A high revenue crop which is becoming more ‘mainstream’. Has a flexible growing regime, as it can be grown in heated glass, cool glass and under plastic.
200 seeds per gram. Sow early October to November, or mid-November to December, or late January to February, germinates at 20-20°C. For early/late crop allow 46cm between plants, for maincrop allow 38cm. Sowing rate 50,000 seeds per hectare. Harvest from April onwards.

Perennial, sow April-July, cover very lightly with vermiculite, germinates in 3 weeks at 18-20°C. 4,000 seeds per gram, 1g for 1,000 plants.
Sell in: 8cm pots or larger, as green plant with label or in flower.
End Use: Borders.

Very early season crop for fresh market sales, providing early season revenue - plants are popular as a ‘cut and come again’ crop, and for young plant sales.
250-400 seeds per gram. Sow April-June for transplanting June-July. Germinates at between 10 and 25°C. Harvest July-May.

Cabbage can be produced throughout the year, providing growers with a continuous supply to their outlets. Faster-maturing spring greens are ideal for utilising redundant polytunnel or glasshouse space over the winter months. Cabbages are popular for young plant sales to home gardeners.
200-400 seeds per gram. Germinates between 10 and 25°C.  Seed rate approx. 600g per hectare transplanted, 1.25-2.5 kilos per hectare direct sown. Spacings 30 x 60cm, up to 60 x 90cm.

A mainstay amongst salad crops. For protected all year round cropping and open ground production. Curly and coloured lettuce are popular with consumers and retailers alike. Well suited to sales in packs and as young plants. The wide range of colours and textures available makes lettuce ideal for mixed sald packs and 'baby leaf' products.

Approximate crop spacing: (in row x between rows)
Mini & small Cos: 15cm x 20cmButterhead: 25cm x 30cm
Other types: 35cm x 38cm
(Actual spacing varies with production technique). Seed count: see variety entry.

Lettuce types:
Butterheads: flattish, rounded heads, soft texture, heart forming, can be grown nearly all year-round with careful varietal choice.
Cos/Romaine: Tall and upright, sweet flavour, loose heart forming. Both large and small types.
Crisp/Iceberg/Batavian: crisp leaves, compact hearts. Iceberg: very crisp leaves. Batavian: thinner leaves than Icebergs, but thicker and crispier leaves than Butterheads.
Curled/Oak Leaf/Salad Bowl: mainly non-hearting types. Wide variety of leaf textures and colours.
Lollo Bionda/Lollo Rossa: nonhearting types with very deeply curled leaves. Lollo Bionda varieties are green, Lollo Rossa varieties are red (triple red has more intense red colour than double red).
The wide range of colours and textures available are ideal for the production of mixed salad packs and ‘baby leaf’ products.

For production under plastic or glass, or sales to the home gardener as a young plant. Useful for box schemes, farm gate and roadside sales.
20-60 seeds per gram. Sow March-April into modules, germinates at 20-30°C. Space the plants at 30 x 150-200cm.

Salad onions:
Standard salad crop for bunching; relatively low maintenance, and some varieties are also suitable for overwintering for early lifting. Suitable for fresh market and prepack use.
240-360 seeds per gram. Germinates 5-30°C. Sow March-April for Spring crop, overwintering type July-August, pickling type mid February-March. Seed rate 15-20kg per hectare, at a population of 65-70 per metre row length.

Bulbing onions:
A popular crop - long storage lives make for a good continuity of supply. Also popular for plant sales and competition growing.
240-360 seeds per gram. Germinates between 5 and 30°C, sowing date mid February-March, Japanese (overwintering) types second or third week in August. Seed rate 4-5kg per hectare, 2.5-10 x 40-60cm spacing.

The advantages of growing onions from sets (immature bulbs), rather than from seed, are that there is: shorter time to maturity, less sensitivity to soil types and a lower incidence of pest and disease.

Approx. 180-200 bulbs per kilo of sets. Space 10cm (in row) x 25cm (between rows). Plant so that the tip of the bulb is just visible above the soil. Best results achieved from planting mid March to mid April. Planting into cold, wet ground can cause bolting so do not plant too early. Heat treatments are used to kill the flower embryo this prevents bolting in early plantings.

