Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
maturity for seed, be aware that the adult plants grow to at least 80cm and some-
times much taller, and will shade out other plants. Dill likes full sun and well-
drained soil.
Lamb's lettuce (corn salad)
The waxy leaves of lamb's lettuce have a buttery sweetness. Sow direct from mid-
August to September at 2.5cm intervals in 1-1.5cm-deep drills, 20cm apart, for an
overwintering crop that needs no protection. Nip off the small rosettes of leaves
without disturbing the growing point, and watch out for mildew. When growth
accelerates in the spring cut the tops off the row of plants with scissors, and
when it flowers make one last cutting and remove the plants.
Mibuna
This is similar to mizuna (see below) but with a stronger flavour. It is best eaten
small for milder leaves, so sow at 10cm spacings. Sow 1cm deep July to early
October for standing over winter. It tolerates most soils.
Mizuna
Mizuna has fast-growing and juicy winter salad leaves with a mild, slightly pep-
pery flavour and tasty flowering stems. Sow 1cm deep from July to early
November. September sowings will be ready in November and December, and
early November sowings will overwinter under fleece.
Mustard
Mustard is an excellent hardy plant with a wide range of striking varieties, and a
pungent peppery flavour that is made much milder by brief cooking. Sow 1cm
deep from February to April for baby leaves, and from July to October for standing
over winter. Winter plants may be picked or left to form large heads. Choose a
bolt-resistant variety such as 'Green Wave'.
Pea shoots
Pea shoots are tender and delicious as a salad vegetable, with the sweet taste of
fresh peas. Sow three or four seeds of a wrinkled variety per module in March at
a depth of 2cm, planting them out to 20cm spacings when they are 5cm high.
Alternatively, sow one seed every 2-3cm in a section of plastic guttering filled
with compost, and when big enough to plant, slide the whole thing into a shal-
low trench in the soil. When the seedlings reach 20cm high, trim off the top 5cm
of the plants with scissors and leave to re-grow. Repeat until they become tough
- the harvest is usually from late April to early June.
