A great alternative to carrots or turnips, the bulbous stems have a mild flavour and are deliciously sliced thinly in salads or prepared as a dauphinoise. Leaves can also be served as tasty ‘greens’. Outdoor sowing: March-July, sow thinly in a prepared seed bed in rows 30cm (12in) apart. Cover lightly with 1.5cm (half-inch) of fine soil, firm gently and keep moist. Seedlings usually appear in 7-21 days. For continuous crops, sow every 2-3 weeks. Keep moist and weed-free. When large enough, thin to 15cm (6in) apart. Indoor sowing: For early crops, sow under glass from February and plant out from April onwards, spacing 15cm (6in) apart. Keep moist and weed-free. Harvest: June to October.