[kermit]

I had same problem last year - I sowed seeds around March and grew on in large tubs over the summer.  Then as the space became available early winter when the plants had died back, I put in final position in corner of garden.  They are now going great guns (except I planted 3 crowns far too close together!).   going to try and remove 1 or 2 of them if my severe harvesting doesnt kill em 

Can anyone tell me how best to harvest - do you just cut the stalk off right at the bottom and then stew all the stem (minus the leaves)?

[hamstergbert]

Many people prefer not to cut the stalks as the cut area provides easy access for problems.  Best to pull the stalks directly away from the root area, perhaps with jsut a slight downward tweak of pressure.  Then trim th leaf end off and just the thumbnail sized end with the pink/white 'wedge' and the (brown, papery) stalk caul.

Currently got the 'old' crown forcing away under the upturned bin, and the (last year seed) newer ones looking disturbingly like harvestable!  (Anticipated losing some of the new ones that were grown from seed last year.  Didnt!)