December 2007: Jean Stowe selects new veges that are as showy as flowers
The enthusiasm for growing veg continues, if sales figures are anything to go by. This may be a desire for nutritious food, or concerns over food miles and carbon footprints. One thing's for sure; if you look at this year's seed catalogues you'll find the vegetables are just as colourful as the flowers. We're not slow to borrow ideas from other countries too – American pumpkins, Italian varieties and herbs for Thai cooking are all featured.
* Supplier links appear at the end of this feature.
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| Broad bean 'Violetta'
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Broad bean 'Violetta'
Broad beans mature in early summer and they are so tender fresh from the garden. I just throw them in a stew if they get big. 'Violetta' has green pods, but the beans are an unusual shade of violet. These keep their colour if steamed.
Price: £1.39 for 40 seeds, Thompson & Morgan; £1.40 for 40 seeds, Plants of Distinction.
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| Butternut squash 'Hawk'
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Butternut squash 'Hawk'
British-raised butternut varieties of winter squash 'Harrier', 'Hawk' and 'Hunter' crop earlier. I'm told 'Hunter' is the best.
Price: 'Harrier' £1.99 for 10 seeds, Thompson & Morgan; £2 for 10 seeds, Plants of Distinction.
'Hawk' £1.70 for 10 seeds, Mr Fothergill's.
'Harrier', 'Hawk' and 'Hunter' £2.35 for 25 seeds, direct from Tozer Seeds.
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| Carrot 'Crème de Lite'
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Carrot 'Crème de Lite'
Carrots these days are purple, yellow, dark red as well as orange. I have to confess it's the picture in the catalogue that makes me flag up 'Crème de Lite' with elegant tapering roots and a lovely ivory colour. It's meant to be delicious raw as well as cooked, and you don't need to peel it.
Price: £1.99 for 200 seeds, Thompson & Morgan.
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| Chilli 'Peach Habanero'
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Chilli 'Peach Habanero'
I'm never sure whether people grow chillies to eat, or for their looks. I for one won't be eating 'Peach Habanero' – it's one of the hottest around. That said, 'Peach Habanero', which appears on the front of Suttons' catalogue, is certainly colourful.
Price: £1.35 for 25 seeds, Suttons.
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| Cucumber 'Green Fingers'
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Cucumber 'Green Fingers'
It amazes me that children love eating cucumbers. Last year a small-fruited variety climbed to the eaves of our conservatory romantically. Why not try 'Green Fingers' or the white heirloom 'Boothby's Blonde', which thrives outdoors.
Price: 'Green Fingers' £3.45 for five seeds, Mr Fothergill's; £1.40 for 40 seeds, Plants of Distinction.
'Boothby's Blonde' £1.19 for 20 seeds, Thompson & Morgan; £1.30 for 20 seeds, Plants of Distinction.
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| French bean 'Speedy'
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French bean 'Speedy'
Said to be the fastest growing bean of all, you can pick dwarf French bean 'Speedy' about seven or eight weeks after sowing. It is compact in growth and crops heavily.
Price: £2.15 for 75 seeds from Suttons' baby vegetable range of Speedy Seeds; £1.65 for 75 seeds, Plants of Distinction.
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| Kohl rabi 'Purple Vienna'
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Kohl rabi 'Purple Vienna'
Vibrant colour comes to a member of the cabbage family. Kohl rabi only needs Jamie Oliver or Delia Smith to make it fashionable. There are several striking purple varieties, such as 'Purple Vienna' and 'Kolibri'.
Price: 'Purple Vienna' £1.49 for 500 seeds, Johnsons' World Kitchen range.
'Kolibri' from Mr Fothergill's and Thompson & Morgan.
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| Lettuce 'Marshall'
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Lettuce 'Marshall'
Deep-purple, wavy-leaved lettuces make decorative edging plants for a kitchen garden or flower border. Lettuce 'Marshall', is a new, quick-growing cos lettuce, which you can eat as baby leaves or allowe to mature. 'Nymans' is a similar variety.
Price: £1.75 for 190 seeds, Suttons.
'Nymans' from Thompson & Morgan and Plants of Distinction.
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| Marrow 'Bush Baby'
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Marrow 'Bush Baby'
Huge marrows look great in a harvest festival display, but aren't much good for eating. With compact growth, British-bred marrow 'Bush Baby' produces large numbers of tender marrows just 15-20cm (6-8in) long, ideal for small gardens and patio pots. There are several suppliers.
Price: £1.99 for eight seeds, Thompson & Morgan.
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| Pea 'Half Pint'
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Pea 'Half Pint'
An interesting novelty for this year is Pea 'Half Pint'. This dwarf heritage variety will grow only 30-35cm (12-15in) high, so it's ideal for schoolchildren and families to grow in pots. Let children to pick and eat the own peas. It gives an early crop in the garden.
Price: £1.29 for 35 seeds, Thompson & Morgan; £1.35 for 30 seeds, Plants of Distinction.
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| Radish 'Red Head'
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Radish 'Red Head'
Radishes are another quick and easy vegetable. More colours and shapes are introduced every year. Radish 'Red Head' has round red- and ivory-coloured roots. I'm also very taken with 'Amethyst', which has purple skin with white flesh.
Price: Radish 'Red Head' £1.45 for 250 seeds, Plants of Distinction.
'Amethyst' £1.70 for 250 seeds, Mr Fothergill's.
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| Runner bean 'Celebration'
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Runner bean 'Celebration'
Runner bean 'Celebration' matures early and produces high yields. The pretty pink flowers are an unexpected bonus. Have a look at 'Aintree' and 'Red Rum' also – two new varieties to crop well in hot summer weather.
Price: 'Celebration' £2.48 for 40 seeds, Thompson & Morgan.
'Aintree' and 'Red Rum', Tozer Seeds.
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| Salad Californian Mix
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Salad Californian Mix
Cut salad leaves three to four weeks after sowing and let them come again. There's a huge selection of special recipes, such as Californian Mix. Dedicated varieties for salads and stir-fries include lots of new, easy-to-grow rockets (Mr Fothergill's), and frilly mustards, lettuce and endive.
Price: £1.25 for 55 seeds, Suttons.
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| Squash 'Red Kuri'
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Squash 'Red Kuri'
New to the UK this year, Squash 'Red Kuri' is a winter squash with a red skin and chestnut-flavoured flesh. Winter squashes store well. Look out for the famous French heirloom variety 'Potimarron'.
Price: Squash 'Red Kuri' £1.95 for six seeds, POD; £2.15 for 10 seeds, Mr Fothergill's.
'Potimarron' £1.65 for 10 seeds, Plants of Distinction; £1.49 for 10 seeds, Thompson & Morgan.
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| Tomato 'Suncherry Premium'
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Tomato 'Suncherry Premium'
Tomato 'Suncherry Premium' is a cherry tomato, which ripens early and crops heavily in a greenhouse. It has a very sweet flavour and was voted the Thompson & Morgan vegetable of the year.
Price: £2.99 for six seeds, Thompson & Morgan; £2.95 for 12 seeds, Plants of Distinction.
Suppliers
Johnsons
Mr Fothergill's
Plants of Distinction
Suttons
Thompson & Morgan
Tozer Seeds
* For more on growing vegetables and varieties, see Related Articles at the bottom of this page.
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