Broccoli’s a real favourite because of it’s great flavour, texture and health-giving properties. Millstone Garden Centre stock Purple and White sprouting Broccoli. Much cheaper than the supermarket! Broccoli prefers fertile, well-drained, moisture-retentive soil. Plant seedlings in their growing positions, leaving 45cm (18in) between them. Water plants well before and after planting. Thin directly-sown broccoli to 30cm (1ft) apart

Water every 10-14 days in dry periods. Add a high nitrogen fertiliser, such as sulphate of ammonia, at 35g per square metre when plants are about 20cm tall. Birds can be a problem, so net the plants when the heads are being produced to prevent damage. As the plants get taller you may need to stake and tie them for support