Seed Subscription: Vegetable, Sub-Tropical Climate, Winter 2026

Subscriptions are an excellent way to explore new seed varieties without having to spend time choosing the seeds yourself, and are perfect for busy gardeners, delivering seeds and all the information you need to plant them directly to your letterbox. 

Each season we’ll choose a selection of seed varieties tailored to your climate, and send you the seeds plus a colour information sheet with photos, tips and sowing information - all you need to do is plant!

You are currently viewing a single season of seeds which can be purchased individually. To subscribe to a years worth of seeds click here.

Seeds included in this subscription:

• 

  Parsnip- Melbourne White Skin

  Australian heirloom parsnip grows long white roots. flavour improves in cooler weather, including frost, as sugars develop in the root. In cold climates, they can be left in the ground over winter for spring harvest.

  Sow direct, 10mm. Germination 14-28 days @ 10-21°C.Biennial (usually grown as an annual). Rows 40cm, Height 60cm, Spacing 15-25cm. 90-130 days.

  Best months in Sub-Tropical Climates: FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Chervil

  Biennial growing to 50cm. Delicate curly green foliage that has a mild aniseed flavour. Commonly used to flavour soups, poultry, seafood, vegetables, salads and egg dishes. Sometimes referred to as 'Gourmet parsley' and called 'chevril' in French.

  Sow direct or raise seedlings, 6mm. Germination 10-14 days @ 13-20°C.Biennial. Height 50cm, Spacing 30cm. 60-70 days.

  Best months in Sub-Tropical Climates: MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Beetroot- Detroit

  Very popular variety for growing roots, baby leaves and microgreens. Dark red, globe shaped roots growing up to 7cm; very good flavour. Green tops with tinges of dark red. Resistant to downy mildew.

  Sow direct, 15mm. Germination 5-10 days @ 10-30°C.Biennial (usually grown as an annual). Rows 50cm, Spacing 10cm. 60 days (30 days for baby leaves).

  Best months in Sub-Tropical Climates: FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Celery- Tall Utah

  Upright, compact plant with dark green, slightly ribbed, stringless stalks up to 70cm. Leaves used fresh or dried for flavouring. Ideal for salads, soups, stews, or as a cooked vegetable. Good disease tolerance.

  Raise seedlings, 3mm. Germination 14-21 days @ 21-25°C.Biennial (usually grown as an annual). Rows 80cm, Height 70cm, Spacing 30cm. 120 days.

  Best months in Sub-Tropical Climates: MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

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  Rocket

  Annual plant growing to 100cm. Has large, green, serrated leaves with a peppery taste. Mainly used in salads but can be cooked. Best when leaves are young and tender. Tolerates cold. Also known as Arugula and Roquette.

  Sow direct or raise seedlings, 3mm. Germination 7-21 days @ 15-20°C.Annual. Rows 40cm, Height 100cm, Spacing 40cm. 60 days.

  Best months in Sub-Tropical Climates: MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Bunching Onion- Red Beard

  Attractive red stems with green tops. Tender with mild flavour. Good both raw and cooked. Hardy variety; good for winter. Bunching onions are also known as "Welsh onions", often used as "spring onions" and sometimes incorrectly called "Shallots".

  Sow direct or raise seedlings, 5mm. Germination 7-10 days @ 15-25°C.Perennial (usually grown as an annual). Spacing 3cm. 60-90 days.

  Best months in Sub-Tropical Climates: MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Cabbage- Copenhagen Market

  Heirloom Dutch cabbage producing small tight leafed heads around 15cm in diameter. Early cropping variety with good uniformity and great cabbage flavour. Good cooked or raw in salads.

  Sow direct or raise seedlings, 5mm. Germination 4-10 days @ 18-24°C.Biennial (usually grown as an annual). Rows 40cm, Spacing 30cm. 60-100 days.

  Best months in Sub-Tropical Climates: MAR APR MAY JUL AUG SEP (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Mustard- Osaka Purple

  Annual leaf vegetable or herb. Rounded thick deep green leaves with savoyed texture. Upright growth habit. Mild mustard flavour. Good for baby leaf and use as a salad green or can be cooked. Vigorous, hardy and quick to grow.

