Six of the best fast crops

Rocket ‘Wild’

Tasty, spicy serrated leaves to bring zing to any salad, pasta or pizza. There are milder cultivars but this one is great if you’re after a little ‘tang’. £1.99 for 670 seeds, Suttons 0844 326 2200; www.suttons.co.uk

Carrot ‘Amsterdam Forcing 2’

A sweet slender carrot specially bred for early sowings under cloches or in a cool greenhouse. £2.35 for 1,500 seeds, Mr Fothergill’s 0333 777 3936; www.mrfothergills.co.uk

Radish ‘French Breakfast 3’

Cylindrical scarlet radishes with a white tip and mild flavour. Delicious dipped in butter and salt. £1.49 for 535 seeds, Dobies 0844 967 0303; www.dobies.co.uk

Spinach ‘Amazon’

Excellent early sowing spinach for baby leaf salads. Good resistance to bolting. Transplants well from modules. £2.29 for 1500 seeds, Marshalls 0844 557 6700; www.marshallsseeds.co.uk

Lettuce ‘Freckles’

Handsome, crisp semi-cos heritage cultivar with dark-splashed leaves. Cut as baby leaves or grow on to snap off outer leaves or harvest heads whole. £1.69 for 480 seeds, The Organic Gardening Catalogue 0844 967 0330; www. organiccatalogue.com

Peashoots ‘Serge’

Sweet, tender and deliciously pea-like. Easy to grow in large trays on a sunny windowsill for crops in 3-4 weeks, or outside where you can let the plants grow larger. £1.35 for 400 seeds, Kings Seeds 01376 570000; www.kingsseeds.com