Looking for something different to grow

[Soomai]

Hi Everyone,

I'm hoping you can help. Some of us on our local allotment would like to try something a bit different to grow and to encourage some friendly competition. We are going to do the biggest pumpkin challenge next year, but also want to try something that none of us have grown before. Does anyone have any ideas on weird and wonderful things we can grow?

Thanks all

[strider]

How about trying Black Russian Tomatoes or Crystal Lemon Cucumbers, both unusual and relitivly easy to grow

[multiveg]

If you asked a small child what colour a carrot is, they'd probably say orange. Going through the catalogues, there are also other coloured carrots available - white, yellow, purple, red - perhaps grow these or varieties that go away from the "norm".
Strawberry popcorn looks decorative and can be "popped" in the micro.
One year, I grew a green cauliflower, then there are the romanesco broccolis.
There are strange shaped colourful squash things as well - I've grown patty pans, a friend grows Turks Turban.
Grab a couple of seed catalogues and drool.

[dexterdoglancashire]

I got a packet of multi coloured carrots in my MOM pack! very interesting! can't wait to plant them! dexterdog

[nick the grief]

Hi Soomai, Welcome to the Vine.

Ah it may start as friendly but just you wait The obious ones are tallest sunflower, Longest runner bean. Giant veg (pumpkins, cabbage, onions, carrots etc) there are loads of them but it can be addictive!

Do you have a flower & veg show on your lottie plot? If so, why not get someone who isn't allowed to enter to get some tubers of a dahlia & give you all a cutting for & then have a special class for it. If they pick one that isn't a common one it will stop people getting help (sounds better than cheating) from a local grower.

You could charge 50p for the cutting & entry then he or she could get some cuttings of some more from the national dahlia collection & you could have next years sorted as well. Then get a local dahlia grower or Judge to oversee the blooms. It's a test of skill then if you don't know what your dealing with

[JazzDuke]

Achocha perhaps?

[Earthbabe]

Hi Soomai and welcome to the vine. How about salsify and scorzonera? Old fashioned british root veg.

[Protea]

We have an annual chilli competition between a group of our friends - although this would possibly necessitate you all having access to greenhouses of some sort (lots of my friends didn't - they just grew them in pots on a sunny spot outside or if small, on a sunny windowsill inside)

what about gourds? they look odd and are easy to grow (not edible though) - you could have 'oddest shaped gourd' contests

[Earthbabe]

school competition

Does anyone have any experience of this sort of thing as a fundraiser for a school?

Any suggestions welcomed before I suggest it at the next "pta" meeting. (they don't call themselves a pta at my daughter's school, they are friends of the school)

[Soomai]

Thanks so much for all of your ideas. Plenty to think about and suggest.

[leona]

okra? might not do very well outside though.

[blackkitty]

Tomatillos, I've really enjoyed growing these and everyone who's tried them has liked them. They don't seem to need much attention and look really exotic.

[blackkitty]

Just thought of another one, how about purple kohrahbi, that's also a bit different.

[Snadger]

Just thought of another one, how about purple kohrahbi, that's also a bit different.

I grew parsnips and kohl rabi one year, neither of which I am keen on eating!

Someone told me they were nice in broth so I put them both in with other veg!

Yuuuuk! It was like soup with a bag of sugar chucked in!!!!!!!

[Snadger]

Fancy trying the walking stick kale this year....3 metre high kale anybody? Got the stepladders behind the shed ready for harvesting Lol