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Regional secretary with the National Education Union
Rise like dandelions
Gardening with MAT COWARD

MY CHICORY plants, intended for producing blanched chicons for winter salads, fell victim to the drought this summer, so I’m going to have to improvise.

As luck would have it, my garden contains plenty of dandelions. I realise this will come as a shock to readers of this column, whose own vegetable plots, I have no doubt, are scrupulously tended and free from weeds. 

But perhaps your less meticulous neighbours might be able to provide you with your source material.

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