Growing something different in 2023

[sienewman]

Hi. I have been growing my own for almost all my life and during that time I have refined what I grow to those that are tried and true. This basically means that every year I'm now growing almost the exact same varieties which I found this year to be a little boring.

I'm hoping to grow something a little different in 2023. I'm looking for some recommendations of some different interesting varieties or veggies to grow this year. Any recommendations?

[Bren In Pots]

I’d recommend Blauhilde french beans.
A few years ago swapped Scarlet emperor beans for Blauhilde beans, they’re a tall variety around 7ft and produce purple pods that turn green after cooking.
I think they’re a much tastier bean plus they freeze well.

[Penellype]

Probably the most unusual thing I grow is turnip Oasis, which is marketed as tasting like melon. I don't really get the melon flavour, but it is certainly different and I think it is much nicer than regular turnips.

[ameno]

What sort of crops do you grow at the moment? And what part of the country are you in?

[Plot70]

I am trying to overwinter a couple of pineapple tops.
I also have an 8 foot kiwi fruit vine from saved seed that never fruited this year. I will update if it does produce anything.
Cape gooseberries have produced fruit this year from saved seed last year. The root stock has to be protected from frost for an early enough start for a worthwhile crop.

[DannyK]

I am trying to overwinter a couple of pineapple tops.
I also have an 8 foot kiwi fruit vine from saved seed that never fruited this year. I will update if it does produce anything.
Cape gooseberries have produced fruit this year from saved seed last year. The root stock has to be protected from frost for an early enough start for a worthwhile crop.

It's unlikely the kiwi will fruit as usually you need a male and female plant. There are some self-fertile varieties like Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’ which I am growing . This year's flowers hit by frost.

My Cape Gooseberry, Physalis pruinosa, supposedly a dwarf , reached the ridge of my 10 X 12!. I also have had for many years self sown physalis in my 8 X 6 which grow like triffids

[Plot70]

I have saved some more kiwi seeds and will grow them on in the spring. They take a couple of years to really get going.

With the cape gooseberries I have built a wall of manure around the roots and placed a patio door glass over them. The glass was on stacks of bricks last winter and they did fine.

[Guggerlugs]

Hi new to the site but I find it very interesting I live in NZ and grow in raised beds.Different vedge varieties try lima delpapa.a dry bean very creamy and tasty or borlotti they are a dry bean similar flavour to kidneys but can be eaten green if picked before seeds get to large.Celeriac root vedge tastes of celery grated with mayo remulade.My father gardened in the uk but never grew pumpkins or squash yellow pear shaped or round green grow them every year harvest in autumn keep well till christmas I still have some in the pantry now,roast them make soup with them (if you can get them,sweet potatoes and pumpkin make wonderful soup). In NZ we have two varieties of sweet potato purple "the best" we call them kumara and orange they also keep well I have some still also but the are starting to sprout cut sprouts off like spuds plant that's your next crop.
Check out this website I know you probably cant get them but there are probably similar things in the UK and you may find inspiration from this site

https://www.kingsseeds.co.nz

P.S.just joined,a question from the signup what colour are tomatoes go to this site you will be amazed at the colour varieties,didn't know what to put,hope this helps

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Guggerlugs

there's a Kings seeds site here in the UK not checked if they have the same varieties though will do later.

https://www.kingsseeds.com/

Odd about the what colour are toms, like you say there's lots of colours in the past I've grown yellow, black and once some striped ones.

[ameno]

Lima beans don't really grow well here in the UK, sadly.
I tried growing that very variety a few years ago, and despite a good summer yield was very poor. They really need a warmer climate.
In this country, if you want a large bean for drying, like a butter bean, then you're best off growing white runner beans. That's what I do, and I always get a good yield of large, tasty beans (they taste sweeter than borlotti, canellini and the like).
Greek gigantes beans are also actually a type of giant white runner, and both white and black seeded varieties are widely grown in Spain for drying.

[Guggerlugs]

Kings UK and Kings NZ are not related but I looked to see what they have but the import regs are strict so won't go there although I have done it before travelling back,they have to have the latin genus on the packet,it was a while ago not sure if is the same now OZ is even more strict.

I notice Kings seeds UK also sell seed potatoes and onion sets Kings here only sell seed don't get onion sets here would love some my father grew his onions from sets in the UK.Potatoes,almost as many varieties as tomatoes bumped into two in OZ dutch creams lovely spud and after much searching found one source in NZ the other is kipfler although I found a NZ recipe I cant find the potato ( it is originally from Austria ).
Interesting to see Kings UK's broccoli they are all sprouting varieties we have a heading type much like a cauli,in OZ they have broccolini a sprouting type they have long stems with small heads they have a copywright or something so you can't get them outside OZ.

[ameno]

Kings UK has headed broccoli, too. It's just under "calabrese".

[shannonbrooke07]

watermelon radish or Japanese white turnips.