Known as 'Beauty Heart' with green and white skinned tennis ball sized roots have an inner core of bright magenta. The flesh is crisp, sweet, slightly nutty with a touch of 'heat' only in the outer white flesh. Perfect for salads, on their own as a gourmet vegetable, sprinkled with sugar or carved into roses. They store for several weeks in a fridge.

Needs warm weather to develop properly so don't sow before mid summer. July-August sowings are best. Either sow outdoors or in modules for transplanting. To sow outdoors sow very thinly 6mm (¼in) deep in rows 30cm (12in) apart and thin the seedlings out gradually to 30cm (12in) apart or sow the seeds singly 6mm (¼iin) deep in modules filled with moist seed compost. Germination takes 5-10 days at 15-20C (60- 70F).

Grow cool, keep moist and plant out before the roots start to swell or receive any check or damage. Space them 38x38cm (15x15in) apart.

They will grow well in any soil but must be kept well watered. Harvest in late summer/autumn.