A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in any soil in a sunny position. Plants have also been seen growing exceedingly well in the dappled shade of a woodland garden. Plants are quite tolerant of neglect, growing well amongst long grass on our Cornish trial ground. The young spring growth can be quite badly damaged by slugs, though more mature plants grow away so quickly that this does not seem to be a problem.

Leaves and young stems - raw or cooked. The young leaves have a mild cabbage flavor that goes very well in a mixed salad, though some people find them indigestible. The leaves are a bit hairy so we find them less than wonderful when eaten raw on their own. The cooked leaves make an excellent vegetable. The leaves are available early in the year, usually towards the end of winter, and the plant will continue to produce leaves until late autumn, with a bit of a gap when the plant is in flower. Flower buds and flowering stems - raw or cooked. A pleasant mild flavor with a delicate sweetness and cabbage-like flavor, they make an excellent broccoli substitute though they are rather smaller.

Seed - sow April in a cold frame. Germination is usually very quick and good. Prick out the seedlings into pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. The seed can also be sown in situ in the spring, though the seedlings are rather prone to slug damage. Root cuttings 2 - 5cm in length succeed at any time during the growing season, though early spring as the plant comes into growth is best. If the top 7 - 10cm of the plant is removed to supply root cuttings and divisions, the roots remaining in the soil usually regrow very quickly.

A weed of cultivated and waste ground.