Cottage Garden Favourites
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42 products
42 products
Pumpkin Butternut Waltham
(Cucurbita moschata)
One of the most popular and reliable varieties worldwide, Waltham Butternut is a classic winter pumpkin valued for its smooth texture, rich flavour, and excellent storage quality. It produces attractive, elongated fruits with tan skin and vibrant orange flesh that becomes deeper and sweeter as it matures.
This variety is perfect for roasting, soups, baking, and hearty winter meals. The dense, fine-textured flesh holds its shape well when cooked, making it a versatile kitchen staple.
Waltham Butternut grows on vigorous trailing vines that produce consistent yields of medium‑sized fruits. Known for its reliability and adaptability, it performs well across a range of climates and is especially valued for its ability to store for months after harvest.
🌿 Why You’ll Love It
- Classic butternut pumpkin variety
- Sweet, smooth flesh with a rich nutty flavour
- Excellent for roasting, soups, and baking
- Reliable, high‑yielding plants
- Stores well for long periods after harvest
🌱 Growing Tips
- Plant in full sun after frost has passed
- Prefers fertile, well‑drained soil
- Allow space for trailing vines or train along edges
- Water regularly during fruit development
- Harvest when skin hardens and fully matures
🌱 Plant Details
- Botanical name: Cucurbita moschata
- Plant type: Warm‑season vine
- Position: Full sun
- Harvest: Approx. 85–105 days
- Fruit size: Typically 1.5–2.5 kg
- Seed type: Open‑pollinated
Sowing instructions
Sow: Late spring (after frost)
Depth: 2–3 cm
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Rich, well‑drained
Germination: 5–10 days
Approx. 15 seeds
Warm‑season crop. Sow direct once soil is warm. Allow space for spreading vines. Water deeply and regularly. Harvest when skin hardens and fruit fully matures
(Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
Compact, colourful, and reliable, Red Acre cabbage is a classic heirloom variety known for its firm, round heads and rich reddish‑purple colour. Ideal for smaller gardens, it produces tight, dense heads with a crisp texture and a pleasantly mild, slightly sweet flavour.
This early maturing cabbage is a dependable performer, forming neatly sized heads that are perfect for fresh salads, slaws, and cooking. Its strong growing habit and resistance to splitting make it a favourite for consistent, high‑quality harvests.
A versatile kitchen staple, Red Acre stores well after harvest and maintains both flavour and texture, making it a great choice for extended use throughout the season. Whether eaten raw or cooked, it brings both colour and taste to your garden and plate.
🌿 Why You’ll Love It
- Classic red heirloom cabbage
- Compact heads ideal for small spaces
- Crisp texture with mild, sweet flavour
- Reliable and resistant to splitting
- Excellent for salads, slaws, and cooking
🌱 Growing Tips
- Best grown in cool seasons (spring & autumn)
- Prefers rich, well‑drained soil
- Keep soil evenly moist for firm heads
- Space plants to allow full head development
- Harvest promptly once heads are solid
🌱 Plant Details
- Botanical name: Brassica oleracea var. capitata
- Plant type: Cool‑season vegetable
- Position: Full sun to part shade
- Harvest: Approx. 75–90 days
- Head size: Compact, approx. 1–1.5 kg
- Seed type: Heirloom / open‑pollinated
Sowing instructions:
Sow: Spring & autumn
Depth: 5–10 mm
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Fertile, well‑drained
Germination: 5–10 days
Approx. 100 seeds
Cool‑season crop. Start indoors or direct sow and transplant once established. Keep soil evenly moist and feed well for firm heads. Space plants well to allow full development. Harvest when heads feel solid.
🥬 Kale – Vates Blue Scotch Curled (Heirloom)
(Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
Compact, richly coloured, and incredibly hardy, Vates Blue Scotch Curled Kale is a classic heirloom variety prized for its finely curled, blue‑green leaves and dependable performance in cool climates. Its tender yet sturdy foliage offers a mild, slightly sweet flavour that improves after exposure to frost.
This reliable, compact kale forms neat rosettes that are perfect for smaller gardens or dense plantings. It produces abundant leaves over a long harvest window, making it an excellent choice for continuous picking throughout the season.
A versatile kitchen staple, Vates kale is ideal for fresh salads, sautés, soups, and crispy kale chips. Its excellent cold tolerance and regrowth ability make it a garden favourite for steady, nutritious harvests.
🌿 Why You’ll Love It
Classic curly heirloom kale
Compact plants ideal for smaller spaces
Mild, slightly sweet flavour (improves after frost)
Cold‑hardy and reliable
Great for fresh eating, cooking, and preserving
🌱 Growing Tips
Best grown in cool seasons (spring & autumn)
Prefers fertile, well‑drained soil
Keep soil evenly moist for tender leaves
Space plants well for airflow and growth
Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage regrowth
🌱 Plant Details
Botanical name: Brassica oleracea var. acephala
Plant type: Cool‑season leafy vegetable
Position: Full sun to part shade
Harvest: Approx. 55–65 days
Plant size: ~30–45 cm tall, compact rosette
Seed type: Heirloom / open‑pollinated
Sowing instructions:
- Sow: Spring & autumn
- Depth: 6 mm (¼")
- Sun: Full sun to part shade
- Soil: Fertile, well‑drained, moist
- Germination: 5–10 days
- Approx. 100 seeds
Cool‑season crop. Direct sow or start indoors and transplant. Space 30–45 cm apart. Keep soil evenly moist and harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage continuous growth. Ready in ~55–65 days; flavour improves after frost
🍆 Eggplant – Black Beauty (Heirloom)
(Solanum melongena)
A true garden classic, Black Beauty eggplant is a long‑loved heirloom variety known for its large, glossy deep purple fruits and rich, creamy flavour. First introduced in the early 1900s, it remains a favourite for its reliable yields and versatile culinary use.
