Beyond the beans and cabbages - 17 plants you can grow on your allotment you probably never thought about.

When you think "allotment," your mind probably conjures up images of perfectly lined rows of potatoes, plump tomatoes, and maybe some runner beans clinging to their poles for dear life.  And there's nothing wrong with that! Those classics are classics for a reason.

I found early on I enjoyed pushing the boundaries of what I could grow on my little patch of Yorkshire and I try to grow something a bit different every year. Let’s dig in (pun intended) and explore plants and crops you’ve probably never considered.

Carnivorous plants.

Many species thrive in the UK’s climate, especially if their specific needs are met.

• Venus Flytrap is native to North America, but it does well in the UK if kept in a bright, cool spot with winter dormancy.
• Sundews. Many species, including the native Drosera rotundifolia, thrive in UK conditions, particularly in bog gardens or terrariums.
• Pitcher Plants. North American pitcher plants do well in sheltered outdoor bog gardens, while tropical pitcher plants need a warm greenhouse or indoor humidity.
• Butterworts. Some species, including the UK native Pinguicula vulgaris, grow well in cool, damp conditions.

Below: Carnivorous plants grow in the UK and can help controlling bug and fly populations.

Growing Conditions:

• Soil: Use peat-free sphagnum moss or a mix of sand and perlite. No compost or fertiliser!
• Water: Rainwater only—tap water has too many minerals. Keep the soil damp at all times.
• Light: Bright, indirect sunlight or full sun for hardy species.
• Dormancy: Some species, like Venus flytraps and Sarracenia, need a winter rest period in cool conditions.
• Grow Them in an Outdoor bog garden (great for Sarracenia, hardy Sundews, and Butterworts), Pots on a sunny windowsill (Venus Flytraps and smaller Sundews) or Greenhouses or terrariums (for tropical species like Nepenthes).

Christmas tree, decorations and posies.

I grow my own Christmas tree in a big pot and just bring it indoors in December. Growing your own is much more environmentally friendly and can save you 70 to 100 £/$ a year.

Below: My potted Christmas tree.

This is now my third Christmas tree, as the others got to bit to fit in my house I sold them for a chunk of money.

Below: You can also grow holly, Ivy, pine, rowan, hawthorn or wild rose to make posies or wreaths.

Super-grains like Quinoa,  Amaranth and Millet.

Quinoa grows like a dream in sunny, well-drained soil. It tolerates cooler weather, making it ideal for British summers.

Amaranth grows tall and loves warm, sunny spots. It tolerates poor soil, making it forgiving for beginners. I planted amaranth for its vibrant red leaves, but the seeds? A bonus! I pop them like popcorn for snacks.

Below: Grains like quinoa grow well in the UK.

Millet grows in dense bunches or sprays of seeds at the top of the plant. All these grains are hardy in the UK and surprisingly productive

I started growing grains to cut my chicken feed bill, these ancient grains are packed with protein and nutrients, and the seeds look gorgeous drying on the stalk. All three produce their crop on stalks at the top of the plant, are easy to harvest and process and surprising productive. 

Sea Kale – The coastal crunch that tastes like asparagus.

Sea kale grows in sandy, well-drained soil. It loves full sun and tolerates salty conditions.

I grew sea kale after a trip to the coast, craving that fresh, briny bite. Now, I blanch the shoots for a tender treat.

It’s a perennial, so it comes back every year without fuss. Cover shoots with a pot to force them—they’ll taste sweeter. It also produces lovely crowns of tiny white flowers that smell amazing and are beneficial for insects.

Wild mushrooms.

Wild mushrooms are hugely expensive to buy and although they are seasonal they are all relatively easy to grow in the UK backyard. Dowels for inoculating hardwood logs and grain spore are easily available and grow well in UK conditions.

Oyster, shiitake, and cap mushrooms thrive in wood chips or logs, and they’ll happily fruit for years with minimal effort.

Below: Mushrooms are nutrient dense and easy to grow.

Mushrooms also need little to no light and take up little room.  I recently tested nearly 40 mushroom growing kits (12 varieties) and they all worked well and were very productive.

Bamboo canes.

Like everything else, garden supplies have gotten expensive. At least 3 varieties are fully hardy in the UK, Golden, Black and Moso will all give you a supply of canes to use or sell.

Bamboo prefers a sunny or partially shaded spot, Well-drained but moisture-retentive soil and shelter from strong winds, which can damage canes.

Below: Mine grew a bit wonky.

Contain It! Many bamboos are runners, meaning they spread aggressively. If you don’t want them taking over your garden use a root barrier (at least 60 cm deep) to contain the rhizomes or grow in large containers if space is limited.

