Do you find yourself getting bored with your garden produce? Are you sick of planting the same things in your garden year after year? Well then, it’s time to shake things up and add a little variety to your veggie plot and your diet. Everyone loves carrots and peas but sometimes gardeners need to express our creative side and plant something that feeds our artistic soul.
The most fun part about growing your own food is getting to try unique flavors that are rarely found at grocery stores. These 30 unique heirloom vegetables are sure to mix up the normal routine in your food garden and kitchen. So dig in and have fun exploring these exciting cultivars!
1. Dinosaur Kale
AKA: Brassica oleracea var. sabellica, Lacinato Kale, Black Tuscan kale
Spacing: 15-18″
Height: 24-36″
Days to Maturity: 65-80
Harvest: Continual if growing tip is left intact
Growing Zone: 4-11
Frost Tolerant: Yes
2. Lemon Cucumbers
AKA: Cucumis sativus
Spacing: 18″
Height: 7-10′ vine
Days to Maturity: 60-70
Harvest: 3 weeks of production
Growing Zone: 4-12
Frost Tolerant: No
3. Footlong Green Beans
AKA: Vigna unguiculata var. sesquipedalis
Spacing: 4″ on trellis
Height: 8-12′ vine
Days to Maturity: 85
Harvest: Daily until frost
Growing Zone: 3-9
Frost Tolerant: No
4. Popcorn
AKA: Zea mays everta
Spacing: 4″
Height: 10’+
Days to Maturity: 95-110
Harvest: When husks turn brown and kernels fall off when rubbed
Growing Zone: 3-11
Frost Tolerant: No
5. Romanesco
AKA: Brassica oleracea
Spacing: 12-18″
Height: 24-30″
Days to Maturity: 70
Harvest: Edible flowering bud and stalk
Growing Zone: 3-10
Frost Tolerant: Yes
6. Candy Cane Beet
AKA: Beta vulgaris
Spacing: 2-3″
Height: 8-10″
Days to Maturity: 55
Harvest: Fast growing crop can be planted in succession for a continuous harvest
Growing Zone: 2-11
Frost Tolerant: yes
7. Luffa Sponge
AKA: Luffa aegyptica syn l. cylindrica
Spacing: 6′
Height: 8′ vine
Days to Maturity: 100+
Harvest: When stems turn yellow and insides resemble a sponge
Growing Zone: 3-12
Frost Tolerant: No
7. Purple Orach
AKA: Atriplex hortensis
Spacing: 2”
Height: 4-6′
Days to Maturity: 45+(leaves) 90+(seed)
Harvest: Harvest tender leaves as they grow similarly to spinach
Growing Zone: 3-9
Frost Tolerant: Yes
9. Winter Melons
AKA: Cucumis melo
Spacing: 36″
Height: 3-10′ vine
Days to Maturity: 100
Harvest: As melons ripen
Growing Zone: 2-11
Frost Tolerant: No
10. Orange Okra
AKA: Jing Orange, Abelmoschus esculentus
Spacing: 12″
Height: 5-6′
Days to Maturity: 30-60
Harvest: When okra pods reach ~6″ in length
Growing Zone: 2-10
Frost Tolerant: No
11. Heart-shaped Tomatoes
AKA: Lycopersicon esculentum
Spacing: 18-36″
Height: 6-12′
Days to Maturity: 60-90
Harvest: As fruits ripen
Growing Zone: 3-10
Frost Tolerant: No
12. Lion’s Mane Mushroom
AKA: Hericum erinaceus
Height: 6-10″
Days to Maturity: 12 to 18 months
Harvest: Will produce for 3-5 years
Frost Tolerant: Yes
13. Carrot Balls
AKA: daucus carota subsp. Sativus
Spacing: 1-2”
Height: 12-18″
Days to Maturity: 60
Harvest: Fast growing crop can be planted in succession for a continuous harvest
Growing Zone: 3-9
Frost Tolerant: Yes
14. Ten Foot Amaranth
AKA: Amaranthus tricolor
Spacing: 10-14″
Height: 10′
Days to Maturity: 90-120 or 16-25 for microgreens
Harvest: Harvest young leaves for greens or harvest seeds from flower heads as a grain
Growing Zone: 2-10
Frost Tolerant: No
15. 70 Pound Squash
AKA: Pink Banana Jumbo, Cucurbita maxima
