Containers are best when growing basil

Q I want to grow basil on my sunny patio this summer. Should I seed directly into patio pots or start the seeds indoors? When?

A: It’s a good choice to grow basil in containers. I’ve always found that far easier than trying to grow it in garden beds. I start basil seeds indoors in mid-April for transplanting into patio containers in the warmth of May. My preference is for small-leaved varieties that form dwarf, compact domes or, in window-box planters, neat little hedges.

Q Is “Sugarloaf” chicory similar to the chicory known as Belgian endive?

A: The two are similar, and are used in the same way, but they are grown differently. Sugarloaf (Sugar Hat, green-lof chicory) forms upright, romaine-like heads of green leaves (creamy at the centres). Seeded outdoors in May, the heads are ready to use from mid to late autumn onward. I love the tart greens mixed into salads, but they can also be lightly steamed or stirfried and served with a nutmeg-flavoured cream sauce.

Witloof chicory (Belgian endive) is seeded outdoors in April and grown for the roots, which are dug as needed and “forced” to produce tight, elongated heads (“chicons”) of pale yellow and white leaves. The roots are dug after the first few frosts have arrived and top growth has been cleared away. This is a European delicacy for salads and cooking.

The roots can be potted for indoor forcing, or planted in outdoor or greenhouse forcing beds. They are covered with around 15 cm (six inches) of soil or sand, and harvested when tops show through the cover. I’ve had success potting a few roots, placing the pot in a dark, cool place indoors, and covering the pot with another, overturned one.