Six easy unusual crops for allotments
21.08.2023 - 11:57
/ theunconventionalgardener.com
/ Emma Doughty
Over the last few years there has been increasing interest in unusual edible plants. One of the big advantages in having an allotment or a large garden is that it gives you the space to experiment with new tastes without having to sacrifice any old favourites, but some of the exotic specimens can be very tricky to grow.
So if you’d like to branch out and try something new this year, but you want something with a reasonable chance of success (what’s the point, if there’s no harvest at the end?) then here are six relatively unusual plants that should crop well on an allotment.
Most of these plants are relatively well-known and widely available, but when you step off the beaten track it’s important to remember that not all plants are edible, and that some edible plants have poisonous parts. To avoid any problems, source your plants from reliable suppliers, do your homework, make sure the plant that grows is what you expected, and always try new foods in small amounts at first.
This post first appeared on the Reader’s Digest Gardening blog in April 2011, but sadly that blog has now disappeared.
And if you are interested in growing unusual vegetables, you’ll love my new book, Jade Pearls & Alien Eyeballs, which is all about unusual edibles and the people who grow them.
Unless otherwise stated, © Copyright Emma Doughty 2023. Published on theunconventionalgardener.com.
How hardy are the hardy kiwis? Would they do well in Hokkaido winters if covered?
PFAF says they’re hardy to zone 4; Wikipedia says they are safe to -34°C (-30°F), although spring growth is susceptible to frosts. Hopefully that is enough info for you to work out whether they would survive Hokkaido, but they are also known as the Siberian Kiwi, so they should be pretty