The Weirdest-Looking Veggies You Can Grow at Home

garden enthusiasts and culinary explorer likewise often seek out the most bizarre and intriguing vegetables to grow in their own backyards . Whether you calculate to surprise dinner party guests or merely want a unique garden , these ten weird - looking veggies are sure to catch your eye . From peculiar shape to vibrant color , these vegetable not only offer visual appeal but also unequaled flavors and nutritional benefits .

Romanesco Broccoli

Romanesco Broccoli is a mesmerizing vegetable with its intricate fractal patterns and promising green hue . Its perfectly spiraled floweret resemble a Christmas tree , making it a standout in any garden . Many encounter Romanesco ’s gustation to be a delightful cross between broccoli and cauliflower . Growing Romanesco requires forbearance and a nerveless mood , as it flourish best in temperature between 50 - 70 ° fluorine . Its architectural beauty is n’t just for show ; Romanesco is rich in vitamins C and K.Fun fact : Romanesco has been cultivated in Italy since the sixteenth one C !

Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi , often dubbed the ‘ space Brassica oleracea , ’ take care a bit like a vegetable from another planet . Its swollen , bulbous stem can be purple or fleeceable , topped with stretch leave , creating an alien - like appearance . This vegetable is not just visually striking ; it offers a crispy texture and a flavour akin to a blend of broccoli and Japanese radish . Kohlrabi is various in the kitchen , perfect for salad or stir - Fry . For gardeners , it ’s a audacious plant life , tolerating a wide range of temperatures . Historically , turnip cabbage was a staple fiber in European diet as early as the 16th 100 .

Oca

Oca , a tuber native to the Andes , is celebrate for its vibrant colors and lemony flavor . These small , knobby tubers can be red , yellow , or even pink , adding a splash of color to your garden or plate . With a flavor evocative of potatoes with a hint of lemon , oca is both various and delicious . It grows well in cooler climate , making it perfect for high - altitude gardens . A delightful tidbit : Oca was one of the primary sugar sources for ancient Andean civilizations , value for its nutritionary value and storability .

Chinese Artichoke

The Chinese Artichoke , or Crosne , is a unique vegetable known for its small , segment genus Tuber . Resembling a string of pearls , these Tuber are often mistaken for petite , twisted ascendant . Their nutty tang with a tinge of sweetness makes them a epicure delight , especially when sautéed or pickled . Chinese Artichokes fly high in temperate climate and are comparatively easy to grow . Intriguingly , these genus Tuber were introduced to Europe in the late 19th century and quickly became a favorite among chefs for their unique texture and flavor profile .

Purple Carrot

regal Carrots are a stunning spin on the familiar orange variety . With their cryptical purple skin and orange core , they extend a ocular and nutritional feast . full-bodied in antioxidant , particularly anthocyanins , these carrots have a slightly sweeter taste . They can be eaten in the raw , roasted , or fuse into smoothies . Historically , carrots were originally regal before being bred to the orange variety we commonly see today . Their dramatic colour can add vibrancy to any dish , from salad to stew .

Buddha’s Hand

Buddha ’s Hand is no ordinary citrus fruit ; its finger’s breadth - like segments resemble an open hand , make it one of the most alien yield you’re able to grow . Its vibrant icteric color and fragrant aroma make it a delightful gain to any home garden . While it lacks succus , the nip of Buddha ’s Hand is versatile , perfect for add flavor to dessert or infusing into liquors . It prefers a sunny mood , thriving good in warm , subtropical region . Interestingly , this yield is often used in spiritual offerings , typify felicity and good fortune in Chinese civilization .

Malabar Spinach

Malabar Spinach , unlike traditional spinach plant , is a climbing vine with loggerheaded , sheeny leaves . Its striking red root and fast - growing nature make it both ornamental and practical for vertical gardening . With a savor standardised to spinach , it ’s ideal for salad and shake - fries . This rut - loving flora thrives in warm climates , make it a popular pick in tropical realm . A entrancing fact : Malabar Spinach is not a genuine spinach plant but belongs to a different botanic family , yet offers like nutritionary benefits like iron and atomic number 20 .

Fiddlehead Ferns

Fiddlehead Ferns , with their coiled , whimsical appearance , calculate like something out of a pansy tale . These edible shoot of certain fern metal money are a seasonal finesse , care for for their unique grain and tone . Often compare to asparagus with a hint of nuttiness , fiddleheads are a spring favorite in many regions . They thrive in dampish , fly-by-night environments , making them perfect for woodland gardens . An interesting tidbit : Fiddleheads have been foraged and eat up by endemic people for century , value for their seasonal copiousness and nutritionary content .

Cucamelon

Cucamelons , also known as mouse melons , are a delicious miniature yield . resemble tiny watermelons , they are about the size of grapes and extend a refreshing , cuke - similar taste with a hint of citrus fruit . These charming fruit are complete for snacking or tot up to salads . Cucamelons are easy to grow , fly high in fond clime and ask minimal care once established . play fact : Despite their appearance , cucamelons are not touch on to watermelons but are part of the cucumber family , aboriginal to Central America .

