Climbing or Trailing Vegetables

Malabar Spinach – Seeds (Basella alba)

Malabar Spinach is a fast-growing, tropical vine known for its thick, succulent leaves and high nutritional value. Ideal for salads, stir-fries, soups, and garnishes, this heat-tolerant leafy green thrives where traditional spinach struggles.

Its vigorous climbing habit makes it perfect for trellises, fences, or vertical garden spaces. Malabar Spinach is not only delicious but also adds lush greenery and ornamental appeal to any garden.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April

• Sow outdoors: After last frost, spacing 30–40 cm apart

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost

• Care: Water regularly; provide support for climbing; pinch tips to encourage bushier growth

Key Features

• Fast-growing, heat-tolerant leafy green

• Thick, succulent leaves perfect for salads, stir-fries, and soups

• Vigorous climbing vine suitable for trellises or fences

• Adds ornamental greenery to gardens

• Easy to grow and high-yielding

Harvest

• Harvesting period: 50–70 days after sowing

• Pick young leaves regularly for the best flavor and tender texture.

Short Tip

Provide a trellis or support for climbing; regular harvesting promotes continuous growth and keeps leaves tender.

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

Asparagus Pea – Seeds (Tetragonolobus purpureus)

Asparagus Pea (Tetragonolobus purpureus) is a vigorous, climbing annual producing clusters of attractive, purple-pink pea-like flowers. Its edible pods have a mild, asparagus-like flavor, making it perfect for both ornamental and culinary use. Blooming from summer to autumn, this versatile plant thrives on trellises, fences, and obelisks, adding vertical interest, color, and delicious harvests to your garden.

Why Grow "Asparagus Pea"

• Vigorous climber with purple-pink flowers

• Edible pods with a mild asparagus-like taste

• Long flowering and harvesting season

• Perfect for vertical gardening on trellises and fences

Key Features

• Type: Annual climber (Tetragonolobus purpureus)

• Height: 150–180 cm

• Flowering: Summer to autumn

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Trellises, fences, obelisks, edible gardens, cut flowers

Ideal For

• Vertical displays in small or large gardens

• Edible and ornamental gardening

• Container and patio planting

• Gardeners seeking climbers with attractive flowers and tasty pods

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April

• Sow outdoors: After last frost in well-drained soil

• Germination: 10–20 days at 15–20°C

• Space seedlings: 25–30 cm apart

• Provide support for climbing

Pumpkin 'Rouge d'Etampes' – Seeds (Cucurbita pepo)

The Pumpkin 'Rouge d'Etampes', also known as the Cinderella Pumpkin, is a stunning French heirloom variety prized for its large, flattened, deeply ribbed fruits with a vivid red-orange skin. Traditionally grown in the Paris region, it is famous for both its striking ornamental appeal and its delicious, sweet, fine-grained flesh.

Perfect for roasting, soups, pies, and preserves, it’s also a favourite for autumn displays thanks to its dramatic shape and colour.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: April – May, in pots

• Sow outdoors: Late May – June, after last frost

• Planting distance: 100 cm apart

• Soil: Rich, fertile, well-drained soil with added compost or manure

• Position: Full sun

• Care: Keep well-watered, mulch to retain soil moisture, and provide space for trailing vines

Key Features

• Traditional French heirloom pumpkin

• Beautiful flattened, ribbed, red-orange fruits

• Excellent sweet flavour for roasting, soups, and pies

• Dual purpose – culinary and ornamental

• Large fruits with good yields

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: April – June

• Harvest: September – October