Category: Food

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Make the most of your Growing Space with Vertical Gardening!

Making the most of our growing spaces is a big part of gardening, so it’s no surprise that growing vertically is a new gardening trend for 2022.  This is perfect for smaller growing spaces like patios, balconies and even indoor gardens.

Growing vertically isn’t just a good way to make the most of your space, it can also be an easier and more fun way to manage your plants! So we have come up with a few ways you can start gardening vertically today!

Vertical Vegetable Gardens

A common misconception when growing vegetables is that they need to be grown in the ground with a lot of space. This isn’t the case however and a lot of vegetables can be grown in smaller spaces quite easily!

If you have not got enough space in your garden to grow in the ground, try growing vertically. There are a lot of ways to do this, such as wooden tray shelvings, pods and pots that can be attached to walls and many more. We have seen many people take the DIY approach also making vertical growing spaces out of wooden pallets and recyclable plastic bottles, so get creative!

Herbs, quick crops and leafy greens are great vegetables to use for this as they do not require that much soil and space to grow!

Indoor Herb Wall

Why not make the most of your indoor space too! Having homegrown herbs handy in the kitchen will make cooking fresher and much more convenient! if you don’t have space in the kitchen, try to grow some in another sunny room in your home.

By using windowsills and ledges around windows you can set up and grow plenty of plants! If you have a conservatory, you can move shelving towards the light and plant a whole row of herbs and food plants. If you don’t have enough light, you could use a hydroponic kit like our Grow Pod 2. Set one these on your kitchen window sill and you be growing all kinds of herbs, fruits and vegetables in no time at all!

You can grow all types of salads and herbs such as basil, coriander and parsley. We have a wide range of great herbs you can start growing in the Seed Pantry Gardening Subscription Grow Club, so have a look at those too!

Hanging Baskets Flower Displays

Hanging baskets are always a brilliant way to get more flowers into your growing space without using floor space! They are also a great way to make unique and beautiful displays.

With the use of hanging pots or containers, you can hang flowers from walls, balconies or fences in your growing space. Fill them with a dazzling array of colours and flowers and you will be able to create unique displays that sit above the rest of your growing space!

One of the best flowers to do this with are begonia and viola flowers, which both just love to cascade down from baskets creating gorgeous and intriguing displays!

We have a great range of Begonia flowers in the Grow Club this month, so come have a look and plan your hanging basket displays now!

Seed Pantry Team

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Seed Pantry’s Guide to Edible Flowers

The wonderous florets of cauliflower, broccoli, calabrese and artichoke are only the beginning when it comes flowers we’ll happily nibble on! Familiar faces such as pansies and nasturtiums are wonderful adornments for cakes, salads and more. Why not give some of these more unusual edible flowers a whirl too?

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Are all flowers safe to eat?

Not all flowers are edible, some can even be poisonous, so stick to the ones on our list below or make sure you do your research thoroughly! Here are our top tips for choosing edible flowers safely:

  1. A lot of flowers look very similar, so only eat flowers if you are certain they are edible.
  2. In this guide the whole of each flower listed is edible, with the exception of calendula where only the petals can be eaten. Make sure you remove the calyx, pistil and stamens of these before consumption.
  3. If you suffer from hay fever, pollen or plant allergies either remove the stamen from the flowers before eating or avoid entirely.
  4. Avoid picking blooms from the side of the road or where they may have been sprayed with fertilisers or pesticides.
Calendula petals and leaves are great additions to summer salads!

The Seed Pantry team top edible flower picks

Calendula (pot marigold) – The petals add a lovely bright-orange dash to plant and cooking pots alike. Sprinkle over salads use in rice, where they bring a taste similar to saffron… for a fraction of the price! Be careful not to confuse them with marigolds (Tagetes species) which is best kept as a companion plant.

Viola – The pansy-like faces will bring a colourful, sweet and fragrant twist to salads. Thanks to their long flowering periods, they’ll grace dishes from mid-summer right through to winter. They’re also a stunning addition to baked goodies and desserts.

Pansies – Unlike violas, their taste is a quite savoury; slightly salty, peppery but fresh taste. Try adding them to cabbages, carrots and fish dishes in all their rainbowiness.

