The best of the old and the new

Pea ‘Hurst Green Shaft’ AGM

A 19th-century wrinkle-seeded pea that crops heavily in summer. Each pod has 9–11 peas and the plant produces a pair of peas per node. Sow outside in early to mid March, late April and early May for a three-month succession.

Or try heavy cropping pea ‘Terrain’, the most mildew-resistant pea, which can be sown up until June.

Broad bean ‘Imperial Green Longpod’ AGM

This produces green, flavourful beans that freeze very well. If you prefer a stronger flavour and paler Windsor-type bean, opt for ‘Jubilee Hysor’ AGM.

Or try ‘De Monica’. Sow from February onwards and you’ll get an early harvest. Each pod contains 5–6 large pale beans.

Carrot ‘Adelaide’ F1 AGM

An early-maturing carrot that can be sown early, forced in cold frames or under cloches. Sweetly flavoured and the earliest to crop.

Or try ‘Eskimo’, which is as frost-hardy as the name suggests. It can be succession sown from April to July, producing months of cropping.

Beetroot ‘Red Ace’ F1 AGM

This bolt-resistant variety has round, darkpink to red uniform roots. Succession sow from March until June.

Or try ‘Boldor’ F1, a golden beetroot that germinates well, unlike old golden varieties.

Cucumber ‘Carmen’ F1 AGM

This greenhouse cucumber produces all-female flowers. The dark-green, standard-length, slightly ribbed fruits have a good flavour.

Or try ‘Merlin’, a mid-length greenhouse or tunnel-grown cucumber that crops and crops as it is parthenocarpic, which means that it doesn’t need fertilising. It’s also resistant to powdery mildew.

Onion ‘Sturon’ AGM

It’s easier to grow bulb onions from sets. This high-yielding, globe-shaped variety has thin, papery, golden-brown skins.

Or try ‘Marshalls Red Fen’ AGM, because red onions store for longer. This one should be planted in April and, if bolting proves a problem, go for heat-treated sets.

Leek ‘Oarsman’ F1 AGM A Tozer-bred variety that doesn’t get too large or tough. It stands well and can be harvested over many months.

Or try ‘Batter’ F1, which is rust- and thrip-resistant, with long white shanks. Stands well.

Runner bean ‘Enorma’ AGM

A heavy-cropping, red-flowered runner bean with a traditional flavour. It’s grown commercially, too, and the long, straight pods often win prizes at village shows.

Or try ‘Tenderstar’, a plumper-podded bean with pink and red flowers that combines runner-bean flavour with the heat tolerance of French beans.

Courgette ‘Defender’ F1 AGM Heavy-yielding bushy courgette, which is resistant to cucumber mosaic virus. Its deepgreen fruits are produced all summer long.

Or try ‘Astia’ F1 AGM, the first courgette to have resistance to powdery mildew. The smooth, dark-green fruits will crop late into the year.

First early potato ‘Maris Bard’ AGM This reliable, heavily cropping, whiteskinned potato (left) matures earlier than others and it doesn’t lose its flavour later in the season, either.

Or try ‘Casablanca’, an extra early and very handsome potato that’s popular in the kitchen. Smooth-skinned, with shallow

eyes and white flesh.