Plant in spring or early autumn, water well in the first year to establish roots. Apply mulch annually to retain moisture and feed the plant and use a little high-nitrogen feed in spring to encourage strong growth.

Within 3 years you will be able to cut mature canes. Cut in late summer or autumn and allow cut canes to dry for several months before use.

Saffron Crocus.

Saffron, the world's most expensive spice, comes from the delicate stamen threads inside Crocus sativus flowers.

Below: With a bit of luck and a following wind I managed to grow nearly a gram of Saffron.

They’re surprisingly easy to grow, and a small patch will reward you with fragrant, golden saffron strands each autumn.

Just be warned: harvesting is fiddly work and you only get three stamens per bulb, so a steady hand and a bit of patience are required!

Chickpeas.

If you think chickpeas only come in tins, think again. These hardy plants thrive in drier soil and reward you with large crops which are dried for winter soups and hummus.

Below: You haven't lived until you have tried sprouted chickpea hummus!

The chickpea is smaller in the UK growing conditions but they are reliable. Growing conditions are the same as for peas but here in Yorkshire I have to pull the plants as they begin to mature and hang them upside down in my greenhouse to dry.

Plus, they fix nitrogen in the soil, making them a top-tier companion plant. Win-win.

Wasabi – The spicy green gold:

Wasabi grows well in damp, shady spots. It thrives in cool, moist conditions, perfect for many UK allotments.

I tried growing wasabi the year after I saw Jeremy Clarkson growing it on his farming show, and it felt like striking gold. The fresh leaves added zing to my salads, and grating the root? Pure, fiery magic.

Why grow it? It’s expensive to buy, and fresh wasabi beats the fake stuff in tubes. It is difficult to find and fussy.

Pro tip: It needs regular changes of fresh rain water so plant it near a water source. I allow water from my butt to flow through the Wasabi bed while I am watering my other plants so I can provide fresh water and not waste any.

Tree Onions or Egyptian Walking Onions:

These fascinating onions produce bulbils in their flower heads, which then fall to the ground and grow into new plants.  It's like having an onion that walks around your allotment!  

Below: Tree onions grow to around 80 cm tall and form clumps of bulbs at the top of the plant.

The bulbils can be used like regular onions, and the leaves can be used like chives.

Tree onions are fully hardy and not at all fussy about soil or location, mine have been known to grow a little in mild winters and can be harvested almost all year.

Tubers and yams.

Potatoes are old news! There are at least 7 varieties of tuber or yam which grow in the UK climate without to much bother. And yes some of them make excellent chips! (fries)

• Jerusalem Artichokes – Hardy and easy to grow, these produce knobbly tubers with a nutty flavour. They thrive in most soils and can be left in the ground over winter.
• Oca – Originally from the Andes, oca grows well in the UK and produces small, tangy tubers in late autumn. They need a long growing season and do best in well-drained soil.
• Yacon – Another Andean tuber, yacon grows into tall plants with crunchy, sweet tubers. It prefers a warm, sunny position and benefits from starting indoors.
• Mashua – A relative of nasturtiums, mashua produces edible tubers with a peppery taste. It’s a vigorous climber and tolerates cooler conditions.
• Chinese Artichokes – These small, crunchy tubers grow easily in the UK and have a mild, nutty flavour. They spread readily and can be harvested in late autumn.
• Sweet Potatoes – While challenging in the UK’s cooler climate, sweet potatoes can be grown successfully in polytunnels, greenhouses, or warm, sheltered spots.
• Aerial Yams – Some yam varieties, such as lesser yam , can grow in the UK with sufficient warmth, though most need a long, hot season to thrive.

Oca is a knobbly little tubers has a tangy, lemony taste and grow just like spuds. They don’t get blight, and you can eat the leaves too. Plus, they store well, meaning you can smugly snack on homegrown yams while others are buying bland supermarket fare.

Mashua is an Andean tuber has a peppery, slightly sweet flavour.  It's delicious roasted or added to stir-fries.  Plus, it's supposed to have some pretty impressive health benefits.

Yacon grows tall and needs rich, moist soil. It stores energy in sweet, crunchy tubers.
I stumbled on yacon at a gardening show, and now I’m obsessed. The tubers taste like sweet pears and can be used to make a drink. 

Chinese artichokes grow in loose, fertile soil. They spread fast, so give them space.
I planted these for fun, and now I dig up handfuls of knobbly tubers. They taste nutty and crisp, perfect for stir-fries. Because they are tall and sturdy they can be used as or grown up a fence or boundary.

They’re low-effort and add texture to dishes but contain them in pots, or they’ll take over your plot!

Odd root crops like Scorzonera, Hamburg Parsley, or dandelions.

These root veg (although the whole plant is edible) won't be found in the shops. They all need deep and sandy soils and are a long term crop often taking 9 months or more to fully mature. 

