Rare vegetables for the tropics

This article lists some of the rare tropical vegetables listed in the The Green Harvest Organic Gardening Resource Guide 2006. 

Madagascar Bean
Vigorous climbing tropical lima bean, lives for many years, excellent at coping with wet, humid conditions, can be used as a tropical alternative to broad beans or as a dried bean.

Winged Bean
Tropical climber, high in protein, perennial in the tropics

Giant Russian Cucmber
Excellent variety for humid areas, vigorous vine, fruits are very large, crisp, sweet and acid-free, keep for several months, much more resistant to mildew than Lebanese cucumbers.

Mizuna
Traditional Japanese salad green with a mild crisp flavour and attractive feathery leaves; often grown as part of a salad mix, can be cut a few leaves at a time.

Rocket “Perennial’ – Wild Rocket
Diplotais tenuifolia - a completely different plant to cultivated rocket; slower growing with finely cut, deeply indented leaves and small yellow edible flowers; plant tends to sprawl, so needs a bit of room, it also self sows. The flavour is similar to rocket but deeper and more complex.

Japanese Bunching Onion (Red Stem/Welsh Onion)
A. fistulosum - hardy, perennial spring onion, no bulb is formed; bright red attractive stalks to 35 cm will add interest to salads and stirfries; they can be propagated from offsets once clumps are established. Suitable for the Tropics.

Cherry Red Pear Tomato
Indeterminate type. Similar in growth and appearance to Yellow Pear but richer tasting.

Basil ‘Lime’
O. americanum - annual with a zesty lime aroma; compact plant has 4 cm long bright green leaves; use in soups, salads and fish dishes.

COVER CROPS AND LIVING MULCHES FOR THE TROPICS

Shaw Creeping Vigna
Vigna parkeri- summer vigorous, perennial legume forms a desne mat 30 cm deep; attractive blue flowers; competes with kikuyu; tolerates dense shade; needs moisture. Tropics and Sub tropics.

Wynn’s Cassia
Cassia rotundifolia – summer vigorous perennial legume for orchards; self sows readily; useul animal forage. Tropical and sub-tropical.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Green Harvest Web Site
Phone: 07 5494 4676.
(These seeds are listed in the catalogue, but on the website)