Cauliflower

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A member of the brassica family, along with broccoli and cabbage, cauliflower was first eaten in Europe in the 13th century and was originally from the Middle East. Cauliflower was originally known as coleflower, meaning cabbage flower. With its classic creamy white florets and delicate flavour it is an attractive and popular choice. As well as the familiar white variety, Romanesco cauliflowers are available. These are conical-shaped and pale green in colour.

Related Link: 
How to grow cauliflower / RHS Gardening

Rhubarb

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Rhubarb is an attractive hardy perennial with large leaves and pink, red or greenish leaf stalks that are used as a dessert, often in pies and crumbles. Stems are usually picked in spring, but plants can be covered with pots to produce an early crop of blanched stalks in late winter. The flavour of stems varieties in sweetness depending on the age of the stems.

Rhubarb needs an open, sunny site with moist, but free-draining soil as it hates being waterlogged in winter. Avoid frost pockets as stems are susceptible to frost.

Turnip

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Turnips are a quick crop which matures in 6 weeks from sowing seed to harvest. It is therefore worth having in the vegetable plot to fill in gaps between other crops

An easy to grow vegetable that matures quickly with a delicate flavour.

Related Link: 
Turnip / RHS Gardening

Parsley

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A versatile herb to grow as it has many uses in the kitchen. Parsley is a biennial herb; flowering and developing seeds in its second year.

Curled leaf parsley, which is often used as a garnish, or flat leafed parsley which has a milder taste.

You can grow parsley from plants bought at a garden centre or sow seeds indoors to be planted out or sow seeds direct into a bed. Parsley grows well in containers too, either indoors or outdoors.

Leeks

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Soil preparation

  • Choose a sunny, sheltered site with well-drained soil.
  • If possible, prepare the soil for planting in the winter. Dig the site well, removing weeds and working in plenty of well-rotted manure to improve its ability to retain water.
  • Leeks can be planted in heavy soil, but improve the drainage by mixing in some horticultural sand.
  • This is a hungry crop – spread a general balanced fertiliser over the soil a week or so before sowing and rake in. A rate of 60g per square metre is ideal.