  Sow direct, 5mm. Germination 7-14 days @ 18-20°C.Annual. Rows 50cm, Height 30cm, Spacing 50cm. 25-45 days.

  Best months in Sub-Tropical Climates: JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Snow Pea- Oregon Sugar Pod

  Dwarf plants to 90cm producing flat, light green, edible pods growing to 10cm. Sweet, juicy and crunchy. Resistant to powdery mildew. Heavy cropping. Can be eaten raw or cooked; excellent in salads and stir-fries.

  Sow direct, 20mm. Germination 7-21 days @ 5-25°C.Annual. Rows 50cm, Height 90cm, Spacing 10cm. 65 days.

  Best months in Sub-Tropical Climates: MAR APR MAY JUN JUL (Click for full sowing chart, grow guide and more)

• 

  Sprouting Seeds- Mung Bean 50g

  Mung bean seeds can be sprouted indoors at any time of year. Grow sprouts in a position away from direct sunlight. Growing the sprouts in the dark will produce sweeter shoots than growing them in a brightly lit position.

  1) Place seed in a sieve and wash to remove any dust and damaged or discoloured seeds. (2) Add seed to a large flat-sided jar and cover with lukewarm water. A 500ml jar needs around 15ml of seed. (3) Cover jar with cheesecloth and secure with a rubber band. (4) Let soak for 12hrs then tip the jar upside down and let excess water drain through the cheesecloth. Rinse and drain again. (5) Place jar on its side in a dark warm location. (6) Rinse and drain the seeds every 8-12 hours until the shoots are approx. 3.5-5cm long. (7) Your sprouts are now ready to eat

Tips for gardening in winter:

Weeding and tidying: Rain helps weed seeds germinate and it is easier to remove them when the soil is damp. Be sure to remove weeds before they get a chance to mature and set seed, and ensure you get the weeds out roots and all. Hand tools are useful for small areas and hoes or tillers make the job go faster in larger gardens. Rake up fallen leaves so they don’t form a compact layer which can stop water reaching the soil. Add these extra leaves to your compost heap. Clear out any dead or diseased plants and to prevent the spread of disease, place this plant material in the bin rather than the compost bin.

Pruning: Check your tools. Cleaning and sharpening your secateurs and pruning saws makes the job much easier, and a clean cut means there is less chance for disease to enter ragged wounds. It is easier to prune deciduous trees and shrubs in winter because you can see the structure of the plant more clearly. Remove any dead wood, and take out crossing branches or stems that might rub against each other. 

Watering: You may not need to water your plants as frequently in winter, but make sure your plants are still getting enough. If required, give them a deep soak once a week early in the day so that excess moisture can evaporate before nightfall and avoid the risk of fungal diseases.

Plot and plan: Use some of the down time in winter to review your garden and think about what you’d like to plant in the coming seasons. If you’re growing annuals, do you want to plant the same again, or try some new varieties or colour schemes? If you’re growing veggies, remember that crop rotation is a good idea to break the cycle or build-up of any pests and diseases that may be in the soil. This has the added benefit of reducing, or even eliminating, the need to spray with chemicals.

Pests and diseases to look out for in winter:

Slugs and snails: These pests can damage a wide range of plants, especially flower and vegetable seedlings. They are most active in the cooler wetter months, or when thunderstorms activate them in summer, and come out at night to feed. Controlling weeds and removing places that can harbour slugs and snails can be an effective way to control and reduce the number of these pests. If you choose to use bait, it is best applied in Autumn before snails get a chance to lay eggs. Most baits can be toxic to pets and other wildlife, so use any bait with caution.

Fungal diseases: A range of fungal diseases can occur in winter. You can prevent these from taking hold by practising good hygiene. Pick up any fallen and rotting fruit and put it into the rubbish, as it can cause disease which carries over into the following year’s crop.

Product code: SS_VEG_SUB_WIN_2026