Coloured Veg

[newbietogardening]

To add a bit of interest in the plot this year we're thinking of growing some unusual coloured veg like Cauliflower Purple Graffiti, Cauliflower Sunset, yellow and purple french beans. Does anyone have any experience of these types? Are they easy to grow and do they taste good? Any help gratefully recieved!

[Hazel at the Hill]

I've grown Sungold French Beans this year, girls, and I have to say that although they tasted ok, there's something about yellow french beans which just doesn't look healthy, somehow...

I might try purple ones this year.

[Winged one]

Do they stay the unusual colour when cooked, or would that be just for ornamental purposes when growing?

[Hazel at the Hill]

Well the yellow beans do - they go from looking unhealthy yellow on the plant to looking unhealthy yellow on the plate.

I'm pretty sure that the purple ones revert to green when you boil them - but don't know what happens if you steam them, or stir fry them.

[newbietogardening]

I think the cauliflowers might lose their colour when boiled, but not sure about stir fried or steamed. Its just the novelty value really!

[Flummery]

I'm a bean fan - I've grown both the yellow and purple (Had purple climbing french bean Empress this year) The yellow stay yellow but as Hazel said, look a bit sickly. The purple go dark green on cooking. However, they taste fantastic. They are colourful when growing so I don't mind that they change on cooking. Good luck whatever you choose Newbie. Two Sheds is the bean queen - I'm sure she'll have some recommendations - I fancy a borlotti this year. (PS should that be a borlotto?)

[la cebolla grande]

Something a bit different, but great colour - so looks as well are Rainbow Quinoa and Magenta Orach - both available from Real Seeds - have a look at their website for descriptions. We are growing both next year

LCG

[Seahorse]

I grew purple carrots and purple beans this year. Both were as easy to grow as their more 'ordinary' relatives and tasted just as good too. I've also got some Romanesco Caulis (lime green). I haven't tried one yet but I actually found them easier to grow than white caulis (I'm quite a new veg gardener though, so it could have been a fluke!).

Claire

[Alison]

The purple caulis do blanche on cooking but the carrots stay purple (or whatever colour they were) - mind you, have to be careful if you're steaming them as whatever is below gets coloured too! I grew purple French beans this year (Blauhide) and they were lovely, as somebody above said they went dark green on steaming and looked interesting on the garden. Also grew yellow toms and courgettes so it's not just purple I go for!

If you want other colours, rainbow chard is good for some really good colour.

[Two_Sheds]

Two Sheds is the bean queen - I'm sure she'll have some recommendations -

Here I am !
I absolutely love French Beans ... the good thing about yellow ones is they show up well on the bush for picking (green ones hide). Apparently purple ones will keep their colour if you add some vinegar to the cooking water, though I haven't tried this yet.

[rustylady]

Rainbow chard is really colourful and tastes good too. Purple french beans look good on the plants, but turn green on cooking. Coloured carrots not good, the white ones taste like turnips.

[shirlthegirl43]

Coloured carrots not good, the white ones taste like turnips.

I grew rainbow carrots - only got one carrot to maturity - it was orange!!!

[Rockhag]

I so want to grow purple carrots. They look funky.

[Snadger]

Purple podded peas are a climbing pea growing to 6 foot!

There are three colours of beetroot, the normal maroon, orange and white beetroot! There's also a ringed version with annualar rings like that on a tree.I've grown the orange/yellow type which is very easy to grow. Apparently bred so that when you have a bit of beetroot with your ham, it doesn't stain the meat!

Redbor kale is a hardy red curly variety and red sprouts are very architectural in my lottie growing to 5 foot high.

[Alison]

Purple carrots are really nice, the ones I've had are only purple for the outer half of the cross section and the middle bit is orange. They taste a bit nuttier to me but I really like the taste. Cooked some on Christmas Day last year and it didn't half confuse the ILs - they're not big on veg!