I was thinking about the different colours that fruit and veg come in and then thought about non-conventional colours for types of veg and fruit, such as a purple carrot.
Does anyone have any info on other veg and fruit that are not conventional colours that can be readily grown? Pics would be very much appreciated.
thanks
Nice question! :D
It would be good to see if other folk have tried different colours and also enjoyed the flavour.
I've grown, and found very worthwhile:
Yellow beetroot
Yellow tomatoes
White sprouting broccoli
Red kale
and OK:
Red spring onion
and not worthwhile:
Yellow courgette (I find them soapy and not as well textured as green, plus they don't seem to fertilise) BUT this year I am trying the yellow crookneck Friulana from Franchi, to see if it's any better.
Quote from: mokanoo on April 07, 2006, 14:54:12
I was thinking about the different colours that fruit and veg come in and then thought about non-conventional colours for types of veg and fruit, such as a purple carrot.
Does anyone have any info on other veg and fruit that are not conventional colours that can be readily grown? Pics would be very much appreciated.
thanks
There really is so much in terms of variety. Tomatoes, peppers and aubergines nearly cover the whole rainbow, and carrots can be had in red, orange, yellow, white, purple...
(http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20041120/f5596_2582.jpg)
There really is nothing harder about growing say, a yellow carrot to an orange one, and best of all they often contain different sets of vitamins.
Quote from: supersprout on April 07, 2006, 14:59:49
Yellow beetroot
Excellent for people that do not like the 'bleeding' nature of beetroots.
Blue potatoes
Edzell blue has a blue skin but Salad Blue has blue flesh
There is a variety called Highland Burgundy Red that has red flesh
Clifford
I'd love to grow glue potatoes. Do they taste same as usual one?
Grew Chioggia beetroot before and really liked it. They make fantastic pink pickles or whatever you cook with it.
I'm growing Purple Dragon carrots this year. Also hoping to get unusual coloured fruits from my Heritage Aubergine Mix plants.
Oh, I saw red bananas (more like brick colour) at Morrisons today but bought normal bananas.
Definitely White & Green toms.
And yes to Golden beetroot - much more delicate taste. And no staining all the other things.
White beetroot as well as the yellow, red lettuces, red sprouts, am trying black tomatoes this year, fun to try new stuff and freak out the kids! ;D
You can eat the leaves of yellow beetroot.Bit like spinach.
First year's not-so-usual colours were:
Black Russian (purple) tomatoes - my mother thought them the best flavoured tomatoes she'd had in over a decade, went straight from the plant to her sandwiches.
Yellow Pear Tomatoes - mild and gentle flavour, nice in salads.
Red-tinged catalogna (oak) lettuce - lovely flavour, and gorgeous green/rust tones.
This brochure has LOADS of interesting stuff in it ... of every conceivable colour and shape (except square and turquiose!) :D
http://www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk
CORRECTION! THERE'S A SQUARE CAULIFLOWER ON PAGE 5 ;D
Did you know that all carrots where white or blue until it was decided that orange was the colour they should be ;D
I love the look of the purple podded peas its a shame the actual 'pea' is green 1
ARE PURPLE PODDED PEAS GREEN THEN??????? DAMMIT ;D
Quote from: Petera on April 07, 2006, 15:45:02
You can eat the leaves of yellow beetroot.Bit like spinach.
I eat the leaves of all colours of beetroot, delicious.
I also eat carrot tops in salads, and use them in stocks, they are excellent with coriander in carrot soup.
Purple beans turn green in cooking, unfortunately. I'm trying white beetroot this year, as there are vociferous objections to the colour from the rest of the family; they won't get used to the way everything gets stained red. You can eat the tops of any beetroot; to my taste they're better than the roots.
Quote from: flowerofshona on April 07, 2006, 17:56:12I love the look of the purple podded peas its a shame the actual 'pea' is green
How about purple podded mange tout (http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_22_23_34&products_id=1194) then? Just eat them raw in salad ie without cooking and you'll still get 'em purple ;)
(1st year growing them... hope they taste nice raw :P)
Which variety/ies of purple podded mangetout are you trying please citychick?
Oh, I'd like to add yellow (wax or flat podded) French beans to the list of goodies - I prefer the taste of the yellow ones, they are just like butter mmm
sorry - there was a link hidden in there somewhere though its a bit subtle ::)
try clicking on the "purple podded mange tout (http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_22_23_34&products_id=1194)" bit...
Its called Ezethas Krombek Blauwschok from the Organic Gardening Catalogue. I suspect it would also loose its colour if cooked...
Not tried it before though - here's hoping :D
I'm going to try saving some seed from it (growing it as the only pea at home) if you want to put your name down for next year's seed swap ;) ;D
Dobies have an orange cauliflower! No-one has mentioned Bright Lights Chard. Not exactly unusual but certainly colourful.
<-- Ahem
wow, I posted this while in work and have got back to all these replies and all the various colours. I am definitely going to try the yellow beetroot and orange cauli(??) Thanks for the link Trixiebelle. mike_w I grew chard last season in my garden and although pretty it was too successful for me to keep up with it. Have to sort out my sowing plans.
I've read a lot of posts about children enjoying gardening and I reckon it can only add to their excitement when they pull out odd coloured veg....may take ours a few years as it's not due till next week but something to look forward to.
I may have the oddest looking allotment so keep an eye out for my pics in the future.
thanks guys.
Quote from: CityChick on April 07, 2006, 20:17:12
a) sorry - there was a link hidden in there somewhere though its a bit subtle ::)
b) I'm going to try saving some seed from it (growing it as the only pea at home) if you want to put your name down for next year's seed swap ;) ;D
a) :-[ should have clicked first, lordy CC that's clever, how you do it? :P :o
b) Yes Please, is it too late to get on the waiting list for 2007? LOL ;)
mokanoo really enjoying this thread too, thank you :D
Has anyone any scientific explanation as to why there is no royal blue fruit or veg?
Quote from: allanwoolley on April 07, 2006, 22:36:10
Has anyone any scientific explanation as to why there is no royal blue fruit or veg?
Would these do?
http://vandusen.plantexplorers.com/product_info.php/products_id/157 for a photo
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Decaisnea+fargesii for a description on "edibleness"
mat
Quote from: allanwoolley on April 07, 2006, 22:36:10
Has anyone any scientific explanation as to why there is no royal blue fruit or veg?
There is an abundance of blue fruits in nature, just not many edible ones.
(http://www.ontariowildflower.com/images/clintoniaefn.jpg)
...toxic, but still a fruit.
Don't blueberries count?
Tricia
Thanks Matt for the links, and thanks Amphibian for the photo, and Yes! I can just see Everton playing in that colour unlike my 'blue'berries.