Sowing & Growing

Harvesting occurs from August to October. To achieve maturity in September to October, sow seeds from February to March. The initial sowings can be done in trays or modules under glass at a temperature of 13°C. For later sowings, utilize a seed bed in shallow drills, making them 2cm (3/4″) deep in short rows. Once the seedlings in the glasshouse display their first pair of leaves, either prick them off into trays with a spacing of 5cm (2″) apart or thin modules to one seedling per cell. Gradually acclimate the seedlings before planting out, ensuring a spacing of 45cm (18″) between plants and 60cm (24″) between rows.

For those with limited space, this crop is ideal for close spacing. Planting at 30cm (12″) intervals between plants and rows can result in smaller, more compact heads. Outdoor sowings should be thinned to 7-10cm (3-4″) apart. Once the plants reach a height of 15cm (6″), they can be lifted and transplanted to their final positions, maintaining the same spacing as detailed above.