By Jennifer Poindexter
Are you concerned in grow a unequaled garden ? By singular , I mean including vegetables that most the great unwashed do n’t be intimate about let alone produce in a home garden ?
If you ’re concerned in grow something different , you ’re in the right place . I ’m going to provide you with a few singular veggie you may ( or may not ) have study producing .
photo by Gardening Channel reader Katrina Vela
I ’ll deal where these crop produce best and why you might want to consider bestow them to your house garden .
Here are some strange vegetable to turn over grow in your garden :
1. Big Max Pumpkins
Big Max Pumpkins require extra mature space . When they ’re planted , you may separate them by a little over a pes . By the time they spud , these plant need approximately three feet between each plant .
When growing thistype of Cucurbita pepo , be sure to hold back until all threat of frost is over . This plant ask deal of sun , ordered watering , and racy , loamy soil that drains adequately . Expect bully thing when adding this pumpkin to your garden as they can become as declamatory as 100 pounds !
2. Malabar Spinach
Malabar spinachis a vining Spinacia oleracea . It ’s mature frequently in other area of the world because unlike distinctive spinach , this works bonk warm temperatures .
In fact , it grows upright in region where the temperature is a minimum of 80 - degrees Fahrenheit . It flourish when the temperature soar up to 90 - degrees Fahrenheit and above . If this is something you ’re interested in growing , beak a location with ample sunshine and grime that ’s ample and well - draining .
3. Sea Kale
Sea dinero is an interesting craw . It ’s have intercourse for being stout , producing gravid leaves , and ingest superlative which resemble broccoli .
If you ’re interested in growing sea pelf in your family garden , do n’t worry too much about growing weather . The industrial plant loves full sunlight but seems to do well in areas of fond nicety , too . It ’s important that the grime drains well and stay consistently damp . Otherwise , it is n’t finicky about soil type .
4. Cucamelon
Cucamelonsbelong to the cucumber family but are something altogether dissimilar . This treat is known as a superfood and is eminent in vitamin , fiber , and antioxidants . They ’re gravid for turn for the wellness benefit but also to help your budget .
If you find cucamelons being sell , they ’re typically rather costly . How can you go about raise this crop yourself ? Pick a warm growing location with sizeable sun . It ’s important that the soil in this orbit is rich and well - draining . This plant is a vining diversity , so see to it you provide keep .
5. Cardoon
Cardoon is an interesting vegetable that ’s used in specialty Italian dish aerial . The plant life is related to the artichoke but has a angry walk similar to celery . Yet , you wo n’t want to eat the stalk raw as we sometimes do celery .
Instead , this crop is used in different sauces and its bloom are dried . From there , they ’re used for curdling milk and used for cheeseflower making . If you ’re interested in mature cardoon , peck a growing location that ’s fond and has full sun . The soil must be well - draining , and you ’ll need an area with protective cover from the wind but still give the plant room to propagate out as it can become as improbable as three foot and as blanket as five feet .
6. Chioggia Beets
Chioggia Beta vulgaris are cool looking plants that produce red beet with a candy cane center that has rings standardized to a tree diagram trunk . If you ’re interested in adding some pattern to your food while corrode your vegetables , this could be for you .
If you ’re growing Chioggia Beta vulgaris in the summer , pick an area with partial tint . If you ’re growing them in the coolheaded parts of the year , full sun is best . This vegetable also ask well - draining territory and consistent watering to deflect the beet from taking on a woody texture .
7. Indigo Rose Cherry Tomatoes
Sometimes growing “ foreign ” vegetable mean acquire a rough-cut plant life with a unique color or flavor visibility . This is what you get with the indigo plant rose cherry tomato .
These little tomato have a cryptic color about them that ’s trusted to brighten up your recipe . Plus , they ’re rich in antioxidant . If you ’d like to append this Lycopersicon esculentum to your garden , pick a locating with plenty of sunlight and well - debilitate soil . These Lycopersicon esculentum are known for being dauntless in drouth and blistering weather .
8. Shiso Perilla
Shiso perilla is n’t something widely squander in the United States . However , if you have sex Nipponese culinary art , it may be worth your clock time . Shiso genus Perilla is unremarkably used in sushi recipes , tempura , bonce recipe , and even salads .
When mature shiso genus Perilla , provide a turn location with full to partial sunlight and well - drain soil . Be sure to amend the soil prior to planting and to water on a regular basis .
9. Scorzonera
Scorzonera is a beautiful tooth root craw that has leafy tops and a farsighted black pat root . The green sprig produce bright yellow flush .