Borage – Eating these beautiful blue flowers is said to make us more courageous by stimulating adrenaline release! Tasting a little like cucumber they’re brilliant in salads or frozen into ice cubes for summertime Pimms. They also supposedly help us forget our troubles… which coincidentally is a rather great side-effect of Pimms too.

Nasturtiums – Curiously this super easy-to-grow flower is a cousin of the Brassica family. The young leaves, flowers and fresh seeds are edible and have a pleasant, sweet, peppery flavour. The leaves make a great pesto and the fresh seeds are super duper tasty when pickled like capers.

Cornflower – With a slightly spicy, clove-like flavour and subtle sweetness. Their blue petals look especially lovely mixed with calendula in summer dishes. They’re wonderful sprinkled over ice-cream like confetti too!

Sunflower – Not only do the large lemon-yellow petals look fab in salads, they also add a mild, nutty, bittersweet flavour. In fact, you can eat everything from root to leaf, sprout to stalk! Steam whole flower heads and eat them like artichokes, crunch on the celery-like stalks with hummus or peanut butter or steep the leaves for sunflower tea. After that, you can eat seed kernels raw or toasted… or share them with the birds!

Herb flowers – The flowers of most herbs are edible; you’ll find they taste very similar to the leaves but usually a little stronger or milder. Fennel, dill, thyme, oregano and chive flowers are all rather delightful.

Courgette – If you need easing-in to the idea of eating your floral friends try stuffing the flowers with cream cheese. You can also deep fry them, or simply steam and marvel at their peppery scrumptiousness.

Top tiPS For using edible flowers
  • Harvest young buds and flowers in the morning to keep their intense colours and flavours, before the midday sun can dry them out.
  • When harvesting edible flowers, make sure you wash them thoroughly before use. Dip them in a bowl of water and gently shake to remove any stubborn insects that may be hiding inside.
  • Flowers taste and look their best on the day of picking but you can pop them in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

The Seed Pantry team 🌼

#SeedPantryGrowClub

WIN a lucky-dip addition to your next box by sharing your plant pictures with us on Instagram. Use the hashtag #SeedPantryGrowClub or tag us @seedpantry to enter.

Subscribe to the Grow Club box for flowers, food and herb seeds ready to sow each month… Curious? Come check out all of this month’s options!

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How To Grow Micro-greens

Grow micro-greens at home with this easy guide! These teeny leaves are packed with flavour, are rich in potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium and copper. Grow them at home with this Seed Pantry guide. 🤩

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Micro-greens ready for harvest.

What are micro-greens?

Micro-greens is a fancy word for any leaves harvested from the seedlings of leafy salad greens, like rocket and pak choi, or herbs, like basil and coriander. You’ll find plenty of choice in the Seed Pantry food seeds range or in your monthly Grow Club boxes that are suitable, brassicas, salads, sunflowers… the shoots of broad beans, peas, as well as root crops such as radish and carrot are also delicious!

You can grow all micro-greens in the same way, sown into a compost and placed in a sunny windowsill indoors – all year round! Grown in just about anything, from seed trays to old yoghurt pots, they’ll be ready to harvest in just 1-2 weeks. If you plant seeds every few days then you’ll have a supply of tender shoots right the way through winter, so take a leaf out of Seed Pantry’s book and add a bonanza of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals such as iron, folic acid and potassium to your meals!

Which seeds should I sow?

Radish: Quick and easy to grow, the pretty red stems of radish shoots will add colour to your salads as well as a peppery kick. Try them in egg sandwiches and stir fries.

Harvest: 7 days

Spinach: These mild, nutrient packed leaves are ideal for salads, or stirred into a risotto. Tastes brilliant in an omelette with micro broccoli.

Harvest: 10 days

Beetroot: Their red-stemmed leaves add a splash of colour and a mild, earthy flavour to leafy salads. Delicious when sprinkled over grilled fish.

Harvest: 10 days

Mustards: Varieties such as mizuna, mibuna and mustard red frills all pack a spicy punch. The pretty, frilly or red-leaved varieties to add a sprinkling of interest to your stir-fry.

Harvest: 10 days

Basil: Much easier to grow than the adult plant, these highly flavoured micro-greens can be used in exactly the same way. Look out for purple varieties, such as the Seed Pantry Basil ‘rubin’ for extra colour.

