Vegetables to grow - unusual ones

Potomac Vegetable Farms is an inspiring local source, between May and October, for unusual vegetables and fruits, all organic or biodynamic, with more than 20 different types of lettuce being grown. 9627 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, 703 759 3844.

Buy a sound head of garlic in November (some interesting varieties are on sale down at the Dupont Circle Farmers Market), break it carefully into cloves. Bury them, pointed end upwards, about 2 inches down in soil in the ground or a pot, and wait for spring when you'll have your own home-grown heads of garlic. 

The most seductive garlic in the world is probably the rose-pink kind from Provence. This and 200 other different varieties are grown organically at Filaree Farm. Send for details to Route 1, Box 162, Okanogan, WA 98840-9774.

If you have the time and the fancy to grow Belgium's famous white-speared asparagus, Jersey Asparagus Farms sell both crowns and seeds for this and other types. Free brochure from RD5, Box 572, New Field, NJ 08344.

It's hard to match artichokes from Brittany for flavor, but it's the boast of Castroville in California that it's the Artichoke Capital of the World and it has to be said the difference in taste between their prickly products and those of the massive supermarket chains is strong. To have some shipped direct to you, call Giant Artichoke, 408 633 2778. They don't just grow the large variety, but violettes, the very small ones that are so good deep fried or stewed the Greek way in olive oil, lemon juice and dill with broad (fava) beans and baby new potatoes.

http://www.earthy.com will ship you baby vegetables usually only available to professional chefs and ingredients from different ethnic and regional cuisines. Even if you don't want to buy anything, the site offers recipes that are extremely accessible from very serious chefs, like Charlie Trotter (see his simple but superior version of winter squash soup) and Patrick O'Connell. 

Related Ingredients...

Garlic
Herbs
Vegetables - unusual