Climbing or Trailing Vegetables

Vegetable Sponge – Seeds (Luffa cylindrica)

Grow your own natural sponges with Luffa cylindrica, also known as the vegetable sponge or loofah. This fascinating gourd plant produces long green fruits that, when matured and dried, reveal a fibrous interior perfect for eco-friendly sponges, bath accessories, and natural scrubbers. Young fruits can also be cooked and eaten like courgettes. A rewarding and unique plant for gardeners who love trying something different.

How to Grow

. Sow indoors in April, 1–2 cm deep in pots of moist compost, keeping them warm (20–25°C)
. Transplant outdoors or into a greenhouse after the last frost, spacing 60–90 cm apart
. Requires full sun, warmth, and rich, well-drained soil
. Support with trellis or canes for climbing vines
. Harvest young fruits for eating, or allow to mature fully for sponges

Key Features

. Produces natural loofah sponges when dried
. Young fruits edible, similar to courgettes
. Vigorous climbing plant with long vines
. Thrives in warm, sunny conditions
. Unique and sustainable garden crop

Ideal For

. Eco-friendly bath and kitchen sponges
. Gardeners who enjoy unusual crops
. Warm gardens, greenhouses, or polytunnels
. DIY natural skincare and household uses

Sowing & Harvest

. Sow: April – May
. Harvest: August – October (young fruits) or later for mature loofahs

Quick Tip

For sponges, leave fruits on the plant until skins turn yellow and dry, then peel to reveal the fibrous loofah inside.

Tomato ‘Herodes’ – Seeds

(Lycopersicon esculentum) – Heirloom Beefsteak Tomato

The ‘Herodes’ tomato is a traditional heirloom beefsteak variety from Eastern Europe, valued for its large, meaty fruits and outstanding flavor. The fruits ripen to a deep rosy-red with pink undertones, offering a rich, sweet, and slightly tangy taste – perfect for slicing, salads, and summer sandwiches. Highly productive, vigorous, and disease-tolerant, this indeterminate variety continues to set fruit throughout the season.

Key Features

• Type: Indeterminate (climbing)

• Fruit: Large beefsteak, 250–400 g

• Color: Rosy red/pink

• Flavor: Sweet, rich, and meaty

• Height: 150–200 cm

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained, moisture-retentive

Ideal For

• Fresh slicing and caprese salads

• Summer sandwiches and burgers

• Juices, sauces, and preserves

• Greenhouses, polytunnels, or sunny outdoor beds

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April, 0.5 cm deep in trays/pots.

• Germination: 7–14 days at 20–25°C.

• Transplant: Pot on when true leaves appear.

• Plant out: May–June, after frost, spacing 50 cm apart.

• Harvest: July–September.

Care Tips

• Requires staking or caging.

• Remove side shoots for better airflow and larger fruits.

• Feed with high-potash fertilizer once flowers set.

Tomato ‘Spencer’ – Seeds

(Lycopersicon esculentum) – Classic Outdoor Salad Tomato

The ‘Spencer’ tomato is a reliable and vigorous variety, producing clusters of medium-sized round fruits with a glossy red skin and a sweet, well-balanced flavor. A versatile tomato, excellent for fresh eating, slicing, and salads, but also holds up well for cooking. This indeterminate type crops generously over a long season, making it a great choice for both greenhouse and outdoor growing.

Key Features

• Type: Indeterminate (climbing)

• Fruit: Medium round, 100–150 g

• Color: Classic bright red

• Flavor: Sweet, juicy, balanced

• Height: 150–180 cm

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained

Ideal For

• Fresh salads and sandwiches

• Roasting and grilling

• Sauces and everyday cooking

• Outdoor beds or greenhouses

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April, 0.5 cm deep in pots or trays.

• Germination: 7–14 days at 20–25°C.

• Transplant: Pot on when seedlings are strong.

• Plant out: May–June, spacing 45–50 cm apart after last frost.

• Harvest: July–September.

Care Tips

• Support with canes or strings.

• Pinch out side shoots for better airflow.

• Water consistently to avoid fruit splitting.

• Feed weekly with tomato fertilizer once flowering begins.

Pea ‘Rondo’ Maincrop Seeds (Pisum sativum)

Enjoy a bountiful late-season harvest with Pea ‘Rondo’ Maincrop (Pisum sativum). This hardy climbing variety produces long, plump pods packed with sweet, tender peas, perfect for fresh eating, steaming, or freezing. Reliable and highly productive, it’s ideal for vegetable gardens, allotments, and extended homegrown harvests.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds directly outdoors from early spring to late spring.

• Use well-drained, fertile soil in full sun to partial shade.

• Sow seeds 3–5 cm deep and 5–7 cm apart in rows 50–60 cm apart.

• Provide stakes, netting, or a trellis for climbing growth.

• Keep soil consistently moist but avoid waterlogging.

• Harvest pods when fully formed but still tender for best flavor.

Key Features

• Maincrop variety producing long, plump, sweet pods

• Hardy, climbing, and highly productive

• Ideal for fresh eating, steaming, or freezing

• Reliable in temperate climates

• Perfect for vegetable gardens and allotments

Ideal For

• Vegetable gardens and allotments

• Extended harvest for cooking and freezing

• Climbing support with trellises or stakes

• Companion planting with nitrogen-fixing crops

Sowing

• Best time: Early to late spring outdoors

• Depth: 3–5 cm

• Spacing: 5–7 cm apart, rows 50–60 cm apart

• Prefers full sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Sow in successive batches every 2–3 weeks for a longer maincrop harvest.

