A little known but very useful salad plant which can be used raw in salads or cooked lightly when it makes a delicious spinach substitute. Late summer sowings will carry on cropping into the winter if the plants are protected by cloches.

Sow from April to July in any good fertile, well drained soil. Sow thinly 6mm (¼in) deep in drills spaced 45-60cm (18-24in) apart.

When the seedlings are large enough to handle thin out to 23-30cm (9-12in) apart.

Pick the young leaves as required over the whole row rather than just one or two plants as this would weaken them. As the flower buds appear pinch them out to prolong cropping.