Harvest: 10 days

Pea shoots: Tasting just like fresh peas, these sweet little tendrils are good in salads and stir fries, and they look lovely!

Harvest: 14 days

Sunflower shoots: With a slightly nutty taste and a pleasing crunch, sunflower shoots will make a great addition to almost any salad.

Harvest: 14 days

Coriander: A little slow to germinate, but these tiny flavour-packed leaves are well worth the rate. Fantastic as a garnish for curries, noodles and stir fries.

Harvest: 14 days

How to do it

  1. Cover the bottom of your container with an inch or two of compost, firming it lightly with your hand.
  2. Scatter a dense layer of seeds, evenly spaced, over the op of the soil; try to avoid clumps of seeds.
  3. Place your tray on a windowsill and keep them lightly watered using a mister or a fine watering can rose.
  4. Your greens should be ready to harvest in about a week, although it’ll be a little slower in the winter. To harvest, either snip them with a pair of scissors or pull them up from the base of the stem.

The Seed Pantry team 🌼

#SeedPantryGrowClub

WIN a lucky-dip addition to your next box by sharing your plant pictures with us on Instagram. Use the hashtag #SeedPantryGrowClub or tag us @seedpantry to enter.

Subscribe to the Grow Club box for flowers, food and herb seeds ready to sow each month… Curious? Come check out all of this month’s options!

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Spinach and Onion Puff Pastry Tart Recipe

The Seed Pantry Spinach ‘Perpetual’ has certainly lived up to it’s name, but we’re not complaining! We’ve been devising new and delicious ways to use up our continuous supply of fresh leafy greens…including this spinach and onion puff pastry tart recipe!

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Ingredients:

– 350-400g spinach
– 2 tbsp rapeseed or olive oil
– 1 onion, diced
– 1 garlic clove, chopped
– 1 tsp fresh thyme or parsley, chopped
– A packet of ready-rolled puff pastry
– 75g cheese (cheddar and feta work brilliantly)
– Freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of sea salt

How to do it

Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a baking tray with a little of the oil.

– 350-400g Spinach

Tear out any tough stalks of Spinach and wash thoroughly. Place it into a saucepan with a tablespoon of water, cover and put over a medium heat to wilt the spinach for a few minutes. Drain and allow to cool.

When the Spinach has cooled enough to handle, squeeze as much liquid as possible out with your hands before chopping.

– 2 tbsp oil
– 1 onion, diced
– 1 garlic clove, chopped
– 1 tsp thyme, parsley, or both

Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic and cook for a further 3-4 minutes before adding the fresh herbs and chopped spinach. Remove the pan from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

– Ready-made puff pastry

Roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface into a rectangle shape, about 4mm thick, before lifting onto the baking tray. Spread the spinach mix over the pastry (leave a small margin along the edges). Scatter over the cheese and place in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry is puffed and golden. Delicious!

Variations

Spinach and Pesto Tart

Try spreading a layer of Pesto over the puff pastry before piling on your spinach mixture, top with parmesan cheese and halved cherry tomatoes before cooking for a Mediterranean take! If you’ve been growing Basil in your Seed Pantry Grow Pod, you might even make the pesto yourself with our simple recipe!

Spinach and Ricotta Rolls

For a creamy dinner time favourite, add 75g each of ricotta and feta cheese to your spinach and onion mixture. Spread over the pastry, leaving a 2cm margin along one of the long edges and roll into a long sausage shape. Cut the roll into 4 equal pieces and pop into the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden.

Enjoy!

The Seed Pantry team 🌼

BUY your own Seed Pantry Grow Pod 2 here…

#SeedPantryGrowClub

WIN a lucky-dip addition to your next box by sharing your plant pictures with us on Instagram. Use the hashtag #SeedPantryGrowClub or tag us @seedpantry to enter.

Subscribe to the Grow Club box for flowers, food and herb seeds ready to sow each month… Curious? Come check out all of this month’s options!

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Grow Pod Basil Pesto Recipe

So you’ve successfully grown basil in your Grow Pod 2… what better way to use it than making your own pesto? No fancy expensive ingredients needed; Here is our variation on the classic pesto recipe.

