1. Mustard greens are a cruciferous crop (cabbage family) grown for the leafy greens that have a slightly bitter, peppery or mustardy taste. Mustard’s dark green color makes it a very nutritious leafy vegetable that can be grown year round in many parts of the world.
  2. Brassica carinata originated in the East African plain, particularly Ethiopia. The young, tender leaves and stem tips may be eaten raw in salads. Older leaves and stouter stem portions are cooked and eaten as a dark green leafy vegetable. The flowering stalks may also be cooked and eaten....
  3. Amaranthus spp. is an annual, erect herb (up to 1 m tall) grown for its edible leaves Leaves grow up to 8 cm in length and are present in an alternate arrangement along the stem. Small flowers are borne on slender spikes within inflorescences up to 12 cm long. Fruit are small, compressed,...
  4. Luffas are vining annual plants that produce fruits for food and the luffa sponge. The young fruits of Angled Luffa are edible raw or cooked. Although two species produce a fibrous skeleton in the mature fruit, Smooth Luffa (Luffa cylindrica) is the preferred species for the luffa sponge. This...
  5. This Italian edible gourdis a cucurbit vine that climbs and has large long-stalked leaves forming a canopy over the flowers and fruits. The fruit islight greenand smooth-skinned. Fruit shape varies but usually is long and cylindrical,up to 1 m in length and 8 cmin diameter. The fruit is harvested...
  6. This winter squash has been cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas since Pre-Colombian times. Evidence of its use has been found in archeological diggings. It is a very old variety not often available through seed companies.
  7. The Tropical Pumpkin originated in tropical South or Central America, possibly Peru or Mexico, and is now widely distributed throughout the tropics. Tropicalpumpkins are very well adapted to hot, humid conditions and the ripe fruits can be stored for months or even a year under dry well...
  8. Wax gourds are vining plants that produce large, round wax-covered fruits. Originally from Southeast Asia, the species is grown in many lowland tropical environments up to 1,300 m in elevation. The long vines may be trained along trellises or up buildings where they produce fruit. Fruits are...
  9. Summer Squashes are distinctive from all other squashes because they are eaten when they are immature. They grow on either vines or bushes with large leaves that are hairy underneath. They have smooth, edible skin, flesh that varies from light to dark green or yellow, and seeds that are soft and...
  10. Leeks are a close biennial relative of both onion and garlic, but do not form bulbs. Leaves are flat and large, when cooked they are milder in taste than onions, and are mainly used in soups and similar dishes.