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At Gardeners Kitchen, we supply our vegetable, herb, and fruit plants in four sizes:
Medium Plugs, 9cm round pots, 11cm round pots, and 9cm square pots.
All plants are supplied with a variety label and a growing leaflet to help you give them the best possible start. Below is a general guide on what to expect when your plants arrive.
Medium Plugs
Lettuce, Brassicas, Onions, Leeks, Salads, Beans, Peas, etc.
Most medium plugs will have at least three true leaves, and up to six depending on the variety. Beans and peas may have fewer true leaves, as these are faster-growing plants.
Medium plugs are intended to be planted out straight away, provided the risk of frost has passed. Some varieties, such as broad beans and kale, can tolerate frost, while others cannot, so always check that conditions are suitable for each variety.
If the weather is not yet suitable, plugs can be potted on into a slightly larger container and grown on until conditions improve.
9cm Round Pots
Cucumbers, Peppers, Tomatoes, Courgettes, Squash, Melons, Marrows, etc.
These pots contain some of the more tender plants, with one plant per pot (excluding cucamelons). All require frost protection, particularly cucumbers, which should always be kept above 16°C.
On arrival, plants may be touching the top of the packaging or sit slightly lower and will typically be between 5–13cm tall. Some fast-growing varieties, such as courgettes, cucumbers, squash, melons, and marrows, may only have their two seed leaves and possibly one true leaf showing, as these plants can grow very quickly, even within a 24-hour period.
If you intend to grow these plants outdoors (where suitable varieties are available), wait until all risk of frost has passed and harden them off before planting, as explained below.
11cm Round Pots
Potatoes, Sweet Peas, Wasabi
Sweet peas are supplied with approximately 10–20 plants per pot and are fairly hardy. They can be carefully separated into groups of 2–4 plants and planted individually.
Potatoes and sweet potatoes are supplied with one plant per pot and will require frost protection. Wasabi plants are half-hardy. All plants in this category will typically be around 10–20cm tall on arrival.
9cm Square Pots
Herbs
Herbs are supplied in 9cm square pots and will vary in height depending on the variety. Each pot includes planting information on the label, with additional growing advice available on the individual product pages on our website.
Hardening Off
All our plants are grown in our greenhouses in Worcestershire, so it is important to harden them off before planting outdoors. This allows them to gradually adapt to outdoor conditions.
Place plants in a sheltered but open area, protected from strong winds and extreme weather. An old cold frame with the lid left open works well. Introduce plants gradually by placing them outside during the day and bringing them back in at night until temperatures become consistently warmer.
Important Notice
All plants must be removed from their packaging immediately upon arrival.
Do not leave plants packaged—plants need light, air, water, and nutrients to thrive.
Packaging
We are committed to reducing our environmental impact. All our packaging is roadside recyclable, and we continually work to improve sustainability. From 2026, we will be introducing a lighter-weight blister pack to further enhance recyclability.