Garden

How to grow surprising vegetables in your unusual vegetable garden?

On August 17, 2024 , updated on August 17, 2024 - 5 minutes to read

IN BRIEF

  • Choice of vegetables : Original options to cultivate.
  • Growing conditions : Light, soil and watering.
  • Cultivation techniques : Innovative and practical methods.
  • Plant association : Maximize space and biodiversity.
  • Interview : Specific care for each vegetable.
  • Harvest : Optimal times and conservation tips.
  • Inspiration : Ideas for a fun vegetable garden.

Type of vegetable Cultivation technique
Round zucchini Use raised containers to optimize space.
Black radish Semia in autumn for a surprising winter harvest.
Multicolored cherry tomatoes Combine varieties for a visually pleasing vegetable garden.
Chioggia beets Plant in tight rows for contrasting colors.
Kohlrabi Creative spacing for a sculptural effect in the vegetable garden.
Alesia peppers Use colorful pots to add cheer.
Purple Beans Use vertical trellises to maximize space.
  • Choose atypical vegetables: Opt for less common varieties like Romanesco cabbage or black radish.
  • Experiment with associations: Plant vegetables alongside attractive herbs or flowers to promote biodiversity.
  • The use of original containers: Grow in old pallets, tires or recycled pots for a surprising visual effect.
  • Play with verticality: Install trellises to climb cucurbits like zucchini or cucumbers.
  • Master sowing techniques: Test direct sowing for vegetables like carrots or radishes.
  • Include edible flowering vegetables: Grow nasturtiums or marigolds for eating and decorating simultaneously.
  • Use innovative growing methods: Try hydroponics or aquaponics to maximize space.
  • Favor unusual vegetables: Think kimchi with vegetables like napa or different beans.

Choose unexpected vegetables

Have you decided to add a touch of originality to your vegetable garden? Excellent idea! For this, there is nothing like choosing unexpected vegetables which will amaze your guests and enrich your table with varieties that are as tasty as they are surprising.

Among the unusual vegetables,oca from Peru deserves pride of place. Its colorful tubers, often orange or pink, are incomparably sweet and easy to grow. Once planted in spring, it requires little maintenance. Expect a bountiful harvest in autumn.

THE Kale cabbage is not only aesthetic with its curly leaves in multiple shades of green and purple; it is also a valuable ally for health. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it resists cold well and requires little space.

Another vegetable not to be missed is the pattypan. This flying saucer-shaped squash seduces with its varied colors and delicate flavors. It is ideal for small spaces and grows quickly, producing fruit all summer long.

For a tangy and refreshing touch, consider tomato-pineapple. This fleshy, juicy fruit offers a unique combination of sweetness and acidity. Easy to grow, it only requires good sunlight and regular watering.

Finally, let’s not forget the perpetual leek. Unlike classic leeks, this variety grows back every year without requiring replanting. Its fine and delicate taste will add a gourmet note to your soups and stews.

By integrating these surprising vegetables into your vegetable garden, you will not only add diversity to your harvests, but also a fun dimension to your gardening experience.

Ancient vegetables to rediscover

THE ancient vegetables are a rich source of amazing varieties to grow in your vegetable garden. These vegetables, often forgotten, have unique tastes and textures that will spice up your harvests. Among them, you will find the earth pear, also known as yacon. This tuber, native to South America, has a sweet and juicy flavor similar to that of pear.

Other vegetables like heirloom tomato offer a palette of colors and flavors that modern tomatoes cannot match. Varieties such as Crimean black tomato or the tomato pineapple will bring a touch of color and flavor to your vegetable garden.

THE colored carrots are also an unmissable choice. Varieties like purple or yellow carrots are not only beautiful but also rich in antioxidants, adding a nutritional dimension to your diet.

Here are some old vegetables to integrate into your plot:

  • Jerusalem artichoke
  • Scorzonera
  • Parsnip
  • Cardon
  • Kohlrabi

These ancient vegetables often require special care, but their originality is worth it. They can attract not only admiring glances, but also beneficial biodiversity for your vegetable garden.

Exotic Varieties to Try

To bring a touch of originality to your vegetable garden, there’s nothing like trying to grow surprising vegetables. Growing exotic varieties not only diversifies your harvests, but also adds a dose of fun and experimentation to your gardening. Here’s how to choose and grow these unusual vegetables.

Choose unexpected vegetables

To think outside the box, start by selecting less common vegetables that adapt well to your climate. Here are some criteria to consider:

  • There resistance to diseases
  • There ease of cultivation
  • Their nutritional value and taste

Also consult specialized resources such as gardening forums or seed catalogs to find inspiring ideas. Learn about each variety’s specific needs in terms of sun exposure, soil type and watering.

Exotic Varieties to Try

Exotic vegetables can transform your vegetable garden into a true paradise for lovers of biodiversity. Here are some varieties to try:

  • Tomatillo : A Mexican cousin of the tomato, perfect for salsas.
  • Chayote : A delicious and easy to grow Mexican squash.
  • Tuberous nasturtium : Offers both edible flowers and delicious tubers.
  • Earth Houbit : Also known as oca, this South American root is tasty and colorful.

Remember to provide adequate care for these varieties. For example, tomatillo requires cross pollination, so plant at least two specimens to ensure a good harvest. The chayote, for its part, likes well-drained soils and sunny exposures.

By choosing unexpected vegetables and giving them the care they require, you can not only enrich your diet, but also make your vegetable garden a unique and fascinating place.

Frequently Asked Questions