Outdoor types
Sow: April in pots; plant out when danger of frost has passed.
Aspect: Maximum sun but sheltered from wind as the large leaves are vulnerable to wind damage. Well-drained but moisture-retentive soil.
Care: Plant on a mound. Handle plants with care as stems are brittle. Try growing plants against a cane towards a trellis. Do not remove male flowers as these are needed to form fruits of outdoor varieties. Pinch out growing tips when they reach the top of the support.
Water: Regularly, especially when fruiting well.
Harvest: Pick when 6" to 8" long.
Don't grow by: Potatoes or aromatic herbs like sage and mint.
