Looking to spice up your green thumb? Here are 5 green vegetables from around the world that you must grow this year. There are so many different vegetables apart from the ones you can find at your local grocery store. Below you will find a list of vegetables that belong to different cultures all over the world. It is always fun to branch out and these vegetables are perfect for anyone that is adventurous and wanting to plant something new.
These are 5 vegetables from different cultures, and some popular cuisines that they go along with.
1. Jute Mallow (Middle East): This plant requires full sun and lots of water to grow, make sure you don’t plant them too close together, and you can harvest it once it reaches 2 feet.
- This vegetable is very popular in a dish called mulukhiyah which is similar to a stew made with chicken or beef and served with rice.
2. Okra (West Africa): You can start this vegetable indoors in late spring and then you can transfer it outside. This plant needs full sun and a constant water supply, and after about 2 months they should be about 3 inches tall and it will be ready to be harvested.
- A popular West African meal made with okra is okra stew, and it is usually served with banku.
3. Mustard Greens (East Asia): Mustard Greens prefer cool weather, so best to plant your seeds in the early fall, and they only need to be watered once a week. After 40-70 days they should be ready to be harvested. This vegetable is easy to grow and needs little work.
- Mustard greens can be steamed or prepared like spinach, it also tastes really good in stir fry with other vegetables as well.
4. Chayote (South America): This vegetable grows best in warm weather so it is best to plant it in late spring. It needs full sun and water regularly so that the soil does not dry out. After about 120 days the chayote should be around 4 inches tall and ready for harvesting.
- This vegetable can be baked or fried, but it tastes great in a chayote soup, which is pureed with other vegetables to make a really creamy soup.
5. Opo Squash (Asia): Opo squash needs full sun and since it is a vining plant, it needs lots of space to grow. This plant should be ready to be harvested in the fall around September to November.
- Opo squash tastes great in a variety of forms and since multiple cultures in Asia use this vegetable, there are many ways it can be prepared, like in stir fry, soups, or curries.
Discovering new vegetables to eat and plant can be difficult but these 5 vegetables are all delicious, and are great to add to your vegetable garden. Trying new things is always so exciting, so why not explore planting vegetables from different cultures, while learning some new recipes at the same time.
