Summary
capture bored with your normal veg garden ? You ’re not alone . Sometimes , you just have tospice up your gardenwith some new and passably exotic addition . uncommon vegetable not only total diversity to your home base , but many of them are also tamp down with nutrients and singular flavors that are n’t as uncouth in more familiar crops . But do n’t let them intimidate you ; manyrare veggiesaren’t that hard to grow in US hardiness zones ! Even when thinking outside the box , gardeningwith rarified plant does n’t have to be too risky of a venture .
1Daikon Radish
Zesty, tastyexotic vegetablesthat are popular in Asian cuisine
Daikon radish is a long , whiteroot vegetablethat is popular in Asian cuisine . It ’s more or less the same as yourtypical radishbut with a unambiguously modest flavor . It ’s comfortable to develop and various in both cooking and wellness benefits .
Daikon radish are eff for their mild taste and crisp grain . In terms of flavor , daikon is jolly exchangeable to taro ( but less nuts ) and red-faced Raphanus sativus longipinnatus ( but less intense).They’re nifty for cause air - electrocute fries and salads . you may alsopickle themwith Timothy Miles Bindon Rice acetum and shredded carrots for a delicious topping on basically anything .
Daikon Raphanus sativus longipinnatus have quite a few health welfare as well :
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Plant
Hardiness Zones
sunshine Needs
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urine Needs
dirt want
Daikon radish
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Daikon radish grows in hardiness zones 2 through 11 .
Daikon radishes do comfortably in full sun with six to eight hours of direct sunshine per Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
Give your daikon radish 1 to 2 inches of water per calendar week .
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Daikon Raphanus sativus longipinnatus turn good in well - draining and loose dirt with a pH reach of 6.0 to 7.0 .
2Tomatillo
Small, green, tomato-like, andunusual vegetablesencased in a papery “husk”
The baseborn Mexican husk tomato is a small , gullible fruit ( though it is often referred to and used as a vegetable ) enclosed in a papery husk . Theserare vegetablesare a staple in Mexican cuisine , and they add piquance to many dishes and are comparatively easy to grow .
Tomatillos are commonly used in salsas , sauce , and soup . you may even toss them into a salad if you ’re feeling frisky . Their distinct tart flavor full complement spicy and mouth-watering dishes . If you ’re looking for a gamey - take , low-spirited - maintenance crop , gardeningwith tomatillo works is a with child estimate !
Tomatillos are not just tasty ; they ’re also extremely nutritious and have a net ton of wellness benefits :
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Tomatillo
Tomatillo grows in hardiness zones 10 and 11 .
Theserare veggiesdo best in full sun with six to eight 60 minutes of verbatim sunlight per day .
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Give your tomatillo 1 to 1½ in of water per hebdomad .
Tomatillo grow best in well - draining and sandlike soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.0 .
Tomatillos are notself - pollinating , so you ’ll need to plant at least two tomatilloexotic vegetablesnear each other for successful fruiting .
3Purslane
The lemony, leafy green you didn’t know you needed
This entree might be surprising . Why would someone eat a efflorescence ? However , while the purslanebloom is eatable , it ’s the greenery that really have nutritionary power and flavor . Purslane is an African leafy green that expand in red-hot , teetotal climates . In some parts of the world , it is consider a smoke . On the opposite , it ’s actually a powerhouse of nutrient with a tangy , lemony tang with a thin bitterness similar to puntarelle , with more of a nutty taste .
Purslane is improbably versatile . These fragrant , lemony jet are perfect for salads , garnishes , and even smoothie .
Theserare vegetablesare powerhouse of health with a few notable welfare :
Purslane
Purslane grows in hardiness zone 2 through 11 .
Theseunusual vegetablesdo best in full sun with six to eight hours of direct sun per daylight .
Give your purslane ½ to 1 column inch of water per calendar week .
Purslane grow best in well - draining soil with a pH reach of 5.5 to 7.5 ..
Purslane can thrive in even thepoorest of soils . So , if yourgardeningsituation is n’t great at the moment , purslane could be an excellent pick for you ! Just keep in mind that it spread chop-chop , so be sure to reap regularly . Once you start growing it , you ’ll have a continuous supply of this super - nutritious green !
4Romanesco
An almost psychedelic-looking vegetable similar to the common broccoli
It might front likebroccoli , but it could n’t be more unlike ! Romanesco is quite a striking vegetable with spiraling green floret . The flavor of these rare veggie is somewhere between Brassica oleracea italica and cauliflower . So , it ’s unadulterated if you do n’t want to gettooadventurous with your garden additions .
Romanesco has a nutty , slightly sweet smell that work well in a mixed bag of saucer , from simple pan - fried dishes to more complex gratins . It ’s quite visually appealing ; and it ’s also very nutritious , with a net ton of benefit :
Romanesco
Romanescorare veggiesgrow in hardiness zones 3 through 10 .
Theseexotic vegetablesdo best in full sun with six to eight hour of direct sunlight per twenty-four hours .
Give your romanesco 1 to 1½ inches of piss per week .
Romanesco farm best in well - draining and plentiful filth with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5 .
5Cassava
A starchy root staple in many parts of the world
Cassava , also known as yuca , is a pleasant-tasting and buckram root vegetable that ’s a staple food in many parts of the globe . Specifically , these unusual vegetables are native toSouth America .
It ’s an fantastically versatile and calorie - dull vegetable , and it would be an excellent crop for domicile gardens in hotter region of the United States . Once cooked , cassava starch can be used in a variety of dishes , from fries to mash or even as flour for baking .
Cassava is rich in nutrient , include :
manioca
Cassava grows in hardiness zones 8 through 12 .
Cassava roots do easily in full sun with six to eight hours of direct sunlight per twenty-four hours .
Give your manioc 1 to 1½ inch of water supply per week .
manioca grows in force in well - draining and loamy soil with a pH orbit of 5.5 to 6.5 .
Keep in creative thinker that yuca root or cassavamust be cooked the right way . unsanded manioc hold back of course happen compound thatcan be toxicif not prepare correctly . To cook the root peel them , chop them into chunks , flip them in a skunk of boiling pee , and cook themfor a minimum of 15 minutes . They ’ll be safe ( and tastiest ) to eat when the root is very soft when poke with a tongue or fork .
AddingRare VegetablesTo Your Diet Could Have Unexpected Benefits
dilate your garden to includerare veggiescan be quite fun . It can also be beneficial to your health . Diversifying the veg you corrode canimprove your body ’s nutritious profile . That think of you ’re not only benefiting for a extensive chain of healthy nutrient and vitamins , but you ’re also boosting the visual solicitation of your smasher . And ocular entreaty is everything when it comes to sticking to a healthy dieting . Happygardening !
