Red Perilla,Callaloo & Kiwano!!!!!

[Snadger]

They sound very exotic don't they? Andi Clevely mentions them in his book so I thought I might give them a try this year.
All would fit in well with my 'Ornamental Kitchen Garden' theme.

The Red Perilla seems very ornamental with it's red foliage tasting of anise and the Callaloo (used like spinach) looks like a Coleus plant with veined leaves.

The Kiwano, or Horned Cucumber (supposed to have an exotic taste all of its own!)I would grow indoors along with the outdoor lemon/apple cuke!

So.............there's my three new additions for 2010!

[zazen999]

I grew Red Perilla last year, also called Red Shiso. I grew it as a border plant rather than an edible; the leaves are really nice to look at.

[Snadger]

I grew Red Perilla last year, also called Red Shiso. I grew it as a border plant rather than an edible; the leaves are really nice to look at.

The true test of how much you liked it is............are you growing it again this year? Was it easy to grow btw?

[zazen999]

I think Ive still got some on the go that went to seed; so probably [inadvertently].

Dead easy to grow.

[poly]

I grew Kiwano this year, impressive looking fruit and easy to grow. I've got some self saved seed if you need any. Fruit looks great but I didn't find it that yummy!

[Jillyreeves]

I have eaten Callaloo as soup in the Caribbean, very nice it was too :-)

[Snadger]

I grew Kiwano this year, impressive looking fruit and easy to grow. I've got some self saved seed if you need any. Fruit looks great but I didn't find it that yummy!

Did you grow it indoors or outdoors? How many fruit did you get on each plant? Did it trail or climb? Nice to have a 'heads up' thats all!

I've even watched a video on how to eat it! Lol

[poly]

I grew 3 of them in a polytunnel, started them in gentle heat at end of March. Grown on in the border and twined up some pea netting.

A couple of fruit set early on, I think due to the good weather at the time and then a little gap before they started to set more fruit. Each plant produced several spikey fruit, I think in a good summer they would produce throughout, but here it was quite cold and very wet!

They look fantastic, just for me the flavour didn't match their looks! I will grow them again but not on my must grow list

I would recomend Pepino though

[HeyWayne]

I thought you were doing the Haka!

[Snadger]

I thought you were doing the Haka!

* Sticks tongue out Haka style*

[greasyfire]

my gran grows callaloo in her garden, dont know much about it and am not very fond of it but i suppossed you would grow is like a cabbage or spinach but in a sheltered are and very early on.

[esrikandan]

Some of the other allotmenteers on our site have grown Calaloo in the past....and let it run to seed. Now we have it EVERYWHERE! So seems to grow quite easily.

[Dane End Dolly]

i am growing callaloo for the first time this year and am totally looking forward to seeing how it comes out

[Snadger]

Well, I've ordered the Red Perillo and a green version, plus the Callaloo from Moreveg............of course I had to make the order up to six squid to get free postage so got carried away a bit!

Order date: 01/01/10

Item number Description Qty. Unit price Total price
----------------------------------------------------------------------
TOMOM |Tomato Organically so...| 1| 0.50 GBP| 0.50 GBP
CLDCL |Collard Collection | 1| 1.00 GBP| 1.00 GBP
KALWW |Kale Westland Winter ...| 1| 0.50 GBP| 0.50 GBP
CHLMXMO |Five Chilli Mix | 1| 0.75 GBP| 0.75 GBP
BSPWE |Brussels Sprouts Well...| 1| 0.75 GBP| 0.75 GBP
BSPTR |Brussels Sprouts Traf...| 1| 0.75 GBP| 0.75 GBP
CLTUC |Celtuce | 1| 0.50 GBP| 0.50 GBP
HBGRP |Perilla, Green (Shiso) | 1| 0.50 GBP| 0.50 GBP
HBREP |Perilla Red (Shiso) | 1| 0.50 GBP| 0.50 GBP
ORACA |Chinese Amaranth Calaloo| 1| 0.50 GBP| 0.50 GBP
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal: 6.25 GBP
Shipping / handling: 0.00 GBP
VAT: 0.00 GBP
=================================
Total: 6.25 GBP

PS Just realised, todays date looks like its been written in binary! But is it 2010 or two thousand and ten?