A gourmet treat, very popular in the Mediterranean. Eat the fleshy base of the 'scales' dipped in butter and saute the hearts as a delicious appetiser. The flowers and foliage make very ornamental plants.
Sow & Harvest
Sow indoors February-March, 0.5cm (¼") deep in a tray of seed compost. Water well and maintain a temperature of 15-20°C (60-68°F). Keep moist. Transplant, 5cm (2") apart, to other trays when large enough to handle. Gradually accustom young plants to outside conditions (avoid frosts), before planting out, May-June, 90cm (3') apart.
Or outdoors, sow thinly, March-April where they are to crop, 1.5cm (½") deep, directly into finely-prepared, rich, deeply-dug soil, which has already been watered. Allow 90cm (3') between rows. Seedlings usually appear in 14-28 days. Thin plants to 90cm (3') apart.