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Capsaicin is the natural pungent compound found in chillies and other pepper varieties. Chemically, it belongs to the capsaicinoids – a group of alkaloids that trigger an intense burning sensation on the tongue, skin or mucous membranes in mammals. The concentration of capsaicin largely determines a chilli's heat and is measured using the Scoville scale.

Common chickweed (Stellaria media) is a plant species in the pink family (Caryophyllaceae). This annual is highly adaptable, grows all over the world and is regarded here as a weed. It prefers nutrient-rich, moist sites, which may well be shady.

Short definition: The chicory (Cichorium) vegetable family includes salad plants with strong flavours and a distinctive bitterness.Botanical classification: Cichorium intybus and Cichorium endivia.Typical types/varieties: Radicchio, leaf chicory, Catalogna, Chioggia.Key features: The plant’s bitter compounds stimulate digestion. Often used blanched or grilled.

Chionophilous – meaning “snow-loving” – is the technical term for plants that have adapted to cold, snowy habitats and can even flower under snow. Typical chionophilous species include snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) and Christmas rose (Helleborus niger).

A cold frame is used mainly for raising young plants outdoors in spring, when night frosts can still occur.

Cold germinators are plants whose seeds need a prolonged period of cold to break their dormancy. Only after several weeks of temperatures around freezing point (roughly 0 to +5 °C) are the substances in the seed that inhibit germination broken down.

Companion planting means growing different vegetable varieties together in one bed, based on a few basic principles:

Cool Flowers are robust, cold-tolerant annual and biennial flowers that are sown or planted not in spring but in the previous autumn or early in the new year. The term was popularised by US-based gardener Lisa Mason Ziegler and refers to a growing method that produces early and abundant flower displays.

A cottage garden is a style of gardening that originated in England and is known for its lush, natural plant diversity. It is characterised by densely planted beds, meandering paths and a harmonious mix of ornamental and edible plants.

Couch grass (Elymus) belongs to the grass family (Poaceae) and is one of the most despised weeds in this part of the world.

Short definition: Firm, crispy head lettuce with a high water content and a mild flavour.Botanical classification: Lactuca sativa var. capitata (crisphead type).Typical varieties: Iceberg, Saladin, Great Lakes.Key features: Stores well. Prefers cool conditions.

Crop rotation is a refinement of crop sequencing: it means a coordinated succession of vegetable species on a given plot, always alternating species from different plant families. Brassicas follow legumes, and so on.