in pollen-free varieties which are ideal for hay fever suffers!

Your Sunflower seeds need to be sown under glass between March and April or outdoors between April and June for flowers between July and September. The petals and seeds are lovely when used in salads and cakes!

Sunflower seeds should germinate within 7 to 21 days. As the seedlings grow thin in stages to achieve final spacing of 30 to 45cm. Make sure all plants are supported as they grow.

Broccoli Seeds

Broccoli seeds produce a shoot that is delicious and healthy, and can be picked frequently over a long period of time. Research suggests that broccoli may offer some protection against certain cancers.

Depending on what variety of Broccoli seeds you decide on, will vary when the seeds are needed to be sown. However all the seeds need to start off in a 13mm deep seedbed, and be transplanted when the plants are large enough to handle. Germination takes place within 7-12 days.

For best results steam the broccoli and don’t boil it. Use within a few hours of harvesting.

Tomato Seeds

There are hundreds of varieties of Tomato seeds, all producing tomatoes with different tastes and colours. They are a bright addition to any greenhouse border, or can jazz up your veg patch outside. To produce greenhouse crops sow the seeds between February and April – grow in large pots, boarders or growing bags.

To produce outdoor crops begin by sowing the seeds under glass in April. The plants can then be transplanted outdoors to a warm sunny area.

Tomatoes are such a versatile vegetable and can be used in hot dishes, salads and sandwiches. They can be eaten raw, roasted or fried – give them a go! Not sure which variety to choose.

Aquilegia Seeds

A cottage garden favorite, Aquilegia seeds come in a fine color range producing a beautiful flower year after year.

This hardy perennial needs to be sown between March and June indoors in a cold frame for flowering between May and June the following year.

Aquilegia seeds should take around 30 to 90 days to germinate, in which time they should be covered in a polythene sheet. After germination the seedlings can be transplanted into trays and plants 5cm apart. When large enough, the plants can be transplanted outside at least 38cm apart in a sunny or partially shaded area. (May also be sown directly outdoors between April to June.)

Chilli and Pepper Seeds

Putting that extra kick into all you meals, chilies and sweeter peppers are a must home grow. They are so easy, and can be grown in the house!

Grow in a propagator on a window sill or in a greenhouse. Chili seeds and pepper seeds need to be planted into compost at a depth of 6mm. Germination should occur within 14 to 21 days; they can then be transplanted into 75mm pots and planted in a sunny position (patio, greenhouse, and conservatory)

Best sown February to April, add to salads, salsas and cooked dishes, dry or even pickle – they are so versatile!

Cabbage Seeds

Careful selection of Cabbage seeds will mean that you can have a supply of different types of cabbage all seasons of the year.

Depending on the variety of cabbage seed chosen will depend when it is sown; for early crops sow under glass in February, but for use in late summer autumn and winter sow between March and May. If you want a cabbage plant present in your garden between April and May chose a variety that is bred specifically for sowing in the autumn.

Sow in a seedbed at the depth of 13mm. Germination will take between 7 and 12 days. When the cabbage plants are big enough to handle they can be transplanted.

Celery Seeds

Celery seeds are available in two main varieties (trench and self-blanching) and will provide you with a healthy ingredient or snack full of potassium. Your Celery seeds need to be sown late March or April under glass. Germination takes 12 to 18 days. Once big enough to handle the trench varieties need to be transplanted into trenches, and the self-blanching varieties need to be transplanted on to level ground.

The trench varieties take 30 weeks to reach maturity, and the self blanching varieties take just 18 weeks to reach maturity.