This productive plant forms bushy growth with sizeable, oval fruits that are perfect for grilling, roasting, baking, and classic dishes like eggplant parmigiana. Its smooth texture and mild taste make it a staple in summer gardens and kitchens alike.
A dependable warm‑season crop, Black Beauty thrives in sunny conditions and rewards growers with multiple large fruits per plant across the season.
🌿 Why You’ll Love It
Classic heirloom eggplant
Large, glossy deep‑purple fruits
Mild, creamy flavour
High‑yielding and reliable
Perfect for grilling, roasting, and cooking
🌱 Growing Tips
Warm‑season crop—plant after frost
Start indoors in cooler climates
Prefers rich, well‑drained soil
Keep soil consistently moist
Stake plants to support heavy fruit
🌱 Plant Details
Botanical name: Solanum melongena
Plant type: Warm‑season fruiting vegetable
Position: Full sun
Harvest: Approx. 75–90 days
Spacing: 30–45 cm apart
Seed type: Heirloom / open‑pollinated
Sowing instructions
Sow: Spring (after frost)
Depth: 6 mm (¼")
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Rich, well‑drained, warm
Germination: 7–14 days
Approx. 50 seeds pkt
Warm‑season crop. Start indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost or direct sow in warm soil. Space 30–45 cm apart. Keep soil consistently moist and stake plants as needed. Harvest when fruits are glossy and firm (~75–90 days).
🥬 Silverbeet – ‘Barese’ (Heirloom)
(Beta vulgaris)
Compact, tender, and fast-growing, Barese Silverbeet is a premium Italian heirloom prized for its glossy dark green leaves and crisp white stems. This dwarf variety forms neat, compact plants, making it perfect for small gardens, raised beds, and container growing.
Barese is known for its mild, slightly sweet flavour and soft texture, ideal for harvesting young as baby leaves or allowing to mature for fuller bunches. Its cut‑and‑come‑again growth habit ensures a steady supply of fresh greens throughout the season.
Versatile in the kitchen, it’s perfect for salads, stir‑fries, soups, and sautéed dishes—delivering both nutrition and flavour in every harvest.
🌿 Why You’ll Love It
Italian heirloom silverbeet
Compact, space‑saving plants
Tender leaves with mild flavour
Fast growing and highly productive
Great for baby leaf or full-size harvest
🌱 Growing Tips
Suitable for most seasons (avoid extreme heat or frost)
Prefers fertile, well‑drained soil
Keep soil evenly moist for best tenderness
Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage regrowth
Ideal for containers and small gardens
🌱 Plant Details
Botanical name: Beta vulgaris
Plant type: Biennial (grown as an annual)
Position: Full sun to part shade
Harvest: Approx. 25–45 days depending on size
Plant size: ~25–35 cm tall, compact habit
Seed type: Heirloom / open‑pollinated
Sowing instructions:
Sow: Spring, summer & autumn
Depth: 10–15 mm
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Fertile, well‑drained, moist
Germination: 5–10 days
Approx. 50 seeds
Cool‑tolerant leafy green. Sow direct or raise seedlings; space plants 20–30 cm apart. Keep soil consistently moist and harvest outer leaves regularly for continuous growth. Ready in ~45 days (baby leaves earlier).
English Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia
Heirloom | Perennial Herb | Fragrant & Hardy
A timeless garden favourite, English Lavender brings soothing fragrance, soft purple blooms, and year-round charm to borders, herb beds, and pollinator-friendly spaces. This hardy perennial is ideal for drying, oils, and sachets—and thrives in sunny, well-drained positions.
🌱 Sowing Details:
- Sow: Late winter to early spring
- Method: Start in trays or pots (not recommended for direct sowing)
- Depth: Surface sow or cover lightly (1–2 mm)
- Temperature: 20–25°C
- Germination: 14–28 days (slow and irregular)
- Watering: Mist gently to keep soil moist but not wet
🌼 Growing Notes:
- Height: 40–60 cm
- Spacing: 30–40 cm
- Aspect: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained, alkaline to neutral
- Flowering: ~4–6 months from sowing (flowers in second year)
- Features: Aromatic foliage, drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly
✨ Why You’ll Love It:
- Classic scent and soft colour for borders and herb gardens
- Excellent for drying, oils, and fragrant sachets
- Low maintenance and long-lived
- Pairs beautifully with rosemary, thyme, and other Mediterranean herbs
Approx 100 seeds