Incredible Edibles
Veggie Offline
Super Pest Controller
#1
I've just bought "Incredible Edibles" by Matthew Biggs. "Grow something different in your fruit and veg plot".
Some of the plants he mentions I've grown, some I've considered growing and others are new to me. I'm going to ask you all what you think about his suggestions and whether you would grow them. 

1. Snake Gourd. Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina.  
(Looks a bit like a trombone squash.) "The fruits, if left to their own devices, will coil up like a bedspring or like a snake wrapped around a tree branch". 
"Young fruit can be eaten like courgettes while the red pulp of the mature fruit makes a good substitute for tomatoes.
Young shoots and leaves are also edible and, although all parts of the plant taste bitter when raw, this disappears after cooking. 
Leave a few mature specimens to paint up and turn into colourful snakes. "
The Moneyless Chicken says:- 
Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
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Vinny Offline
Geordie living 'ower the watter'
#2
(25-11-2023, 10:05 PM)Veggie Wrote: I've just bought "Incredible Edibles" by Matthew Biggs. "Grow something different in your fruit and veg plot".
Some of the plants he mentions I've grown, some I've considered growing and others are new to me. I'm going to ask you all what you think about his suggestions and whether you would grow them. 

1. Snake Gourd. Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina.  
(Looks a bit like a trombone squash.) "The fruits, if left to their own devices, will coil up like a bedspring or like a snake wrapped around a tree branch". 
"Young fruit can be eaten like courgettes while the red pulp of the mature fruit makes a good substitute for tomatoes.
Young shoots and leaves are also edible and, although all parts of the plant taste bitter when raw, this disappears after cooking. 
Leave a few mature specimens to paint up and turn into colourful snakes. "
A friend of mine brought back some seeds of these from a holiday abroad and gave me some. I tried them but without success. I think they would be beteer grown in a cold frame or greenhouse.
"The problem with retirement is that you never get a day off"- Abe Lemons
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Veggie Offline
Super Pest Controller
#3
Yes, it says they like a warm, sheltered spot with minimum temp of 20 C for growth.
The Moneyless Chicken says:- 
Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
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Veggie Offline
Super Pest Controller
#4
Interesting article about them https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/obser...nake-gourd
The flowers, as well as the fruit look amazing!.
I'm sure I had some seeds for "snake plant" once but they were sold as something to paint as a toy, not for eating.
The Moneyless Chicken says:- 
Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
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Small chilli Offline
Super Pest Controller
#5
The flowers are beautiful aren’t they. I didn’t realise they were edible at any stage. I may have to add them to a future grow list.
Builder that would like to go play in the garden.
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Veggie Offline
Super Pest Controller
#6
This is NOT a recommendation but https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/snake-.../gwc8965TM I think this was the packet I had once but never grew. May even still be here somewhere!
The Moneyless Chicken says:- 
Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
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Veggie Offline
Super Pest Controller
#7
Incredible Edible No. 2
Turkish Orange Aubergine. "Compact plants produce plentiful crops of sweet, well-flavoured fruits with glossy, orange and green striped skins that mature to pure orange and red" . "Grows to a sturdy 60cms/24". What it lacks in stature it makes up for in productivity and bushes often end up heaving with fruits."

I think I bought seeds of these last years but didn't get around to sowing them!  Blush

EDIT Bought them here https://www.premierseedsdirect.com/produ...sh-orange/
The Moneyless Chicken says:- 
Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
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JJB Offline
Moonraker
#8
(25-11-2023, 11:33 PM)Veggie Wrote: This is NOT a recommendation but https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/snake-.../gwc8965TM I think this was the packet I had once but never grew. May even still be here somewhere!

I had a pkt of those, they must have been a freebie, you might have got them in a seedswap from me but I think I gave them away to a charity shop. Either way I wasn't going to grow them  Smile
Gardening is an excuse not to do housework
Greetings from Salisbury
Qualified member of the Confused Nutter's Club 
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