|
Plant Height
|
Up to
60cm/2ft
|
|
Time between sowing
and harvesting
|
About
12 weeks
|
|
Where to Sow
|
Outdoors
in a seed bed |
|
Sowing time
|
Late
April to May - temperature +12C/54F.
|
|
How to Sow
|
12mm/1/2"
deep - very thinly - in rows 15cm/6" apart or in groups/
blocks |
|
After Germination
|
Start
thinning plants as soon as they can be easily handled to prevent them
becoming weak and spindly. Finally thin to 7.5cm/3" apart. |
|
Growing on -
in Pots
|
Once the plants are 7.3cm/3"
tall, pot up individual plants into 20cm/8" containers (min) about 2.5cm/1" deeper than they were growing in
the seed bed. |
|
Growing on -
in open
ground
|
Once
the plants are 7.3cm/3" tall, transplant to final growing positions
planting them firmly about 2.5cm/1" deeper than they were growing in
the seed bed and spacing the plants 30cm/12" apart in rows or in blocks. |
|
Aftercare
|
Water
in dry weather and feed occasionally with liquid fertiliser. Pull
surround earth up around the base of each plant during the growing season.
May need staking in the autumn.
|
|
Harvesting
|
Cut
the central spears once they are well formed but before the flower buds
start to open. Side shoots will appear and these should be harvested
regularly without completely striping the plant. Do not allow any of the
flowers to open to ensure continuous cropping over a period of about 8
weeks. |