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Don’t feel confined to pesto pasta! This versatile basil pesto recipe is great for sandwiches, added to salads, alongside plain-cooked fish, smeared over roasted vegetables, dolloped and stirred into soup or as a simple dip with crudités. You can use other herbs in pesto too, mint works brilliantly, as do stronger herbs such as sage or thyme, although these are best combined with parsley so they don’t overpower the more subtle flavours in the sauce. If you fancy giving other herbs a go, check out our Top 10 best herbs to start growing.

Ingredients:

– 50g breadcrumbs
– 50g basil, leaves only (or 25g each Basil and Parsley)
– 35g strong cheddar, grated
– ½ garlic clove, peeled and chopped
– 100-150ml rapeseed or olive oil
– A good pinch of sea salt and black pepper

How to do it

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4. Scatter the breadcrumbs on a baking tray and bake for about 10 minutes until dry and golden, checking them frequently towards the end as they burn quite quickly. Tip on to a plate and allow to cool.
  2. Place the toasted breadcrumbs into a food processor, along with the basil, parsley, garlic and cheese and blitz to a paste.
  3. With the machine running on low speed, slowly pour in the oil until you have a thick purée.
  4. Scrape your pesto into a bowl, and season to taste with a little salt and pepper.

Variations

Try replacing the breadcrumbs with toasted pine nuts or walnuts. Walnuts can be lightly toasted in an oven preheated to 180°C/Gas mark 4 for 5-8 minutes. For the pine nuts, place them in a dry frying pan and toast over a medium heat for a few minutes, tossing frequently. One they’ve turned golden brown, remove them from the pan to stop them from burning and leave to cool.

The Seed Pantry team 🌼

BUY your own Seed Pantry Grow Pod 2 here…

#SeedPantryGrowClub

WIN a lucky-dip addition to your next box by sharing your plant pictures with us on Instagram. Use the hashtag #SeedPantryGrowClub or tag us @seedpantry to enter.

Subscribe to the Grow Club box for flowers, food and herb seeds ready to sow each month… Curious? Come check out all of this month’s options!

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Top 10 best herbs to start growing

At Seed Pantry we believe one of the best places to start growing your own food is with the flavour sensation of herbs and spices! They are easy to grow, care for, and produce lots of ingredients for cooking with.

Most herbs produce wonderful flowers too that bees and other pollinators absolutely love. This will help create your own eco-garden for pollinating your crops and for conservation purposes that help bees to survive.

There are many herbs to choose from,  so where do you start!?  Well, below we have put together our top 10 Seed Pantry favourites to grow, to eat!

Basil

Why we love it: Basil is such a great herb, it comes in many varieties and is most well know for cooking Italian food dishes. From classic Genovese basil to lemon basil and Thia Basil for an Asian cuisine twist. Basil plants are from the mint family and are used for adding sweet flavours to dishes and deserts!. Our favourite of which is Basil ‘Rubin’, which is a dark purple variety that is stunning but also delicious!

Health benefits: Basil is great for aiding with digestion and has anti-inflammatory properties too. It is also great for supporting liver function, studies have shown it helps boost neurotransmitters and aid hormones to fight depression!

Rosemary

Why we love it: Rosemary is such a tasty herb and it couldn’t be easier to grow! Get some seeds started and in no time you will have bushes of the stuff! The yield of the plant is one of the reasons it is so great. One plant can produce more than enough herbs for year round use. Add to Italian dishes and roasted potatoes, they are just superb!

Health benefits:  Rosemary is rich in antioxidants which helps boost the immune system and improve blood circulation. research has also shown that the aroma of rosemary can help with concentration as well as enhance memory and mood. Rosemary oil is also used to help prevent hair loss!

Thyme

Why we love it: Thyme is another sensational aromatic herb which lends itself to many forms of culinary use. Its unique flavour aids itself to all kinds of dishes, not to mention it is loaded with vitamin C and A!  Our Broadleaf Thyme even grows little pink flowers that bees love! It is perfect when mixed with garlic or lemon for roasted dishes.

Health benefits:  Thyme is packed full of Vitamin A and C. It also has Thymol, which is a compound that has been shown to fight infectious bacteria.

