HELP ALAN!

Is there a special knack?
J Lister, Gwent

A It’s not the easiest vegetable to grow well. It needs a warm, sheltered site with rich, fertile soil that stays moist; if it has a check in growth, it “bolts”.

Quite a few people find it does best in a greenhouse or a walk-in poly tunnel but only at the start of the summer since if conditions get too hot it bolts again.

Try sowing seeds now in small individual pots on a shady windowsill indoors.

When you have strong young plants around mid to late June, plant them outside in a suitably kind spot after working plenty of well-rotted organic matter into the soil.

Keep them regularly fed and watered. Don’t wait for them to reach the size of shop-bought bulbs; start cutting the largest ones as soon as they are big enough to use and leave the rest to keep growing.