What odd vegetables/fruits should I plant this year??

[KikiDeAnime]

Thanks everyone!
Sorry for not replying to all your suggestions. Great ideas!

 

[Sally PB]

I love to try new things too. The last couple of years, though, the new things have either not grown at all, or weren't very edible. So this year, I'm trying some really short seasoned tomatoes. I have 5-6 new varieties of seeds. We'll see!

 

[Quatie]

Pineapple guavas are a really cool fruit tree. You won't find them in the grocery store because they don't last long once they are ripe. They are really good and ripen in the late fall.

 

[West Bend]

How about loofah? I believe they grow pretty quickly (the plant, not the fruit). They can cover the chickens run for shade & are edible (to people & chickens) when small. Plus all their other benefits too.
Or how about Delicata Squash? Delish......

 

[wf1992]

If we're also considering perennials, I'd like to add kiwi berries

 

[ladybrasa]

Something unique I want to try but haven't is Mexican gherkins (aka: cucamelons).

I tried those last year in the chicken run! Tried to make a tee pee they could go in. Fenced off until they got going. Took a long while for them to get going, then they went haywire and grew all over the wire of the run. Produced tons of fruits that tasted alright. Kind of cucumbery, kind of lemony? “Fresh” taste. I didn’t know what to do with them, really. Chickens weren’t interested unless I broke one up in little pieces. I would guess other chooks would like them though. Mine don’t seem too interested in things they actually have to work at picking apart! Also they never did figure out the tee pee and at that point the vines completely enclosed it .

Oh! Also all my squash and related plants were eventually destroyed by squash bugs (which chickens won’t eat btw!!! Big time bummer!) EXCEPT the cucamelons!

 

[Sally PB]

Kind of cucumbery, kind of lemony? “Fresh” taste.

That sounds kind of good.... might try those out. Thanks!

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Artichokes and regular(fuzzy) kiwi are both perennials in your area. I know some people find okra exotic. Luffa is another good one. Mulberries and persimmons are fun natives!

 

[SamuelRichards]

I like to try something new, but for some reason it doesn't grow for me, or maybe I'm not taking care of it, this year I decided not to experiment too much, plant sorrel, artichoke and two new varieties of tomatoes in the greenhouse, long green and sweet black , now I am resting and waiting for my shoots.

 

[ladybrasa]

I am trying litchi this year. Relative of tomatoes, but supposed to taste similar to cherries to the point you could make a pie with them. They are supposed to get tall and have thorns, so I’m hoping I can keep them in the run in pots (caged initially til they get big enough). They are from Baker Creek/rareseeds.