Parsley

Why we love it: This Mediterranean herb is a staple of stews and one pot dishes. Its mildly bitter taste actually helps balance other flavours. Because of this, it is excellent for creating sauces such as pesto and chimichurri! Our Parsley ‘Italian Giant’ as a slightly sweeter taste so makes for a perfect starting point!

Health benefits:  Parsley is very high in vitamin K which is important for bone health and for healing wounds. On top of this, parsley contains Lutein, beta carotene, and zeaxanthin which are carotenoids that help protect your eyes and aid eye health!

Coriander

Why we love it: Coriander is probably the most polarising herb out there, with many loving it and others hating it. We sit in the first camp, and cannot imagine ever making any Asian food dish without it! They are really quick and easy to grow too and the whole of the plant is edible. Our coriander ‘Confetti’ has very interesting unique foliage but with classic coriander taste! Finley chopped and sprinkling into a curry is just a dream!

Health benefits:   Coriander is good for diabetes as It can stimulate the insulin secretion and lower the blood sugar levels. On top of this, they are rich in antioxidants and as well as having skin health aiding qualities.

Lemon Grass

Why we love it:  The next herb on our list is a staple of Asian cuisine, However many do not know its uses in western dishes. its citrus lemon flavour lends itself to all kinds of dishes and deserts. It’s amazing with Thai curries and soups but also cooked with meats to give them a zesty flavour.  Lemon Grass can even be used to make delicious teas!

Health benefits:   Lemongrass has been shown to help relax the body and relieve anxiety with its aroma and taste. Digestion of lemongrass has been seen to decrease fungal diseases as well. Lemongrass tea has been shown to help alleviate the body from sensing pain!

Sage

Why we love it:  Another Mediterranean classic herb, with a slightly bitter taste but with citrusy notes as well. It is perfectly paired with rosemary, marjoram and thyme for stuffings but It can be used for so much more! It is amazing in French and Italian food dishes and complements garlic and lemon very well too!

Health benefits:   Studies have shown sage helps fight bacteria that creates dental plaque, making it useful for dental health. There have even been mouthwashes made from sage for this purpose! On top of this, they are absolutely filled with antioxidants, that help neutralize potentially harmful free radicals that are linked to chronic diseases.

Chives

Why we love it:  Chive leaves are just delicious when finely chopped and added to dishes. It pairs particularly well with potatoes and garlic. The taste is between onions, leeks and garlic making it easy to add to many styles of cuisine. Like most the herbs on this list, they require very low maintenance.

Health benefits:   Chives contains an abundance of Vitamin A,  which helps aid the immune system and reproduction. They also contain allicin, which has been shown to lower cholesterol as well as blood pressure to help blood flowing properly and thus protecting the heart!

Mint

Why we love it:  Probably the most well known of the herbs as it is used all over the world in what seems like every kind of food and drink! From cooked food, teas to ice cream, mint can be added to almost anything! Add to drinks to make an amazing cocktail or even baked into cakes.

Health benefits:  Mint contains the essential oil Menthol, which has been hailed as a great natural pain relief for colds, upset stomach and indigestion. Menthol is a natural aromatic decongestant that helps to break up phlegm and mucus, making it easier to remove from the body. on top of this, it is loaded with Vitamin A which aids the immune system.

Marjoram

Why we love it:  Finally we have Marjoram,  which has a sweet and floral taste. Often mixed up with oregano, however, it is its own unique herb with it’s own unique delicate taste. It is at its best when cooking with meats like pork, chicken and turkey.

Health benefits: This aromatic herb can help to aid digestion but also help with heartburn and indigestion. On top of this, marjoram is a great antiseptic and can help fight against common illnesses such as food poisoning, common cold and even malaria!

 

The fresher, the better with herbs! We have a whole range of different herbs you can grow today at Seed Pantry, so make sure to come and check them out!

Need a gift? – We also have our amazing Herb Seeds Starter Pack. This is packed full of all you’ll need to start growing your own delicious organic herbs at home in an eco-friendly way.

Seed Pantry Team.

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Christmas Gift Guide for Gardeners

With Christmas fast approaching and the gift-giving period nearly upon us, we have created the ultimate Seed Pantry gardeners gift guide to help you find the perfect gift for your loved ones!

Everything we make at Seed Pantry is dedicated to our mission of getting more people growing plants, food and flowers and to enjoy the rewards of nature, wherever you live!

