[MickyB]

Has anyone had success growing crops/plants that are considered to be different from the norm?

I am happy growing spuds, brassica's, onions, peas and the like but I am not adverse to a little experimentation either, this years (failed) experiment was Aubergines, any idea's for the future years?
 

[LotuSeed]

This year I'm growing peanuts as an experiment. The plants look really healthy and have flowered several times. Won't know what's underneath until it's time to pull them up. *fingers crossed there's something underneath!

[Dai]

This year ive grown Exploding Cucumbers.
Quite fun when they pop open but i havnt eaten one yet.

[beesrus]

I've bought seeds for Cumin and am really looking forward to growing that next year.

Where labelled ( it's sometimes disguised as emulsifiers etc ) I no longer buy any soya product due to the GM problem that I don't want to encourage, and in particular the glyphosphate weedkiller residues in it. So, imagine my delight when I came across some soya beans in a 49p seed sale recently, both gm free and suited to the UK climate. Sadly, upon further investigation, I find they are almost indigestible without ludicrously long processing. It appears folk in those countries that have always grown soya bean rarely eat the bean itself. Oh well.

[cadalot]

Awaiting the seed circle package to see what I can shoehorn into my growing plan for next season 

[Fairy Plotmother]

This year I'm growing peanuts as an experiment. The plants look really healthy and have flowered several times. Won't know what's underneath until it's time to pull them up. *fingers crossed there's something underneath!

I also planted peanuts as a bit of fun for the grandchildren. Unfortunately nothing happened.    How did you do it?

[Grubbypaws]

I have been experimenting  with different salad leaves and sewed Claytonia  (Winter Purslane) in June 

 We have loved it 

It has produced all year as a cut and come again with no input from me and no problems AND it tastes great. It has a lovely almost crunchy texture and looks great  on the plate.

[brokenglass]

Big problem with growing peanuts is that the Squirels dig the plants up as they can smell what they think is peanuts.

[Auntiemogs]

Big problem with growing peanuts is that the Squirels dig the plants up as they can smell what they think is peanuts.

I have been experimenting  with different salad leaves and sewed Claytonia  (Winter Purslane) in June 
We have loved it 
It has produced all year as a cut and come again with no input from me and no problems AND it tastes great. It has a lovely almost crunchy texture and looks great  on the plate.

I bought some seeds a while ago and didn't get around to sowing it Grubbypaws.  I shall deffo try it now (I love crunchy) so thanks for the 'heads up'. 

[MickyB]

Some great idea's to pinch 

But exploding cucumbers? Must be a joke.. ... ..

[BabbyAnn]

I have been experimenting  with different salad leaves and sewed Claytonia  (Winter Purslane) in June 
We have loved it 
It has produced all year as a cut and come again with no input from me and no problems AND it tastes great. It has a lovely almost crunchy texture and looks great  on the plate.

I bought some seeds a while ago and didn't get around to sowing it Grubbypaws.  I shall deffo try it now (I love crunchy) so thanks for the 'heads up'. 

I'm the same - apparently it is rich in vitamin C and omega 3 fatty acids and a good leafy green to feed to laying hens (not too much as it is also high in oxalates but so is spinach and chard ....)

Some great idea's to pinch 

But exploding cucumbers? Must be a joke.. ... ..

The Real Seeds Catalogue - read the warning underneath the description 

[MickyB]

HEALTH WARNING.
DANGER OF EYE INJURY! HARD SEED IS EJECTED AT GREAT SPEED.
DO NOT HOLD RIPE FRUIT NEAR FACE.
HARVEST FRUIT AFTER IT HAS OPENED.
DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO PLAY WITH FRUIT.

We know this sounds silly, but we recommend that YOU WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHILE HARVESTING AND PROCESSING FRUIT.

Sounds like the one for me. 

[Madame Cholet]

I think Oca are great and fat babies. Flat leaved Rusian kale and white beetroot too.

[Totty]

You could grow a couple of loofah plants. Although not edible, it's useful to grow your own sponges!

Totty

[LotuSeed]

This year I'm growing peanuts as an experiment. The plants look really healthy and have flowered several times. Won't know what's underneath until it's time to pull them up. *fingers crossed there's something underneath!

I also planted peanuts as a bit of fun for the grandchildren. Unfortunately nothing happened.    How did you do it?

I bought them as plug plants back in the middle of May. I thought they were pretty neat looking and figured even if they didn't produce anything they'd still add interest to the garden I didn't really do anything to maintain them, I just kind of let them do their thing. (In hindsight I'll probably should have made sure the soil around the plant was really friable so that the pegs could easily penetrate the soil)
So far they have flowered in two flushes and when I checked them yesterday there were pegs going down from the main "branches" of the plant into the ground. These shoots seemed pretty well anchored in and I'm hoping that's because there are peanuts forming at the ends of them, but I won't know until I dig them up some time in October.

If you started from nuts it's possible that they rotted before they had a chance to sprout.
Did you use raw, shelled nuts and not roasted ones? Lol