Attractive, golden-yellow pencil pods of excellent flavour contrast with the dark green leaves. The stringless pods are held high up on the plants for ease of picking, so are less prone to disease and rotting from soil splash.

For earliest crops under glass sow February onwards. Sow mid April in pots indoors to plant outdoors from late May. Sow May to July outdoors. Sow seeds individually in 7.5cm (3in) pots at 18-21C (65-70F) from mid April for transplanting outdoors after frost risk has passed. Alternatively sow direct outdoors in warm soil, germination can be erratic in cold, wet soils, from late May to late July. Sow 2 or 3 seeds 5cm (2in) deep, allowing 20cm (8in) between each group of seeds, and 45cm (18in) between rows. No need to thin out.

Use cloches to aid establishment of earliest sowings. Hoe regularly and keep well watered and mulched during dry periods. Harvest regularly whilst young for highest yields and to extend the season.

Cook filet/pencil types whole or slice flat types. Harness their flavour by gently steaming. NEVER EAT PODS RAW.