Cardoon

Cardoon , a relative of the artichoke , is a salient plant with its tall , silvery foliage and thistle - like appearance . Its orotund , serrated leaves sum spectacular panache to any garden landscape . In the kitchen , the stalks are the star , offering a flavor that hints at artichoke and celery . Cardoons fly high in Mediterranean mood , enjoying gay , well - drained soil . Historically , cardoons were prized in ancient Roman culinary art and are still celebrated in Mediterranean dishes today . Their alone taste and appearance continue to captivate gardener and chef likewise .

Dragon’s Tongue Bean

Dragon ’s Tongue Bean is a marvel in the garden . Its pale icteric pods with vivid purple stripe stand out against the plushy light-green leaves . As the seedcase grow , they transform into a canvas of coloration . These dome are not just a ocular delicacy but also a joy in the kitchen . Their crunchy grain and nutty flavor add a extra mite to salad and shake - fries . wanton to grow , they thrive in well - drained soil and full sun , making them a perfect choice for dwelling gardener look to add a style of color to their plots .

Sea Kale

Sea Kale is a coastal beauty with toothsome , curly blasphemous - dark-green leaves . It ’s not just its appearance that intrigues gardeners ; the plant ’s resilience and adaptability to piquant conditions make it a standout . Beyond its looks , Sea Kale offers a unique taste perception reminiscent of broccoli and kale . It ’s a perennial that repay year after year , provide a consistent harvest time . To grow Sea Kale , plant it in full sunlight and supply well - drained soil . It ’s perfect for those take care to experiment with recurrent vegetable in their garden .

Yardlong Bean

The Yardlong Bean is a real showstopper . These beans can grow up to two foot prospicient , drawing wonder and oddity likewise . Their climb nature make them ideal for trellises in home garden . Aside from their impressive length , Yardlong Beans are tender and flavorful . They ’re often used in Asiatic dish , bringing a unparalleled texture and gustatory sensation . To cultivate these goliath , provide a sturdy support and mass of sunshine . They fly high in warm climates , making them a great addition to eclectic vegetable gardens .

Gooseberry Tomatillo

Gooseberry Tomatillo enamor the vision with its lantern - like husks containing small , round fruits . Its kinky appearance tot up a capricious touch to any garden . The yield ’s lady of pleasure , citrusy savour complement salsas and sauces attractively . It ’s a fecund plant , ensuring gardeners a freehanded harvest . Best get in sunny spots with fecund soil , Gooseberry Tomatillo is an easy - to - develop alternative for those wanting to exposit their culinary apparent horizon beyond the common Lycopersicon esculentum .

Samphire

Salicornia europaea is a coastal curiosity often found in nautical regions . Its sarcoid , shiny green staunch make it a rummy addition to any garden . Known for its salty , crisp flavor , Samphire is a foodie ’s delight , often used in salads and seafood dishes . It ’s a hardy industrial plant that thrives in sandy , well - drained grime and gay locations . Growing Samphire impart an alien mite to rest home gardens , particularly for those forth from the coast who care to bring a hint of the sea to their backyard .

Celeriac

Celeriac , with its knobbly appearance , is often nicknamed “ the ugly duckling ” of vegetables . Despite its grating outside , this root veg pop the question a delicate , batty flavor . It ’s a versatile ingredient , perfect for mashes , soups , and stew . The plant ’s singular feel make it a conversation starter in any garden . Celeriac prefers cooler climate and well - drained ground . It ’s a great selection for those looking to produce a vegetable that ’s as challenging as it is tasty .

Cucuzza Squash

Cucuzza Squash is not your ordinary squash . Its elongate , light green fruit can produce impressively long , making it a unique garden spectacle . With a mild , mellifluous relish , it ’s a versatile ingredient in many Italian looker . Its vigorous growth means it can cursorily report trellis , offering both shade and produce . Cucuzza thrives in warm mood and requires plenty of space to sprawl . This squash racquets is arrant for gardeners aiming to cultivate an unusual yet rich plant life .

Salsify

Salsify , sometimes yell the “ oyster plant , ” is know for its unequaled , frail flavor redolent of huitre . Its slender , grass - like leaf and regal flowers are visually striking . This root vegetable is idealistic for soups and fret , offering a insidious perceptiveness and creamy grain . Its occult allure makes it an exciting improver to any veggie patch . Salsify grows best in liberal , well - debilitate soil and full sunlight . It ’s a must - have for adventuresome gardeners seeking to branch out their ascendant vegetable ingathering .

Jerusalem Artichoke

Jerusalem Artichoke , or “ sunchoke , ” is famed for its helianthus - like bloom and knobbly tubers . These tuber offer a sweet , nutty flavor , making them a popular choice for roasts and soups . The plant ’s tall stalks and bright flowers sum beauty to any garden , while its underground bounteousness provides culinary delectation . Growing Jerusalem Artichokes is straightforward ; they prefer sunny spot and sluttish soil . They ’re an excellent choice for those seem to add knockout and productivity to their backyard .