Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Sow some mystery and intrigue
From chocolate chillies to giant radishes: Strange and unusual vegetables to try growing in 2021
Gardeners who are now ordering their new veg seeds for 2021 have a plethora of unusual varieties to choose from. From purple carrots to chocolate chillis and diseaseresistant cucumbers to multi-coloured sweetcorn and weird-coloured beans, there are plenty of unusual veg out there which will impress your allotment neighbours. Many of the new seeds are now available, or will come into stock later this year, for those who want to have everything ready for sowing in January and beyond.
Here are some of the mouthwatering gems on offer...
CHILLI ‘CHOCOLATE HABANERO’
Adding heat and colour to a plethora of dishes, this chilli, also known as Congo Black, originated in Jamaica and is a great addition to Jerk sauce, thanks to its smoky flavour. Sow seeds indoors in a propagator from mid-january, planting out when all danger of frost has passed in late May or June – preferably in a really sheltered, sunny spot or keeping it under glass – and it will make a perfect patio addition, ready to harvest from August onwards. ■ Suttons, £3.99 per packet
DAIKON RADISH ‘MISATO ROSE FLESH’
These huge radishes really are the eye candy of the radish family. They are brilliant for slicing because they reveal a
deep red flesh when you cut through the outer white layer. Also known as the ‘watermelon radish’, their peppery taste and crisp bite makes a great addition to salads and stir-fries, or just use them as a garnish to starters because they look as good as they taste. Try growing them with mint to deter flea beetles. ■ Thompson & Morgan, £2.49 per packet
LUFFA SEEDS
So, it’s finally here – the vegetable that you can eat or scrub your back with. Also
known as sponge gourd, they are a bit like a climbing courgette and you would cook them in the same way you would cook courgettes. If you thought a loofah came from the sea, think again, as they come from this plant, providing an eco-friendly pan scourer or bath sponge. Coming from the cucumber family they will need to be grown in a greenhouse. Once the fruit ripens, leave it to go brown then cut it from the vine and submerge it in a bucket of water, which will help the skin to loosen and when you peel it, it will reveal the loofah. Wash the sponge to remove any remaining flesh and seeds and then dry and it will be ready for you at bath time.
■ Suttons, £2.99 a packet
CUCUMBER ‘PARTY TIME’
If you like snacking on cucumbers, this new one is among the most prolific snack cucumbers with an outstanding level of resistance to mildew. One of Burpee Europe’s trials yielded 43 fruits per plant weighing 75 grams each, and there were up to five fruit per node. ■ Burpee Europe, available from March