Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil but prefers a moisture retentive not too fertile soil in sun or part shade. A scrambling climbing plant, it is often a troublesome weed of agricultural fields. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits.

Seed - ground into a powder and used as a gruel or mixed with cereals. The seed coat should be removed before use, this has caused mechanical injury to the digestive systems of animals who have eaten the seed. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize.

Seed - sow spring in situ.

Waste places, arable land and gardens.