Spice Up Your Garden With Unusual Herbs And Veg

Growing your own does not have to mean sticking to the same things. It’s well worth making room for at least one alternative crop this year – and who knows, you could discover a new favourite, says Louise Curley

- Louise Curley

SOWING tried-and-tested crops each year is a good way of ensuring success, but it’s always worth making room for a few new edibles, and experimenting a bit. Every year, I try to grow something different. It’s not always a success – asparagus peas and the black tomato ‘Indigo Rose’ spring to mind – but more often than not I discover something that becomes a new favourite.

For you, this could mean sowing seeds of a few exotic herbs, such as lemongrass and Chinese chives – they’re both easier to grow than you might think. or you could opt for a vegetable or fruit you have never even tasted before.