Pea ‘Onward’ Seeds (Pisum sativum)

Enjoy a reliable and early harvest with Pea ‘Onward’ (Pisum sativum). This hardy climbing variety produces long, tender pods filled with sweet, flavorful peas, perfect for fresh eating, steaming, or freezing. Easy to grow and highly productive, it’s ideal for vegetable gardens, allotments, and homegrown culinary use.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds directly outdoors from early spring as soon as the soil can be worked.

• Use well-drained, fertile soil in full sun to partial shade.

• Sow seeds 3–5 cm deep and 5–7 cm apart in rows 50–60 cm apart.

• Provide stakes, netting, or a trellis for climbing growth.

• Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

• Harvest pods when fully formed but still tender for best flavor.

Key Features

• Early-maturing climbing variety with long, tender pods

• Hardy and highly productive

• Ideal for fresh eating, steaming, or freezing

• Easy to grow in temperate climates

• Perfect for vegetable gardens and allotments

Ideal For

• Vegetable gardens and allotments

• Fresh harvest for cooking and freezing

• Climbing support with trellises or stakes

• Companion planting with nitrogen-fixing crops

Sowing

• Best time: Early spring outdoors

• Depth: 3–5 cm

• Spacing: 5–7 cm apart, rows 50–60 cm apart

• Prefers full sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Sow successive batches every 2–3 weeks to enjoy a continuous early-season harvest.

Pea ‘Alderman’ Seeds (Pisum sativum)

Enjoy sweet, tender peas with Pea ‘Alderman’ (Pisum sativum). This classic climbing variety produces long, plump pods filled with flavorful peas, perfect for fresh eating, steaming, or freezing. Hardy and highly productive, it’s ideal for vegetable gardens, allotments, and homegrown culinary delights.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds directly outdoors from early spring as soon as the soil can be worked.

• Use well-drained, fertile soil in full sun to partial shade.

• Sow seeds 3–5 cm deep and 5–7 cm apart in rows 50–60 cm apart.

• Provide support with stakes, netting, or a trellis for climbing growth.

• Water consistently, keeping soil moist but not waterlogged.

• Harvest pods when peas are fully formed but still tender.

Key Features

• Long, plump, sweet-flavored pods

• Hardy, climbing, and highly productive

• Ideal for fresh eating, steaming, or freezing

• Easy to grow in temperate climates

• Perfect for vegetable gardens, allotments, and homegrown use

Ideal For

• Vegetable gardens and allotments

• Fresh harvest for cooking and freezing

• Vertical planting with trellises or stakes

• Companion planting with nitrogen-demanding crops

Sowing

• Best time: Early spring outdoors

• Depth: 3–5 cm

• Spacing: 5–7 cm apart, rows 50–60 cm apart

• Prefers full sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Sow successive batches every 2–3 weeks to enjoy a continuous harvest throughout the season.

Passion Flower Seeds (Passiflora caerulea)

Exotic and captivating, Passion Flower produces intricate star-shaped blooms with white petals and striking blue-purple filaments. A vigorous climber, it brings drama and elegance to walls, trellises, and fences. Hardy in mild climates and excellent for attracting pollinators, this unique plant also bears ornamental fruit after flowering.

What Makes It Special

• Exotic, intricate blue-white flowers

• Vigorous climber for vertical spaces

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and pollinators

Key Features

• Botanical name: Passiflora caerulea

• Hardy perennial climber

• Height: 3–6 m (10–20 ft) with support

• Bloom time: Summer to early autumn

Ideal For

• Covering trellises, walls, and fences

• Conservatories and greenhouse cultivation

• Pollinator-friendly and ornamental gardens

Sowing

• Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours before sowing

• Sow indoors Feb–Apr at 20–25°C

• Germination: 3–8 weeks (sometimes longer)

• Transplant seedlings to pots, then outdoors after frost

• Flowers from the second or third year

Ornamental Gourd ‘Shenot Crown of Thorns’ – 35 Seeds (Cucurbita pepo)

Description:
Add unique autumn interest to your garden with Ornamental Gourd ‘Shenot Crown of Thorns’ (Cucurbita pepo). This unusual gourd produces striking, spiky fruits with vivid colors and a textured surface, perfect for decorative displays, crafts, and fall arrangements. Fast-growing and easy to cultivate, these gourds also attract pollinators during flowering, making them a functional and decorative addition to your garden.

Key Features

• Unique spiky, “crown of thorns” ornamental gourds

• Vibrant, textured fruits for decorative use

• Fast-growing and easy to cultivate

• Attracts pollinators during flowering

• Perfect for autumn displays and crafts

Ideal For

• Autumn garden decorations

• Craft projects and fall arrangements

• Trellises, fences, and containers

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow Indoors: March–April

• Sow Outdoors: After last frost, May

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–24°C

• Spacing: 60–90 cm apart

• Height/Spread: Vining, up to 3–4 m

• Light: Full sun

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained

Care Tips

• Provide support for climbing vines if needed

• Water regularly, keeping soil moist but not soggy

• Fertilize with balanced fertilizer every 2–3 weeks

• Harvest mature fruits before frost for decorations