Brightly coloured stems with large green or bronze leaves. Mild and very nutritional when steamed. Looks great in ornamental beds as well as adding colour to the vegetable plot. Likes a rich, moisture-retentive soil. Dig in compost or manure the previous autumn or add a general fertilizer. Lime the soil if the pH is lower than 6.5. Sow 1.25cm (1/2″) deep. Sow 10cm (4″) apart for salads, or 30cm (12″) apart for full-grown crops. Space rows 45cm (18″) apart.