Once harvested , you may use the root as you would most other ascendant crop such as boil them , mashing them , or even roasting them . If you ’d like to grow black salsify , it needs a produce location with full sunshine and racy , well - debilitate soil . Ensure the grunge is oxygenize and light to work with as the root wo n’t grow as long if it run into rock ‘n’ roll and other obstacles in the soil .
10. Kohlrabi
Kohlrabiis a bulb - like works that model atop the soil and produces shoots with leafy death . You may enjoy the home of the plant life which is similar to cabbage or you may cook the leafy greens .
If you ’d wish to add kohlrabi to your garden , be sure to select an surface area with full sunlight and soil that ’s fertile and drains adequately .
11. Cosmic Purple Carrots
Cosmic purple carrot are a wonderfulvariety of carrotto include in your garden . This pick is plenteous in antioxidants due to its deep purple outside . The Department of the Interior of the carrot is a traditional orange flesh .
Should you adjudicate this variety of carrot is a serious option for you , select a growing location with full sunshine . The soil temperature should be no less than 45 - degrees Fahrenheit but no corking than 80 - degrees Fahrenheit . Ensure the soil is fertile and well - draining . Remove any obstacles in the soil to see the roots have room to grow .
12. Armenian Cucumbers
In truth , an Armenian cucumber is a type of melon . Yet , they taste like cucumber , do well in warm temperatures , are low-toned - maintenance , and bring on high yield .
If you ’re interested in growing this alone crop , be certain to furnish a grow location with full sunlight , at least 60 day free of Robert Frost , and ensure the soil is plentiful and well - draining . Also , it ’s wise to ply a trellis for this plant life to keep it levelheaded and your garden sizable .
13. Oca
Ocais typically farm for its tubers . They may be enjoyed cooked , like a potato , or eaten fresh when sliced and incorporate into a salad . They bring out a fresh lemony smell and their skin does n’t even need to be take .
If you ’re interested in growing a dissimilar case of genus Tuber , guarantee you have the good grow localisation . Oxalis tuberosa prefers a growing infinite with part shadowiness , loamy soil that ’s systematically damp , and cooler temperature . You may rise Oxalis crenata in the ground or in container .
14. Amaranth
Amaranthis believe a superfood that ’s high in vitamins , Ca , and Mn . Not only can this plant be used as a food grain , but it also produce leafy tops that may be enjoyed . Plus , they produce in lovesome weather .
If you ’re interested in mature this dissimilar craw , be indisputable you supply fair to middling growing conditions . Amaranth need a growing emplacement with full to fond sunlight and robust , well - draining soil .
15. Salsify
Salsify is very similar to scorzonera . They ’re so similar , many people lump them together . I felt like they each deserved their own mentions because there is a difference in the root colour of these two plants .
When growing salsify , you ’ll have a beautiful works with green tops . The beginning , however , will be a wearisome white color . Many multitude prefer to maturate oyster plant in the place of parsnips because it ’s so well-fixed to get along with .
16. Yard Long Beans
chiliad long beans are easy to spot due to their size of it . These plants are produce not only for their looks but also because they ’re thought to be high in nutrients and hold in a plethora of benefits for the consumer ’s wellness .
If you ’re interested in uprise cubic yard longsighted bonce , be certain they have a growing location with full sun and well - drain soil . Also , be patient with these beans . They enjoy warm temperatures and may not commence to produce intemperately until the temperature achieve around 70 - degree Fahrenheit or higher .
17. White Eggplant
ashen eggplant is gravid for those who like to be adventurous inside their kitchens . Thistype of eggplantis known for having a fresh flavor than traditional purplish aubergine . However , the skin are tougher , so they typically need to be removed before role .
White eggplant like to rise in area with ample sunlight and well - draining soil that ’s in high spirits in nutrients . This case of veggie can be used for a sort of the States including baking , sauteing , or grilling .
18. Celeriac
root celery is another harvest enjoyed in many other countries outside of the United States . This plant life deal the same flavor as cultivated celery but is much easier to produce .
If you love the taste of celery , consider growing Apium graveolens rapaceum . Like celery , celeriac prefers consistent moisture , ample sunlight , and well - draining grunge . This plant grows best when temperature range between 65- and 75 - degrees Fahrenheit .
19. Rat’s Tail Radish
Therat ’s tail radishis one smorgasbord which is n’t produced for its antecedent . or else , people love the piquant little pods the plant produces . They resemble a greenish bean .
If you ’d wish to develop something singular and unlike in your garden , do n’t let the name of this plant deter you . Instead , find a growing location with full sunlight and productive , well - draining filth to jump growing this plant life .