Spacing: 36″
Height: 8-15′
Days to Maturity: 90-120
Harvest: Similar to butternut squash, harvest as fruits ripen
Growing Zone: 3-10
Frost Tolerant: No
16. Marshmallow Root
AKA: Althaea officinalis
Spacing: 12”
Height: 4′
Days to Maturity: 70 days to flower, 3 years to root harvest
Harvest: Dig up roots in spring or fall
Growing Zone: 5-8
Frost Tolerant: Yes
17. Giant Celeriac
AKA: Apium graveolens var. rapaceum
Spacing: 6-8″
Height: 12-18″
Days to Maturity: 120
Harvest: Roots can be stored for several weeks after harvest
Growing Zone: 7-12
Frost Tolerant: Slightly
18. Saffron Crocus
AKA: Crocus sativus
Spacing: 2-3″
Height: 4″
Days to Maturity: 1-2 years
Harvest: Pick red stigmas from the center of the flower when it blossoms to acquire the saffron spice
Growing Zone: 5-8
Frost Tolerant: Yes
19. Ghost Pumpkins
AKA: Casper Pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo
Spacing: 36″
Height: 6-15′
Days to Maturity: 90-120
Harvest: As fruits ripen
Growing Zone: 3-10
Frost Tolerant: No
20. Land Seaweed
AKA: Saltwort, Salsola kali
Spacing: 4-6”
Height: 8-18″
Days to Maturity: 40-55
Harvest: Fast growing crop can be planted in succession for a continuous harvest. Harvest young leaves as greens.
Growing Zone: 8-10
Frost Tolerant: No
21. Pineapple Melon
AKA: Santa Claus Melon, Christmas Melon, Cucumis melo
Spacing: 12-36″
Height: 8-12′
Days to Maturity: 90-110
Harvest: As fruits ripen
Growing Zone: 9-11
Frost Tolerant: No
22. Licorice Basil
AKA: Ocimum basilicum var. ‘licorice’
Spacing: 8-18”
Height: 24″
Days to Maturity: 65+
Harvest: When leaves are 6-8″ long
Growing Zone: 9-11 Perennial, 3-9 Annual
Frost Tolerant: No
23. Yard-long Cucumber
AKA: Metki Pale Green, Snake Melon, Cucumis melo var. flexuosus
Spacing: 18″
Height: 7-10′
Days to Maturity: 60-70
Harvest: As fruits ripen
Growing Zone: 4-12
Frost Tolerant: No
24. Rainbow Peppers
AKA: Capsicum annuum
Spacing: 18-24″
Height: 18-24″
Days to Maturity: 80-90
Harvest: Peppers change colors as they ripen – harvest purple, yellow, orange, or red peppers continuously through the season after they reach maturity.
Growing Zone: 4-11
Frost Tolerant: No
25. Skyscraper Sunflowers
AKA: Helianthus annuus
Spacing: 8-12
Height: 12′
Days to Maturity: 60-75 days
Harvest: Edible seeds can be harvested as they begin to dry
Growing Zone: 1-10
Frost Tolerant: No
26. Einkorn Grain
AKA: Triticum monococcum
Spacing: 6-8″
Height: 30″
Days to Maturity: 112-140
Harvest: When plants are no longer green and seeds have fully dried
Growing Zone: 2-10
Frost Tolerant: No
27. Blue Winter Squash
AKA: New England Blue Hubbard, Cucurbita maxima
Spacing: 48-72”
Height: 8-15′ vine
Days to Maturity: 110
Harvest: As fruits ripen
Growing Zone: 3-9
Frost Tolerant: No
28. Giant Leeks
AKA: Allium porrum
Spacing: 6″
Height: 18″
Days to Maturity: 90-120
Harvest: When stems reach 1″ in diameter
Growing Zone: 2-10
Frost Tolerant: Yes
29. Mustard Greens
AKA: Brassica juncea
Spacing: 8-10”
Height: 12-24″
Days to Maturity: 40-45+(baby greens) 50+(seeds)
Harvest: Harvest leaves continuously throughout the growing season
Growing Zone: 2-11
Frost Tolerant: Yes
30. Milk Thistle
AKA: Silybum marianum
Spacing: 24-36″
Height: 3-5′
Days to Maturity: 100-125
Harvest: Harvest seeds, leaves and flower heads
Growing Zone: 5-9
Frost Tolerant: Yes – keep this plant contained as it will drop seeds and can become invasive
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