A slow-to-start biennial grown as an annual. Cold-hardy and a magnet for swallowtail butterflies.
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Part shade
Zones 3–9
6–8 in apart.
Rich, moist, well-draining soil; pH 6.0–7.0.
Keep evenly moist, about 1 in/week.
Apr – May
Jun – Oct
Seed is slow (3–4 weeks); soaking it overnight helps, or buy transplants. Harvest outer stems at the base and the center keeps producing. It flowers and goes bitter in its second year, so resow each spring.
Good with Tomato, Pepper, Carrot, Asparagus. Keep apart from Lettuce.