The largest of the thistle family, the artichoke is a striking architectural beauty with a wonderful taste.

Once established, an asparagus bed can produce wonderful succulent spears for up to 20 years.

The aubergine is a species of nightshade and is botanically classed a berry.

Beetroot comes in many shapes and colours, red, yellow, white and ringed, and globe, cylindrical or flat.

Broad beans are one of the easiest crops to grow with several varieties that can happily over-winter.

There are 2 main varieties of broccoli; calabrese broccoli and sprouting broccoli.

Brussels sprouts are a cultivar in the gemmifera group of cabbages, possibly developed in ancient Rome.

The Cabbage is probably one of the most commonly eaten vegetables worldwide.

Cauliflower is low in fat and carbohydrates, but high in vitamin C and fibre.

The courgette is botanically a fruit, but in culinary context it is treated as a vegetable.

Leaf Beet is also often commonly know as Swiss chard or perpetual spinach.

Runner Beans are a native plant of tropical America, originally introduced to the UK for the beauty of their flowers.