The versatile vegetables to grow in your garden - and one to avoid (2025)

There is more to the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae) than cucumbers, with some rewarding ornamental and edible plants. The only native cucumber family plant is white bryony (Bryonia dioica), an inedible vigorous scrambling plant arising from a huge tuber. Technically, a weed it is well worth preserving for wildlife. Unlike garden cucumber family plants it is fully hardy.

Mature fruits of squirting cucumbers (Ecballium elaterium) project their seeds several metres and are a fascinating, inedible, summer curiosity. You sometimes see it grown in botanic gardens, including RHS Wisley. Seed is available from specialist seed companies.

Ornamental gourds make striking late-summer inedible fruits on vigorous vines with horned, bottle-shaped or round fruits often mottled or striped in white, green, grey, brown, red, yellow and black. Dried and stored ornamental gourds make sustainable winter decorations, lasting until spring when they can be composted. They are easily grown in the usual cucumber family method.

The large seeds are sown in celltrays or small pots, one seed per cell or pot, just covered with a peat-free potting compost recommended for seeds. After watering and allowing it to drain, place the trays or pots in a warm place, 18-25°C, to germinate. Allow to “grow on” in a bright, frost-free spot and plant out from mid-May once they have four true leaves and the pot is full of roots.

Cucumber family plants, being tender, have to grow considerably in a short time so fairly fertile soil, enriched with garden compost and fertiliser such as blood, fish and bone is ideal for good crops. Water freely in dry spells.

Mature luffa (Luffa cylindrica) fruits make sustainable bathroom sponges, with the ripe flesh removed, and the dried woody skeleton bleached. These climbing subtropical plants need the warmest, sunniest place and plenty of spaces as they can roam widely. Seeds are offered by specialist suppliers and need plenty of warmth to germinate. The tender, immature fruits are also edible when young.

Summer squash, including courgettes, are also eaten as immature fruit. Courgettes, largely unknown before the 60s, are now an essential vegetable in yellow, green and striped colours. Round cultivars are particularly suited to stuffing. Three strong plants are sufficient for most households. It is better to have to occasionally buy fruits than to dispose of surplus, over-mature ones from these famously prolific plants.

Courgettes are hungry plants and find pot life confining. Use a large, 60cm diameter tub, a rich potting compost such as that from peat-free grow bags and water freely, feeding every weed with liquid fertiliser such as seaweed.

Climbing courgettes save space and add height to the garden by being trained up teepees. They include Shooting Star with yellow fruits and green fruited Black Forest. Bushy patty pan squashes have flattened scalloped fruit which are delicious and charming when small (7cm), but become woody if left too long.

Large pumpkins are possibly best left to farmers, as they take up much space, don’t store well and are not particularly valuable in the kitchen. Smaller Munchkin-type pumpkins, however, are pretty and delight children.

Winter squash on the other hand are a great garden crop well worth the space. Butternut squashes must be used before the new year but have fine texture and flavour. Climbing ones can be led over teepees and other supports.

Blue-grey skinned, richly orange fleshed squash such as Crown Prince and Queensland Blue produce large fruits on trailing vines and are especially worthwhile. These store until late spring and their rich orange flesh makes fine soups, pies and risotto.