How to Grow

From seed

Plant seeds in trays, firm down, keep moist.

Choose a sunny spot in the garden and enrich the soil with compost.

Once the seedlings are 7cm tall, plant them in the ground, spacing them 10cm apart.

Water in well and cover in mulch.

From seedling

Space seedlings 60cm apart in enriched soil.

Water in well.

In a pot

Look for pot 50-60cm wide, like half a wine barrell.

Position in a sunny spot, away from strong winds.

When seedlings are 7cm high, transplant them into a pot.

Water in well, cover in mulch.

From Plant

Apply side dressings of nitrogen fertiliser or liquid feeds regularly from transplanting onwards.

Hill soil around plants as they grow to lessen wind damage.

Ready to harvest

Harvest sprouts from the bottom of the stalk, or when they reach 2-3cm in diameter.

Collect seed

Watch for the seed stalk to emerge from the plant in the spring.

The pods will ripen from the bottom up and are mature when they start to turn light brown and dry out.

Harvesting ripe pods typically happens over a two- to three-week span.