unusual veg

[Snadger]

For this year the unusual veg I am attempting to grow are Cardoons, Jerusalem Artichokes, Maca (Peruvian Ginseng), Salsify,Sea kale, Ham Onions & Red Ham onions. Trying Loganberry and Apricots in the fruit line and Anise and Bergamot in the herb line!

[pigletwillie]

Melons inside and out and another attempt at a pineapple.

[Sue]

Not so unusual but try landcress, it's been a stalwart, growing thoughout the winter providing a good crop of salad leaves, very similar in taste to watercress, easy to grow and best of all, it appears to be too strong a taste for slugs, as they've hardly touched it.
I like trying unusual things just to see how they grow, last year it was peanuts, absolutely fascinating to see the flower heads dip and grow down into the soil to make the nuts, got five! This year I have got sugar cane on the go - or a near relative of sugar cane that can be grown in our climate.
And on the advice of other grapes am growing couve tronchudo, an old type of loose cabbage apparently and pumpkin nuts for the huskless seeds.
I've got Hungarian Bread Seed poppies on the go and horehound as I've got a recipe for cough sweets that uses horehound and wanted to try it out.
Am also trying Anchocha from Real Seeds, seems like a vine with cucumber like fruits that can be cooked.
If you like growing unusual things try Chiltern Seeds, a good winter read and a source of some amazing seeds.
Sue

[Alice]

Wow ! Good luck with all that Sue. I'll certainly have a look at Chiltern seeds.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Not so unusual but try landcress, it's been a stalwart, growing thoughout the winter providing a good crop of salad leaves, very similar in taste to watercress, easy to grow and best of all, it appears to be too strong a taste for slugs, as they've hardly touched it..

Ha! Thank you for giving landcress a mention, Sue - partner-in-grime Jane has been banging on about trying to get some seeds for this for ages (has got some now) as landcress was a stalwart of her dad's growing when we were both nippers!

I assume you can plant it on a spare bit of ground and it's cut-and-come-again?

[craft collector]

Once you plant land cress, you have it for life!!!!! We tried water cress in the pond and that has gone berserk too, good job we like watercress soup. Chiltern seeds are a great company and there catalogue is more like a mini encyclopedia. I am going to reisk the sweet pots in the tunnel but will cover them over night with fleece. Will keep you all posted on that one. Pudden

[Flummery]

Quinoa and Salsola from www.realseeds.co.uk
and
Peppadew peppers from Pigletwillie (potted these on today and they are looking very healthy and strong)

I've never tried salsola but quinoa was one of the disappointments of my life! Food of the Incas etc. It was like cardboard. Truly horrid. Isn't taste a VERY personal thing?

[Two_Sheds]

Melons inside and out

LOL that conjures up some images!

I love nasturtiums...not that unusual, but a lotta people don't realise you can eat the whole thing, flowers and all. Related to watercress, really peppery, yum

[Sue]

Hazel
Yes, I love cress and it's been wonderful to have it through the winter, got Greek Cress as well to have a go with when it gets warmer and I see that I will have it for life - oh dear, but perhaps it will keep bouncing back after cut and coming again.
Alice - You can tell I'm new at gardening can't wait to try everything out, it's all so exciting seeing how things grow.
Sue

[Flummery]

Not really unusual (except I can't get in in the shops) - I love to grow kohl rabi. OH calls them sputniks - you have to be a certain age to remember them!

[ysb33r]

Not really unusual (except I can't get in in the shops) - I love to grow kohl rabi. OH calls them sputniks - you have to be a certain age to remember them!

When do you sow your first kohl rabi of the season? I am quite keen to get some early ones in.

[Flummery]

March onwards outdoors or earlier if indoors. I've just sown some in modules in the greenhouse. Once they are through I'll space the clumps out and eat them young and tender! YUM!! My packet actually says that plants sown in modules suffer very little root disturbance, however, this assumes you don't leave them in too long. Pigletwillie has great success with the 'clumps' technique and I've used it today again with red spring onions.

[OverWyreGrower]

I'm growing lavender to make lavender sugar and syrup with - not very exciting!

I quite fancy having a go at sweetcorn though!

[MURFE 18]

hi, [craft collector] i am going to try sweetpotatoes this year have orderd from t/m but they will not be here till may/june ..i was also looking at yams donot know if they can be grown here?
i am also trying some scorzonera i,ve never tasted it or seen any grown yet has anybody else grown it if so what does it taste like ? looks like a parsnip on packet

[wheatleys wheels]

I would say the most unusual thing I've tried to grow is the gem squash. I have some seeds spare if you are wanting them. These are unusual as they originate in south africa. If you want unusual you might want to give them a try.