I'm a strange 'gourd' that makes an exciting plant to grow as I have fruits that look like slippery snakes! When my fruits are dried you can paint me with spots, stars, stripes or whatever you like! Height: 2m. Why Not invite your friends round and see who can paint the brightest or craziest snake?

HOW TO SOW

Sow me from April to May indoors. Sow me in 7.5cm pots of moist compost. Make a hole 1cm deep and push in the seed on its edge and cover with compost.Put the whole pot inside a polythene bag and put it into a propagator or warm place at 20-25C. Keep the surface of the compost moist, but not too wet. I will start to grow in about 5-7 days.

When I have got two leaves plant me into 13cm pots and grow me in a bright position. After the frosts have gone, plant me outside in a sunny position 60cm apart.

AFTERCARE

Pick the 'snakes' from August onwards. Before painting, dry the fruits in a warm, airy position until they become lighter in weight.

Caution: not edible.