If you fancy growing something a little different this year, then here are a few ideas to inspire you.
Celtuce
You get two plants in one with celtuce. The leaves at the top can be used as salad leaves, like a lettuce with a mild celery flavour (hence the name) and the stem can be cut into batons and used in stir-fries.
Tromboncino
This can be used as a courgette/summer squash or as a winter squash. The flavour isn’t extraordinary – it tastes, well, like other squashes – but it produces such fantastic shapes that it is well worth growing for the sheer fun of it. And it is usually a fairly heavy cropper.
Crystal Lemon Cucumber
Who wouldn’t want to grow these small, lemon shaped cucumbers? We love them! They’re easy to grow, the fruits are nice and small and provide just the right number of slices to add to a salad, and they’re a really fun colour and shape.
Tree Spinach
This is a striking plant that produces incredible magenta leaves with a dusting of gold – no kidding. In the sunlight, it truly looks like gold dust is glittering on the leaves. Pinch off a few of those bright pink young leaves to add to salads or cook in a bit of butter and use it as spinach.
(this plant contains oxalic acid and is not recommended for those suffering with gout or kidney stones)
Edamame Beans
If you’ve already grown plenty of runner beans, broad beans and climbing beans, then maybe try growing edamame? They’re lovely looking plants that are easy and fast to grow. The delicious soya beans can be cooked in the pods and popped straight into your mouth.