Caucasian Spinach (Hablitzia tamnoides)

 
A very hardy semi shade loving edible perennial climbing plant with mild spinach type leaves. The young shoots can be eaten as well as more mature leaves.

Can be sown anytime autumn to early spring. Sow in pots/trays late autumn to late winter, 1-2mm deep in fine compost and leave outside in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse or simply outside in a sheltered spot (cover with a sheet of glass, propped up at one side, for extra protection), and the seeds will germinate. Seedlings can emerge within 3-4 weeks depending on weather conditions.
 
For later, spring germination, seeds need to be cold-stratified for a period of 7-10 days in a fridge.

If sown in a tray, pot on seedlings when big enough. In the wild, Hablitzia is adapted to living in woodlands so don’t expose your seedlings to extreme heat. Plant out in early summer, ideally in a spot that gets sun for half the day, but the plants can tolerate sun for up to two thirds of the day and will also tolerate much less. Plants need something to scramble up and can reach 2-3m tall after the first year.