Yesterday, I trotted out some of the coolest up-and-coming ornamental plants for the gardening hipsters out there, and also for the rest of us that aren’t as cool, but still like beautiful plants that no one else has yet. Today, I have a few vegetables that will surely turn heads as people spy you tending them on your balcony.
Pole Bean ‘Trionfo Violetto’
This pole bean produces pods that have a nutty, sweet flavor. Trionfo Violetto is a very ornamental plant with lavender flowers, purple veined leaves, and dark purple beans. Stringless pods are tender even though they are 8 inches long. They turn green when cooked. Trionfo Violetto is available through Botanical Interests.
‘Dragon’ Carrot
Purple on the outside, but bright orange on the inside, this is a beautiful looking and tasty carrot. In three months, the plant produces 9 inch long roots, that would look awesome sliced into a salad. Dragon Carrot seeds are available through Seeds of Change.
Ruby Streaks Mustard Green
Ruby Streaks Mustard will change your mind about mustards with its tempting color and mildly pungent flavor that’s delicious fresh in salads, cooked in stir-fries or steamed. It’s great for small spaces because you don’t have to sacrifice beauty to grow something you can eat. Ruby Streaks is available from Botanical Interests.
Spinach ‘Bordeaux’
I’m so excited about this seed, I planted some in my strawberry pot. It’s a pretty normal spinach plant, except that the stems and veins are a wine-red color. I love plants that are useful and beautiful and this one definitely fits the bill! Again, Bordeaux Spinach is available from Botanical Interests.
‘Sea of Red’ Lettuce
Beautiful new lettuce whose sword shaped leaves are an intense deep, mahogany-red that doesn’t fade in the sun. This richly-colored lettuce is a true showstopper in both garden and kitchen. You can buy Lettuce ‘Sea of Red’ seeds from Renee’s Garden.
Black Cumin
Cultivated for centuries and prized for its aromatic seeds with a fennel-like taste. Popular in Indian cooking and great for Russian rye bread. Seeds are thought to have medicinal properties and were found in Tutenkhamen’s tomb. Black Cumin is available through Seeds of Change.
‘Red Venture’ Celery
Deep-red stems complement bright green leaves making this a highly ornamental plant as well as a prolific producer of tender, succulent stalks with real celery flavor. Red Venture Celery seeds can be purchased through Seeds of Change.
Have something to say about growing edible plants in containers? Publish your thoughts on your blog and then submit it to the Life on the Balcony Blog Carnival.
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Fern, Lovely post! You know I adore all those strange and beautiful heirlooms or rare varieties of vegetables. Can’t wait to try some of these… Thanks for the ideas. Teresa
OK, I’m going to actually try something other than the usual suspects (tomatoes and sweet basil, as well as an assortment of trailing herbs like thyme and rosemary). Those dragon carrots are just too good to pass up, as are those beans. I hope they they are not too terribly picky about conditions….
I am loving these new veggies, and although I really only wanted to buy seed from Canadian suppliers, maybe I will relax my boundaries a little.
Jen
Jen–You may be able to find them from Canadian suppliers, don’t relax your standards just yet!
Oh gosh Fern—looks delicious. I like the looks of this spinach ‘Bordeux’. I am so going to plant a big old ornamental edible garden this year. Just gonna be super gorgeous and smart. Now I’m gonna die creating and maintaining it–but come winter I’ll be glad I did.
An interesting, unusual collection to seek out and help broaden my gardening spectrum breaking away from the typical, predictable plantings. Very interesting varieties!
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