June

The colourful 'Watermelon Radish' of historic China. The magic is in their bright-magenta interior which is so sweet, crisp, and delicious. A winter radish, for autumn and winter sowing they will tolerate temperatures down to around -3°C. The bright pink and white flesh makes a beautiful accent for any salad. They are also good for pickling. 45 to 55 days.

Relatively unknown to our shores, Rocket ‘Olive Leaf’ is an excellent selection of the traditional Italian olive leaf wild rocket. With a beautiful light green colour and smooth shape similar to an olive leaf, this perennial form has a distinctive aroma and flavour that is more subtle than the usual wild rockets.

Salad Burnet is a wonderful old herb that makes a great addition to any garden. It was planted along pathways 'to perfume the air most delightfully, being trodden on and crushed', the delicate leaves have a subtle cucumber flavour and today are used in salads, as a flavouring and to add interest to cold drinks.

Salsola komarovii, popularly known as Okahijiki is considered to be one of Japan’s oldest vegetables. A gourmet specialty, it is found in the wild growing in salt laden coastal marshes. A first tentative taste of a sprig reveals a surprising texture, the tubular leaves and branched stems are juicy with a crisp texture and salty flavour.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of traveling to countries such as Japan or China will appreciate the bewildering but totally delicious array of vegetables on offer there. No wonder the Japanese have no problem reaching their official recommended intake of not merely five, but 17 portions of fruit and veg per day!

Mexican Tree Spinach is the latest ‘new’ arrival on the veg-growing scene. With a hundred different names including 'Micro Glitter Spinach' - this is a beautiful plant to have in the garden or allotment. Vivid pink tinged triangular bright green leaves with each new set of leaves blushed a shocking magenta.

'Blue Kuri' is a traditional open pollinated Japanese squash that has lovely blue-green skin. This beautiful sweet, versatile squash matures in 95 to 110 days to a convenient 15 to 20cm in diameter. Rich, sweet and nutty, the contrast between blue rind and orange flesh looks great on the plate.

'Burgess Buttercup' sets the standard for buttercup squash. It is considered the sweetest of squash and is smaller and faster to mature than many other winter squashes. The dark green fruits feature a distinctive grey button on the blossom end. Use for roasting with the joint, soups and pumpkin pie.

Squash 'Carnival' is uniquely flecked with shades of green, gold and yellow; each one is different. The plants grow in a semi-bush fashion, ideal for smaller growing spaces and ready in 85 days, they can be harvested as summer squash or left for autumn. The perfect size for cooking whole, they are also pretty enough to decorate the home.

Adaptable to many growing and soil conditions, Squash ‘Delica F1’ performs best in moderate temperatures. It consistently produces high quality, dark green striped fruit with a bright orange, creamy interior. The flesh is of excellent quality, sweet with a delicate taste of chestnut.

Winter Squash 'F1 Honey Bear' is a high sugar Acorn type squash. Mini-acorn fruits are just the right size halved for single servings. The compact plants have a semi-bush habit, are early to mature and high yielding. The sweet golden-orange flesh has a flavour that hints of hazelnuts and pepper.

Squash 'Turkish Turban' produces decorative fruits that are brightly colourful and striped. 'Mini Red Turban' is a small-sized bicolour variety with red cap and white turban. Perfect for baking or for use as an ornament for decoration in autumn, the taste is nutty and sweet and reminiscent of hazelnuts.

'F1 Rolet' is a Gem type squash variety that is summer-fruiting, like a courgette but with the creaminess and superb flavour of a winter storing squash. Its deep green smooth skin sets it apart from other squashes. Early maturing and high yielding, it is very easy to cook and has a incredible nutty, warm flavour.

'Spaghetti squash' is a unique variety whose creamy coloured flesh separates into spaghetti-like strands once cooked. Mild, sweet and nutty, this squash is delicious roasted. Sow May to July and harvest up to first frosts, it is a healthy gluten free alternative to pasta or use instead of rice noodles in Asian-style dishes. A great way pack more nutrients into your diet.

An award winning variety of the Japanese Kabocha squash, 'Sweet Mama F1’ is a unique kabocha that produces on a very space-saving short vine. It produces flattened globe shaped fruit with an excellent sweet and nutty flavour. The distinct bush-type growth habit makes it possible to inter plant these vines quite closely.

A curiously-shaped heirloom winter squash from France that is named for the colour and shape of the fruit, Squash 'Turkish Turban' produces attractive, acorn shape fruit, at its blossom end is a Turban-like cap, thus its name. Closely related to the buttercup squash, the taste is similar to other Cucurbita maxima cultivars.