20. Pineapple Tomatillo
I enjoy growingtomatillos . I love the traditional salsas which can be made from them . When I discovered there was a pineapple tomatillo , I sleep with others would be excited as well !
A pineapple plant tomatillo spreads like regular tomatillos do , but this flora has a sweeter pineapple plant flavor . It grows best in arena with plenty of sunlight , well - drain soil , and warmer temperature of 70- to 80 - stage Fahrenheit .
21. Tiger Nuts
Tiger nut case are something many farmers and hunter grow because they ’re great for drawing in plot and for fatten livestock before processing . Tiger nuts are thought to have a standardised taste to hazelnut .
If you ’re interested in growing this plant life , nibble a locating with unaffixed , loamy grime that have full sunlight . This is a warm weather condition crop that tends to be lower - upkeep .
22. Pink Plume Celery
If you ’re interested in growing different colored crops , do n’t pretermit out on this alternative for Apium graveolens dulce . pinkish feather Apium graveolens dulce has husk with a royal tincture .
This crop prefers a growing location with cool temperatures , well - draining dirt that ’s evenly and systematically dampish , and full to fond sun .
23. Turkish Orange Eggplant
Turkish orange eggplant could make a great add-on to your Thanksgiving meals . Many people use it as an fixings in their stuffing due to its rich and unique flavour .
This plant create small , bright orange eggplants . If growing this eccentric of mad apple , be trusted to provide a develop localization with full sun and warmer temperatures . Plus , they opt plenteous , well - draining soil . You ’ll also need a trellis to provide support to this flora which produces gamy yields of fruit .
24. Watermelon Radish
Watermelon radish is an heirloom variety of Raphanus sativus longipinnatus . It has a yeasty exterior with a angelic , pinkish interior .
If you ’re wait for a dissimilar style of radish for your garden , look at the watermelon radish . It necessitate plenty of sunlight and well - draining , prolific territory . Citrullus vulgaris radish grow well in natural spring and fall in most planting zones .
25. Achocha
Achocha plants are a vining option that can hit heights between six and seven feet magniloquent . They create greenish leaves and small , spiky green fruit . These fruits are said to savour like cucumbers when raw ( which is n’t surprising since they belong to the same family ) and like a black pepper when wangle .
If you ’d like to try grow achocha in your home garden , provide rich , fertile soil that drains adequately . Achocha should be get when all menace of Robert Frost is over and in an area with plenty of sunshine .
26. Kiwano
Kiwano is a yield , but it ’s so unique I could n’t pull up stakes it off this list . Yet , it has a cucumber tang which should n’t be surprising as they ’re closely related .
This horn yield has an interesting green melon interior . If you ’d wish to try develop this industrial plant , be sure it has a growing location with full sunshine and well - draining soil .
27. Romanesco Broccoli
Romanesco broccolihas the same texture as cauliflower heads , but they have a more pointed design to them .
This eccentric of broccoli should be rise when the temperatures are at or above 60 - degrees Fahrenheit . Plus , this plant enjoys full to partial sun ( depending on the time of year ) and well - drain soil .
28. Mung Bean
Mung noodle can be enjoyed in a variety of ways . They can be enjoyed fresh , canned , or even when sprout .
If you ’re interested in tally more variety to your diet , look at rise the mung bean . This plant needs prolific , well - draining land and ample sunlight to uprise well in most area .
29. Golden Zucchini
Do you get trite of hunting down zucchini in your garden ? They ’re easy to leave out due to their green coloring . Golden courgette can unsex this .
These crops are gruelling to overlook because they have a brilliant yellow coloration . They require the same growing conditions as other courgette salmagundi . The only remainder is yellow courgette are a small angelical than green zucchini .
30. Jicama
Jicamais becoming a more democratic crop thanks to cooking shows that have taken over our televisions . If you ’ve heard of jicama and would like to try uprise it yourself , be sure to supply what the plant involve .
When growing jicama , it involve plentiful sunlight , well - draining soil that ’s gamy in nutrients , and a trellis . This works prefers strong climate , so it will be an annual in most planting geographical zone .
You now have thirty dissimilar selection for unique or strange plants to add to your garden orbit . These industrial plant are sure to provide different flavour to your formula .
If you ’re trying to ramify out , do n’t drop lots of time and money tracking down singular ingredients . commit in your gardening acquirement and begin learning how to grow unlike vegetables around your dwelling garden .
Learn More About Growing Strange Vegetables
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3057&context=extension_curall
https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2025-03-31/the-kiwano-and-pepino-crops-for-the-back-forty/
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MV050
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photo by Gardening Channel reader Katrina Vela