For the Indoor Grower

For those who want to grow from the comfort of their own home or desktop, the Seed Pantry Grow Pod 2 is a fantastic gift. Designed to produce ultra-fresh food indoors with an LED grow light, hydroponically, with no soil, no mess and be hassle-free. You don’t need to be a gardener or green-fingered, the Seed Pantry Grow Pod 2 does the work for you! It’s perfect for growing herbs, chillies, tomatoes, salads, flowers and fruiting vegetables, in the kitchen, on a desktop, anywhere really!

Price: £69.99

 The House Plant Enthusiast

For those who prefer to keep their gardens indoors, we have a range of gifts for them. Our Easy Grow Kits come with everything you need to start growing indoor plants like cactus, areca palms, Venus flytraps, Jalapenos and even Coffee bean plants!

Each kit comes with pots, seeds and growing medium, so your gift recipient can start growing in no time!

Price: £10.00

The Family Presents

Our Jumbo Summer Allotment Starter Pack is full of everything you need to start your own home allotment veg patch. With all the kit needed to start propagating seeds the kit includes tomatoes, peppers, beetroot, lettuces, french beans, herbs and more, the pack is perfect for any budding gardeners, green-fingered chefs and all the family to enjoy!

Price: £38.00

Another great family gift would be our Grow Club Gift Subscriptions. Monthly personalised discovery boxes delivered at the right time to grow each month, gift recipients will always be on top of what to do in their garden along with gaining knowledge and expertise as they go. Instead of just one gift for Christmas, you can give one every month of the year, for the whole family to enjoy!

Price from £39 for a 3 month subscription

6 months: £78

12 months: £156

The Thrill Seeker 

For those who live life on the edge and love a challenge, we have our Hottest Chillies in the World Easy Grow Kit! containing not one, not two, but three varieties of the world’s hottest chilli seeds inside! (Guinness book of records).  Each tin includes seeds, growing medium, easy instructions and a tin that doubles up as a pot, so everything needed to embark on a fiery adventure!

Price: £12.00

The Expert

Recently introduced at Seed Pantry is a new range of top-quality garden tools, that are expertly crafted and perfect for both experienced and novice growers alike. Tools ranging from beautiful Japanese forged, Garden Secateurs for all pruning situations, to durable and sturdy cultivation tools; bulb planters, spades, transplanting trowels, dibbers and forks that are handcrafted in the Netherlands. There is a tool for everyone and every garden situation.

Prices starting from: £20.00

Another great gift for the garden expert in your life is our Grow Club Pro-Box. Monthly personalised boxes delivered at the right time to grow each month for food and flower growing, with a wide range of seasonal plants, flower bulbs and seed to choose from, delivered to your door.

Price: £19.99 a month

The Beginner

For those who are starting out and dipping their toes into the gardening world for the first time, the Herb Seeds Starter Pack would be perfect! Packed with all you’ll need to start growing your own delicious organic herbs like basil and coriander at home as quickly and easily as possible. A great way to start on the journey of connecting with nature!

Price: £26.00

Another great option would be our Grow Club Discovery Box – Gift Subscriptions. Monthly personalised boxes are delivered at the right time to grow each month. Gift recipients will always be on top of what to do in their garden spaces, with expert grow guides, they will gain knowledge and learn as they go. Instead of just one gift for Christmas, you can give one every month of the year, delivered to their door!

The Young Gardener

The Children’s Me Seeds Starter Kit contains a fabulous selection of seeds that Children of all ages can enjoy growing. Selected seeds for plants that children just love to grow like massive pumpkins, the tallest ever sunflowers and super quick growing indoor crops. Some grow quickly, others take their time, but the joy of watching a tiny seed grow into a majestic plant is part of learning about the wonders of nature!

This makes for a perfect with kids who love exploring and being outside in nature.

Price: £10.00

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7 facts about Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts & BaconLove them or loathe them, Brussels sprouts are a Christmas dinner essential – along with all the other tasty trimmings on the table.

We love them and they are in season right now and are full of important nutrients to keep you healthy over the festive season.

Did you know?