The higher cost of the F1 hybrids may be justified interms of uniformity, speed of flowering, clear flower colours and overall garden performance. In general, the larger flowered varieties tend to flower slightly later, and are especially suitable for late Spring and Summer flowering, as flower size tends to reduce as temperatures increase.
Seed count approx. 700 per gram.
Sow the seed into trays or plugs, cover lightly with vermiculite, and keep the compost moist. Germinate at 18-20°C, shading to avoid excessive temperatures which can depress germination. Germination should be apparent in about 7-10 days.
After 4-5 weeks, prick out into 6-packs or 8cm pots. Use a slow-release fertilizer or commence liquid feeding after 2-3 weeks.
For early Spring sales, it is necessary to harden off the plants prior to sale, by gradually reducing the temperatures.
Pansies are very susceptible to stretching where temperatures are high for a significant period of time. Where reasonably low temperatures (i.e. temperatures not above 14°C) cannot be guaranteed, then growth retardant chemicals should be considered, virtually all are suitable for use on pansies, subject to the manufacturers’ guidelines. Side effects may include a reduction in flower and leaf size.
Sow June for sales Aug-Sept.
Sow July for sales Sept-Oct.
Sow Aug for sales Nov-Feb.
Sow Oct-Dec for sales March.
Sow Jan for sales in April.

The higher cost of the F1 hybrids may be justified interms of uniformity, speed of flowering, clear flower colours and overall garden performance. In general, the larger flowered varieties tend to flower slightly later, and are especially suitable for late Spring and Summer flowering, as flower size tends to reduce as temperatures increase.
Seed count approx. 700 per gram.
Sow the seed into trays or plugs, cover lightly with vermiculite, and keep the compost moist. Germinate at 18-20°C, shading to avoid excessive temperatures which can depress germination. Germination should be apparent in about 7-10 days.
After 4-5 weeks, prick out into 6-packs or 8cm pots. Use a slow-release fertilizer or commence liquid feeding after 2-3 weeks.
For early Spring sales, it is necessary to harden off the plants prior to sale, by gradually reducing the temperatures.
Pansies are very susceptible to stretching where temperatures are high for a significant period of time. Where reasonably low temperatures (i.e. temperatures not above 14°C) cannot be guaranteed, then growth retardant chemicals should be considered, virtually all are suitable for use on pansies, subject to the manufacturers’ guidelines. Side effects may include a reduction in flower and leaf size.
Sow June for sales Aug-Sept.
Sow July for sales Sept-Oct.
Sow Aug for sales Nov-Feb.
Sow Oct-Dec for sales March.
Sow Jan for sales in April.

The higher cost of the F1 hybrids may be justified interms of uniformity, speed of flowering, clear flower colours and overall garden performance. In general, the larger flowered varieties tend to flower slightly later, and are especially suitable for late Spring and Summer flowering, as flower size tends to reduce as temperatures increase.
Seed count approx. 700 per gram.
Sow the seed into trays or plugs, cover lightly with vermiculite, and keep the compost moist. Germinate at 18-20°C, shading to avoid excessive temperatures which can depress germination. Germination should be apparent in about 7-10 days.
After 4-5 weeks, prick out into 6-packs or 8cm pots. Use a slow-release fertilizer or commence liquid feeding after 2-3 weeks.
For early Spring sales, it is necessary to harden off the plants prior to sale, by gradually reducing the temperatures.
Pansies are very susceptible to stretching where temperatures are high for a significant period of time. Where reasonably low temperatures (i.e. temperatures not above 14°C) cannot be guaranteed, then growth retardant chemicals should be considered, virtually all are suitable for use on pansies, subject to the manufacturers’ guidelines. Side effects may include a reduction in flower and leaf size.
Sow June for sales Aug-Sept.
Sow July for sales Sept-Oct.
Sow Aug for sales Nov-Feb.
Sow Oct-Dec for sales March.
Sow Jan for sales in April.

Annual, 2 weeks at 15-18°C, 12 seeds per gram. Sow January onwards.
Sell in: 8-10cm pots
End Use: Bedding plant sales, cut flowers.

We offer a wide range of varieties designed to meet most growers' requirements. While the old established favourites are still popular, the recent hybrid introductions have resulted in plants which not only perform better but taste better, an important characteristic in any tomato variety. New hybrid varieties with more unusual fruit shapes, colours and sizes are proving very popular both with fresh market sales and retail plant sales. Young tomato plants remain the best seller for vegetable plant sales to the public.
For varietal fruit shape, size, colour and suitability please see technical table and individual product descriptions.

Watermelons are grown in a similar manner to standard Melons but they require a longer growing period and benefit from more heat. For production under plastic or glass, or sales to the home gardener as a young plant. Useful for box schemes, farm gate and roadside sales.
20-60 seeds per gram. Sow March-April into modules, germinates at 25-30°C. Space the plants at 75 x 150-200cm. Typically produces 1-2 fruits per plant.

Winter squashes are characterised by the development of a hardened skin and the ability to be stored, typically up to six months. The wide range of winter squashes has become increasingly in demand in recent years, most notably butternet and kabocha types. A popular plant sales item.
5-7 seeds per gram. Sow April-end of May/early June, at 3.5-5kg per hectare. Space at 60-120 by 90-150cm, giving a plant population of around 5,000-18,000 per hectare. Harvest from July onwards, once the fruits have reached the desired size. Butternet squashes should not be planted out until the end of May, early planting may result in a poor and mishapen yield