With summer well under way, gardeners might think there is little to do but admire their handiwork. However, gardening expert Benedict Vanheems insists now is the perfect time to plant five seeds that are fast-growing and will keep you in pickings well into autumn and beyond.
Pak Choi
First up is pak choi, a fast-growing brassica commonly used in Chinese dishes. It can be used in salads or stir-fries, but it is important not to overcook it to maintain its appetising crunch. "Pak choi is one of those rare crops that is both delicious to eat and looks really fab in the garden as well," Benedict says in a new video on his GrowVeg channel.
"Pak choi is a cool season crop," he explains, "which means it absolutely relishes being sown at the slightly cooler end of the growing season and then growing into those cooler days of autumn." He advises against planting during an outright heatwave, as it tends to bolt. Benedict recommends planting in plugs, popping two seeds in each and discarding the weaker seedling. This also protects against slugs, which love pak choi. Seedlings should be planted out when roots appear at the bottom of plugs, at roughly eight-inch intervals, kept well watered and protected from slugs. Harvest by taking one or two leaves per plant or letting them grow into crisp heads.
Rocket
Next is rocket, or arugula. "If there's one crop that sums up a quick win," Benedict says, "it's this stuff." It is one of the fastest-growing salad crops, often ready to pick in less than six weeks. "It's got a lovely peppery, slightly nutty, kind of tang to it, which makes it great for piling onto pizza, tossing into pasta, or simply enjoying it on its own, fresh from the garden." He recommends thinning seedlings to about four inches apart, sowing rows every few weeks to keep the harvest coming, and watering regularly. Even if it flowers, the flowers are edible.
Chinese Cabbage
Chinese cabbage is another lesser-known but versatile plant, delicious in an Asian slaw. It needs to be sown in the warmth of late summer and is prone to bolting if disturbed, so care is needed when transplanting. "Like all brassicas, Chinese cabbage is of course a favourite of lots of butterflies and moths which lay eggs which then grow into caterpillars," Benedict warns, recommending netting against butterflies. Chinese cabbage also requires good watering.
Coriander
Coriander is a controversial choice due to its soapy flavour for some, but late summer is the best time to sow it. "If you sow them in the middle of summer, they almost immediately go up to bolt," Benedict says. "But then, as temperatures cool off, cilantro or coriander gets into its stride and produces all of those wonderful aromatic leaves that we are after." He calls it an essential ingredient in salsas, salads, and soups, providing quick results.
Turnips
Benedict's next choice is turnips. "If you've grown tough, bitter turnips in the past that have put you off them, now is the time to try again." Turnips sown now to grow into the tail end of the season are "a revelation." They grow quickly, producing sweet and tender bulbs that can be roasted or sliced raw in salads. Sow seeds thinly along a row, spacing according to desired size. They will be ready within six to eight weeks. The leaves are also edible, but Benedict warns not to take too many so the roots can swell.
