This trailing Little Gem squash produces many cricket ball sized, dark green fruits. Dark orange, sweet flesh. Very productive plant. The fruits resemble round courgette.

Sow the gem squash seeds from late April under glass for growing in the greenhouse, or through May to transplant outdoors in the UK. Seeds can also be sown direct outdoors, in a finely prepared bed, from late May.

Sow about 1.5 cm deep in 7.5 cm pots of good compost or in seed cells, 1-2 seeds per pot/cell, so you can save the stronger seedling.

Transplant the seedlings into bigger pots when large enough to handle.

Place in a propagator before transplanting outside. Leave 60-100 cm between plants. Prefer rich and well drained soil.

Ready to harvest when the fruit has reached about the size of a cricket ball. They can be left on the vine up to until November.