On the allotment: Thanks to Andrew putting protective netting over the brassicas before the arrival of the pigeons, we are now enjoying good pickings of  cavolo nero and purple sprouting broccoli.

Research carried out at Imperial College, London and funded by the British Heart Foundation now shows that eating broccoli could help prevent heart attacks and strokes. This staple green vegetable is rich in a chemical called sulforaphane, which has been found to boost the natural defence system that protects our arteries from disease. Other vegetables in the same ‘family’ also contain sulforaphane, although broccoli appears to have the highest concentration. See the special brassica seed collection in ‘Offers’.