  1. Brussels sprouts belong to the same family as cabbage, kale and broccoli and are packed with nutrients and vitamins.
  2. They are low in fat and calories and are high in fibre, protein, vitamins A and C, calcium and antioxidants – so are great for your health.
  3. Sprouts are cheap way to eat really healthy food.
  4. They are easy to digest thanks to their high enzyme content, so they can help people with digestive or bloating problems. They are also easy to eat so are perfect for younger children and the elderly.
  5. Sprouts are versatile to cook – steamed with bacon bits and butter to go with your Christmas dinner, or try halving them and baking with seasonal vegetables, roasted with pecans work and add a nutty crunch, fruit like apple, raisins and apricots add sweet flavours too or shred them and add to a stir fry with prawns or chicken for a delicious mid-week supper.
  6. Brussels sprouts are thought to be native to what is now Belgium where their cultivation can be traced back to the 13th century.
  7. We traditionally cut a cross in the bottom of sprouts, but we say don’t do this, it can make them soggy! Instead cut them in half for steaming or roasting.

Pick up purple Brussels sprouts seeds in our winter veg kit

To find out more about healthy vegetables each month join the Seed Pantry grow club, visit: Seed Pantry

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7 top facts about Tomatoes

Marmande Tomato A

For the sunny month of May we’re celebrating the tomato and all the wonderful health benefits they come with.

7 Tomato facts about our fruity friends:

  1. The first cultivated tomatoes were yellow and cherry-sized, earning them the name golden apples: pommes d’or in French, pomi d’oro in Italian and goldapfel in German. The Italian for tomatoes today is pomodoro.
  2. A lot of people don’t realise that tomatoes are actually a fruit and not a vegetable. Although classified as a fruit, tomatoes have nutrients found in both vegetables and fruit.
  3. If you cook tomatoes in oil you can help to increase your body’s natural absorption of the nutrients in tomatoes.
  4. Tomatoes are an excellent source of potassium, calcium, and vitamin A and C. All of these are important nutrients needed for optimal health. Lycopene is also contained in tomatoes which may reduce the risk of some cancers.
  5. Pretty much all tomato varieties are red although other colours are possible including green, yellow, orange, pink, black, brown, white, and purple.
  6. Tomatoes are best kept unwashed at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. It is not recommended to refrigerate them as this can harm the flavour. Storing stem down can prolong shelf life too.
  7. Tomatoes are very popular in Mediterranean cuisines such as Italian. They are an important ingredient in pizza and pasta sauces so why not make your own tomato sauce for pizza bases or for pasta dishes – fresh, tasty, organic and fun for all the family!

To find out more about healthy vegetables each month join the Seed Pantry grow club, visit: Seed Pantry

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Join Seed Pantry at The Big Feastival!

BFlogo-landscape-dates-venuePreparations are underway for our first time at The Big Feastival – a fantastic weekend of music, food and fun for all the family!

Over the August Bank Holiday, TV chef Jaime Oliver and Blur bassist Alex James will welcome families from all over the UK to enjoy food, music and activities including food and drink stands, cookery classes, arts and craft workshops, a vintage fun fair and live music tents.

Taking place in the idyllic Cotswolds, this year is the event’s fifth anniversary but it’s our first time attending!

We’ll have a stand in the Lifestyle Village where you can come and meet the Seed Pantry team on stand LS03 and find out about growing your own food at home. We’ll be launching some exciting new products and will also be demonstrating our grow pod as well as seed starter kits, all available with special Big Feastival discounts.

We’ll be running seed sowing activities for families each day at 11.30, 1.30 and 3.30 and offering you the chance to win exciting grow your own food kits in our prize draw!

With live music from Mark Ronson, Kaiser Chiefs and Tinie Tempah, cookery demos from Jaime Oliver himself, as well as Raymond Blanc and Gizzi Erskine, the three-day event promises to be a feel good festival for the whole family.

Weekend tickets are already sold out but day passes are still available so book soon to secure your places! Children under 12 go free and there are discounted rates for teens.

The Big Feastival takes place from 26th to 28th August on Alex James’ farm in The Cotswolds. To find out more about and to book tickets, visit http://thebigfeastival.com

Make sure you come to Lifestyle Village and visit the Seed Pantry stand (number LS03) for our seed sowing sessions and to enjoy some home grown veggies and greens!