Scorzonera grows in deep, sandy soil. It needs full sun and takes time to mature.
I grew scorzonera for its striking black roots, and the flavour, which is earthy and delicate, won me over.

The roots store well. and you need to boil first before peeling. One of my favourite ways to eat root veg like these is to roast them like parsnips in the oven.

Hamburg Parsley is grown for its flavourful root rather than its leaves (although the leaves are edible too!), Hamburg parsley tastes like a cross between parsley and parsnip.  It's great in soups and stews.

When harvesting these deep rooted veg, dig carefully as I have found the roots snap easily, and you don’t want to lose your treasure.

Popcorn or obscure corn varieties.

There are dozens of obscure corn types, from bright red to multicoloured types and a monster that grows about 16 foot tall with pure white cobs.

Growing popcorn in the UK is entirely possible, but it does require an early indoor start, a warm, sunny spot and a bit of patience. Not all corn varieties will pop! You need a specific type called Zea mays everta, which has a hard outer shell and starchy interior.

Below: My yield wouldn't feed a cinema audience but it was fun. This is an excellent project to do with children.

Some good varieties to try include: ‘Strawberry Popcorn’ (small red cobs), ‘Golden Butter’ or ‘Robust 98114’

Sun & Warmth: Popcorn needs as much heat as possible, so a sheltered south-facing spot is ideal.

Soil: Well-draining, fertile soil with plenty of organic matter.

Spacing: Plant in blocks (not rows) for good wind pollination, about 30 cm apart.

Watering: Keep moist, especially when the plants are flowering and forming cobs.
Sowing & Planting

Start indoors in April if you want an early crop, using pots, and transplant outside in late May/early June.

Harvest in autumn when the husks turn brown and dry out and hang the cobs in a warm, airy place for several weeks to dry fully. If the kernels aren’t dry enough, they won’t pop properly.

Popping Your Corn: Once dried, remove the kernels and test-pop a few. If they pop well, you’re good to go! If they don’t pop, they may still be too moist, continue air drying for another week or so.

Peppercorns.

So this one is a little bit of a stretch. I had to plant it on my kitchen window before Christmas and then into the greenhouse in May.

It was a good year and I got a couple of handfuls of mostly green peppercorns which I brined to use for steak sauce.

Below: The yield is poor but it was fun.

Ginger and lemongrass.

Growing ginger and lemongrass in the UK is possible with the right conditions, though both plants need warmth and protection.

Ginger thrives in pots indoors or in a greenhouse, planted in early spring from a fresh rhizome with visible buds. It requires well-drained, nutrient-rich soil and consistent warmth above 15°C.

I started my ginger indoors in January and planted out in the polytunnel in May. It requires a longer season in the UK.

Below: My lemongrass flourishing in the corner of the polytunnel.

Lemongrass, a tropical grass, can be grown in containers or sheltered garden spots during summer but benefits from overwintering indoors. Regular watering, humidity, and plenty of sunlight will help both plants flourish.

Harvest ginger roots after several months, and cut lemongrass stalks as needed once established.

Edible flowers.

Growing flowers for food in the UK is both a practical and beautiful way to enhance your garden while supporting biodiversity. Certain flowers are used as companion plants for vegetables to help keep them pest free.

Below: Lavender has more than a dozen uses both indoors and out. And the bees love it.

Edible flowers like nasturtiums, calendula, borage, and violets are easy to grow and add vibrant colour to salads, desserts, and drinks. Many, such as lavender and chamomile, also have medicinal properties and can be used for teas.

Below: All the flowers from courgette plants are not only edible they are delicious.

Try dipping the courgette flowers in a tempura batter and deep frying. The highly coloured compounds in flowers are thought to be very good for the eyesight.

Beyond their culinary appeal, edible flowers attract pollinators, improving fruit and vegetable yields, and offer a sustainable, space-efficient way to diversify homegrown produce.

Interesting and unusual fruits.

There are a couple of odd and interesting fruits that you can grow in the UK and that you can only really get if you grow them yourself.

My figs and kiwis fruit every year in my polytunnel and passion fruit is a possibility if you have a greenhouse and start it early indoors.

Medlars and quince are both from the rose family like apples and pears and grow well in the UK.

Wild strawberries take up almost no room and are a taste sensation!

Below: Medlars have to blet before being eaten which is essentially a rotting process which puts most people off eating them.

They taste a bit like a toffee apple cross date when ready to eat and make a wonderful jelly.

Supermarket goji berries are usually shrivelled and sad, but grow your own, and you’ll get juicy, fresh berries packed with vitamin C. The plants are tough, productive, and surprisingly unfussy.

Cranberries grow well in the UK although they are a bit of a ball ache to pick.