A library for small spaces

Herb

Basil

Ocimum basilicum

Tender annual

Fragrant culinary herb, pinch flowers to keep leaves coming.

Leafy green

Lettuce

Lactuca sativa

Hardy annual

Quick salad crop, cut-and-come-again in shallow pots.

Leafy green

Spinach

Spinacia oleracea

Hardy annual

Cool-weather green packed with iron. Sow successionally.

Herb

Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

Hardy perennial

Tiny aromatic leaves – tucks into cracks and pots.

Herb

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Hardy perennial

Mild onion flavour – the lavender pompom flowers are edible too.

Leafy green

Kale

Brassica oleracea (Acephala)

Hardy biennial

Tough, frost-sweetened leaves. A winter workhorse.

Herb

Coriander / Cilantro

Coriandrum sativum

Half-hardy annual

Bolts in heat – sow small batches every few weeks.

Flower

Nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus

Half-hardy annual

Peppery edible flowers that thrive on neglect — perfect first flower.

Flower

Viola / Pansy

Viola cornuta

Hardy biennial

Cheerful, cool-season faces — edible and at home on winter sills.

Cut flower

Lobelia

Lobelia erinus

Half-hardy annual

Trailing sapphire clouds that soften every basket edge.

Cut flower

Petunia

Petunia × hybrida

Half-hardy annual

Workhorse summer trailing colour — deadhead and feed weekly.

Leafy green

Swiss Chard

Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla

Hardy biennial

Rainbow stems — pick outer leaves for months on end.

Leafy green

Rocket

Eruca vesicaria

Hardy annual

Peppery salad leaves ready in 4 weeks — sow fresh every fortnight.

Leafy green

Watercress

Nasturtium officinale

Hardy perennial

Grow in a pot stood in a tray of water — peppery superfood.

Herb

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

Hardy perennial

Pizza herb — and the pink flowers swarm with bees in July.

Herb

Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis

Hardy perennial

Crush a leaf, get an instant lemon hit — gentle, calming tea.

Herb

Dill

Anethum graveolens

Hardy annual

Feathery anise herb — short-lived, sow little and often.

Herb

Fennel (herb)

Foeniculum vulgare

Hardy perennial

Bronze or green wisps with an aniseed punch — pollinator magnet.

Herb

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

Tender perennial

Root a supermarket stalk in water — overwinter indoors.

Herb

French Tarragon

Artemisia dracunculus

Hardy perennial

Buy a French variety plant — true tarragon doesn't come from seed.

Herb

Bay

Laurus nobilis

Hardy perennial

Evergreen shrub that takes happily to a pot — clip for shape.

Herb

Lovage

Levisticum officinale

Hardy perennial

Tastes like supercharged celery — one big plant lasts years.

Herb

Chervil

Anthriscus cerefolium

Hardy annual

Delicate aniseed parsley cousin — happy in shadier spots.

Sprouts

Microgreens

Various species

Indoor annual

Ten-day salad upgrade — flavour-packed first-leaf seedlings on a windowsill.

Sprouts

Pea Shoots

Pisum sativum

Indoor annual

Use dried marrowfat peas — cut-and-come-again sweet pea-pod flavour.

Sprouts

Mustard & Cress

Sinapis alba & Lepidium sativum

Indoor annual

The egg-shell sandwich classic — peppery in 7 days flat.

Sprouts

Broccoli Sprouts

Brassica oleracea (Italica)

Indoor annual

Sulforaphane superfood in 5 days — jar sprout, no soil needed.

Sprouts

Baby Leaf Salad Mix

Various species

Indoor annual

Bag a £2 seed mix for £30 of salad over a season.

Sprouts

Alfalfa Sprouts

Medicago sativa

Indoor annual

Nutty-sweet protein-packed sprouts ready in 4-5 days.

Leafy green

Cos Lettuce

Lactuca sativa (Longifolia)

Hardy annual

Upright romaine — sweet crunchy ribs, the Caesar-salad classic.

Leafy green

Butterhead Lettuce

Lactuca sativa (Capitata)

Hardy annual

Soft buttery rosettes — the gentlest, most child-friendly lettuce.

Leafy green

Oakleaf Lettuce

Lactuca sativa (Crispa)

Hardy annual

Frilly lobed leaves — cut-and-come-again for weeks of salads.

Leafy green

Iceberg Lettuce

Lactuca sativa (Capitata, Crisphead)

Hardy annual

Dense crunchy globes — needs space and steady water to firm up.

Leafy green

Little Gem

Lactuca sativa 'Little Gem'

Hardy annual

Mini-cos lettuce — fits in a window box and matures in 8 weeks.

Leafy green

Mizuna

Brassica rapa var. nipposinica

Hardy annual

Feathery peppery Japanese green — cut and it grows back fast.

Leafy green

Mibuna

Brassica rapa var. japonica

Hardy annual

Mizuna's narrower cousin — milder, slightly mustardy, prolific.

Herb

Thai Basil

Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora

Tender annual

Aniseed-edged basil — the herb behind pho and pad krapow.

Herb

Purple Basil

Ocimum basilicum 'Purpurascens'

Tender annual

Deep aubergine-purple leaves — striking in pots, makes rosy vinegar.

Herb

Greek Basil

Ocimum basilicum var. minimum

Tender annual

Tiny-leaved bushy basil — sweeter and tougher than Genovese.

Herb

Flat-leaf Parsley

Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum

Hardy biennial

Bolder-flavoured Italian parsley — the cook's-choice over curly.

Herb

Curly Parsley

Petroselinum crispum var. crispum

Hardy biennial

Frilly classic British parsley — best for garnish and tabbouleh.

Herb

Spearmint

Mentha spicata

Hardy perennial

The mint for mojitos, lamb and Sunday peas — keep in its own pot.

Herb

Peppermint

Mentha × piperita

Hardy perennial

Stronger menthol punch — the better tea mint and digestive soother.

Herb

Chocolate Mint

Mentha × piperita 'Chocolate'

Hardy perennial

After-dinner cocoa-scented mint — sublime in chocolate puds and tea.

Herb

St John's wort

Hardy annual

St John's wort is a hardy perennial herb with bright yellow flowers traditionally used for medicinal purposes. It thrives in sunny locations with minimal care and can spread vigorously.