IT is often used in African and Indian cooking, where it is known as ladies’ fingers or gumbo, but it is possible to grow this half hardy annual here, although it will need full sun and a hot, humid environment to crop well.

Seeds should be sown indoors in late winter or early spring in a heated propagator in individual 31/2in pots of moist seed compost.

Don’t let the seed dry out before it germinates. Plant the seedlings and when the plants are about a foot tall, pinch out the growing tips and keep them well watered and fed with a high potash liquid feed. They can reach about 1.2m (4ft) in height and will need staking. Pods form soon after flower and should be picked frequently to stop them becoming tough and stringy.