Best Grown: Outdoors or in containers, thrives in poor soils
Sowing Time: March–May
Plant Out: Late April onwards, once frost risk has passed
Harvest Time: June–October (approx. 8–10 weeks from sowing)
Spacing: Plant 20–30 cm apart for bushy types; allow more space for trailing varieties
Height: Bushy types grow 20–30 cm tall; trailing types can spread up to 2 m
Difficulty: Easy

Why grow it?

• Bright, cheerful blooms in shades of red, orange, and yellow
• Leaves and flowers edible with a peppery, cress-like taste
• Great for salads, garnishes, and pickling seeds as “poor man’s capers”
• Attracts pollinators and acts as a trap crop for pests
• Thrives even in poor soil with little care

How to grow: Sow direct outdoors March–May. Sow seeds 1–2 cm deep, spacing 20–30 cm apart. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Avoid over-fertilising, which encourages leaves over flowers. Harvest leaves and flowers regularly to keep plants productive.

Cooking / usage ideas: Add colourful blooms and peppery leaves to salads. Pickle seeds as caper substitutes. Flowers make beautiful edible garnishes.

Seeds per pack: around 50 seeds.