[Baldy]

Hi all,

I've been pondering what to grow this year - I've probably bought too many first early seed potatoes so might not have any room till the summer but...
I've got half a plot that is given over to a couple of raised beds (one asparagus, one currently winter onions), goosebury, raspberry, loganberry, strawberries, blackcurrant and a couple of unidentified 'berries' that I inherited. There's then enough space for a block of sweetcorn and I'll probably look to put a couple of small apple trees in.
I am just in the process of clearing the other half of the plot - I'll put in peas and some runners, courgettes and squash - but I'll be left with maybe a third of this space empty - so I'm after suggestions for what to plant or research a little more.
I'm not over keen on brassicas, the site has suffered from blight over the last few years so I won't be doing toms, carrots I'll sling in a raised container or two.  I've just ordered some 'cape gooseberries' as they sound up my street. I've seen mixed reviews for 'Jostaberries'. (Hmm just noticed that 'berry' seems to be mentioned quite a bit in this post - suggestions don't *have* to be berry-related!)
So - ideas for interesting/different plants would be most welcome. 
Thnx in advance
Balders

[Yorkie]

Perhaps some unusual-looking beans?

[Totty]

If you would like some more fruit, there are loads of unusual ones. We have a couple of honeyberry  bushes, they are only a couple of years old so will be cropping properly this year but the fruit is really good, very similar to blueberrys but without the soil requirements.

On the veg side, also lots to try. Both globe and Jerusalem artichoke make impressive plants and are both delicious. Cardoons are largely forgotten and rarely grown but are something different, when growing they look superb and when prepared they look like celery and taste like artichoke.

Totty

[Ema]

I'm hoping to try strawberry spinach have hear a lot of good things about it

[DD.]

Going on your thread title, I'm answering as "different" to what you're already growing, rather than *unusual".

I see no mention of:

Onions
Leeks
Garlic
Herbs of any description
Celery
Squash
Courgettes
Cucumbers

I could go on. You'd be better growing what you know you'll eat, rather than possibly wasting space on something untested.

I would also suggest that as it seems you have space, because you're asking for ideas, that you get those seed spuds in.

If you wait until summer to plant them, you may not properly crop them. Blight & time will be your enemies.

[Hamani]

If you cook a lot you could have a nice large herb patch with lots of the old (and largely forgotten) variaties?

You could also grow a fun selection of different squash and pumpkins? There seems to be lots of novel, fun and interesting variaties to try.

- Gary.

[Baldy]

Thanks for the advice / suggestions.

I hadn't really though of herbs and the whole courgette/squash/pumpkin exotic variety scene! - so I'll do a bit of research on what & how.

My leeks last year never really got going - there are still a few in the ground but they never put on any 'weight' - is that likely due to the lack of sun? They got fed a little...

What outdoor varieties of cucumbers have people had success with? I planted 5 Japanese cucumbers last year - but only one cropped to any degree.

My seeds potatoesare chitting at the moment - another 4 or 5 weeks till they go in teh ground?

Garlic is in pots and doing well - just some organic bulbs from the supermarket - was pleased top see them germinate.

Forgot to mention the red baron onion set - does the ground need to warm up a bit?

Thanks again
Balders
(off to the plot after a bacon buttie)

[DD.]

I wouldn't be too discouraged by last year's results. It wasn't the greatest growing season ever!

I'll hopefully start spud planting at the end of March, you may be OK a few weeks early down in Devon.

Cucumber-wise, I always do well outside with "Marketmore".

Re the garlic, you may be OK but generally it's not a good idea to grow shop bought, as you don't know under what climate that variety was grown. It may not suit ours.

[SkyeEnt]

Something fun and different is Achocha.  A sort of climbing plant that produces lots of little pods.   If you pick them young they can be used like courgettes or lady's fingers.  I grew them a couple of times in Solihull.  They have very decorative foliage with delicate hand like leaves.  Quite vigorous - you'd need netting or a frame to grow them up, or they might scramble into your trees if they're fairly large.

I would however agree also with DD.  Grow what you know you like as well.  Keep it simple and start small.

[devonbarmygardener]

Cape gooseberries are lovely and easy to grow. I grow mine in the greenhouse.
They sometimes look a bit ropey after transplanting - stick with them - I think its just shock.
A herb patch is always nice if you have the space but bear in mind that some get a bit rampant and need a bit of controlling - mint, lemon balm (coming up all over my plot) and rosemary (got a bit leggy and big!)

[angelavdavis]

To be honest, I think it is worth considering varieties of fairly standard veg.  You can't beat serving up a salad of mixed coloured tomatoes (for example).  I did this last year at a party and some of my guests hadn't ever seen the variety of tomatoes I could serve up in a salad! 

There are lots of heritage varieties of veg which have been long forgotten - beautiful tomatoes, summer and winter squashes and then some of the newer stuff - foot long beans, purple climbing beans, purple mange tout, "yellow" raspberries, etc. 

I personally always try to grow things that simply aren't available in the supermarket.  I would recommend the purple climbing bean "brauhilde" and "shiraz" purple mange tout.  I would also recommend black cherry, sungold, tigerella and brandywine tomatoes.  In addition, winter festival squashes are prolific and round courgettes are just as easy to grow and more versatile than the traditional ones.

[surbie100]

I'm trying a little of cucamelons, callalou, cape gooseberries and pak choi this year, as well as different beans and a host of new types of squash, which I'm really looking forward to.

Cukes-wise I had great success with Marketmore 76 outdoors last year. The Crystal Apples were very tasty too.

[Muls]

Asparagus peas?

[DD.]

I would suggest that before you grow asparagus peas that you try them. They appeal to a very limited number of people's pallets!

(They are of course neither peas nor asparagus).

[surbie100]

I would suggest that before you grow asparagus peas that you try them. They appeal to a very limited number of people's pallets!

(They are of course neither peas nor asparagus).

I liked them & so did OH, no one we gave them to liked them though.