3 crops to start now

Japanese radish or daikon

This variety produces a large uniform white radish with a peppery bite. Use it raw in salads or shredded into savoury dishes as well as pickled to make kimchi.

How to Direct sow seeds in previously watered drills at a depth of 1cm, in moisture retentive soil. It will do well in partial shade. Thin seedlings to

5-10cm apart.

Florence fennel ‘Mantovano’

This is an attractive lacy-leaved early variety that is enjoyed for its aniseed flavour and blanched swollen stems.

How to Sow seeds thinly in situ in freedraining, moisture-retentive soil. Thin to 15cm between seedlings and keep watered. Cover with fleece in autumn and harvest by cutting to ground level – they often resprout to produce extra bulbs.

Peas (maincrop) ‘Alderman’

This tall-growing variety is a heavy cropper with pods holding up to 11 peas.

How to Sow seeds using the trench method in free-draining, moistureretentive soil at a 5cm depth and 8cm between each seed. Once they‘ve germinated use pea sticks for staking. For the best flavour, harvest regularly 13 to 14 weeks after sowing.

NEXT MONTH Rekha has a bounty of edamame beans to turn into a middle eastern dip