Exotic vegetables: Definition, benefits and how to grow

Exotic vegetables thrive during winters and can be cultivated indoors

What are exotic vegetables?

Vegetables that are grown under special conditions are known as exotic vegetables. Exotic vegetables are cultivated in poly houses or green shade net houses.

The winds are already getting chillier, indicating that “winter is coming”. Although the season is characterised as a no-growth season, it is not true entirely. If you have a home garden full of organic edibles (or are planning to set up one), you can continue growing even during the cold months of December and January. 

However, you have to pick the right crops for the same. In India, many home-growers opt for some delectable, exotic vegetables that they can grow in containers during these months. Veggies like broccoli, parsnips, endive, tatsoi, Chinese cabbage, and bell peppers literally thrive during this season. 

Why are exotic vegetables expensive?

Many exotic vegetables are imported to India, making the prices sore high. Also, owing to the small trading size of exotic vegetables, they are expensive.

What are the benefits of exotic vegetables?

Exotic vegetables are powered with antioxidants that prevent inflammation of blood vessels and digestive tract. It also prevents cardiovascular disease, especially atherosclerosis. This exotic vegetable is only tasty but offers numerous health benefits. It is a rich source of Vitamins A,C,E and K and also contains folate and chromium

Exotic vegetables: Quick facts 

Exotic winter veggies Scientific Name Benefits
Broccoli Brassica oleracea var. italica
  1. Loaded with essential vitamins and minerals
  2. Antioxidants
  3. Helps keep blood sugar in check
  4. Prevents certain forms of cancer
  5. Enhance cardiac health
Parsnips Pastinaca sativa
  1. Boosts immunity
  2. Aids in digestion
  3. Enhances the cardiovascular system
  4. Loaded with essential nutrients that help improve overall health
Endive Cichorium endivia
  1. Excellent source of folate
  2. Helps prevent cancer
  3. Promotes cardiovascular health
  4. Aids in weight loss
Tatsoi Brassica rapa subsp. narinosa
  1. Promotes heart health
  2. Prevents diabetes
  3. Have cancer-fighting abilities
Chinese cabbage Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis
  1. Source of vitamins C, K
  2. Excellent source of folic acid 
  3. Promotes bone health
  4. Helps reduce hypertension
  5. Promotes vision
Bell peppers  Capsicum annuum
  1. Excellent source of Vitamins A, B6, E, K1 and C
  2. Loaded with antioxidants
  3. Source of folate and potassium

Where are exotic vegetables grown in India?

Exotic vegetables are grown in few places in India including Mahabaleshwar, Pune, Nashik, Uttarakhand, Ooty, Himachal Pradesh, Bangalore and Jammu and Kashmir.

Exotic vegetables for your home garden

Now that you know the benefits of these exotic veggies, let’s see how to cultivate them.

Broccoli

Exotic vegetables to grow indoors 1

Source: Pinterest 

Broccoli is a cool-weather crop that grows just fine in containers. Take a 5-gallon (19L) container to grow one plant. If you want to grow more, go for a 15 gallons (57 L) container with proper drainage holes at the bottom. 

But make sure you choose a light-coloured pot, as darkened ones can heat up quickly, leading the crop to bolt. Keep the pot in partial shade, as broccoli likes the chills. Water the plant regularly and feed nitrogen-rich organic fertilisers into the soil. 

However, broccoli is susceptible to pests, like cutworms, aphids and cabbage worms. While cutworms can be kept away by wrapping the flower heads in wax paper, you should keep each container some distance apart to prevent infestations. 

See also: All about India’s National Tree- Banyan

Parsnips

Exotic vegetables to grow indoors 2

Source: Pinterest 

Parsnips can be a tad difficult to grow in containers, as they have a large root system, but a deep container with proper drainage facilities may be well-suited for this purpose. You can either buy transplants, or you can sow the seeds elsewhere (in the ground) and transfer them to the pot when they have grown a little. 

Parsnips require well-draining soil that is rich in compost, so the idea is to dampen the soil but not soak it entirely. You need to have some patience while growing parsnips, as they can take about 34 weeks to harvest. If you live in a place with temperatures darting below the zero level, make sure you apply mulch around the plant to prevent freezing. 

Endive

Exotic vegetables to grow indoors 3

Source: Pinterest 

The growth pattern of endive is quite similar to that of lettuce. It is best to start in a tray that is about 300 mm wide, and after planting the seeds, keep it in the sun but prevent exposure to strong winds. Keep the soil adequately moist during the entire germination stage but take care not to soak the seeds in water. 

Once the seedlings reach about 6 cm in height, apply a high-quality potting mix to the soil. You can then transplant the seedlings in a pot and water them regularly. At the end of 10 weeks, you can harvest the entire plant or keep cutting off the leaves as the plant grows to include in your salads and curries. 

Note: Endive leaves can produce a slightly bitter taste. If you want to avoid this issue, place a plastic pot over the leaves 3 weeks before harvesting, or you may also add straw mulch to the soil. 

Tatsoi

Exotic vegetables to grow indoors 4

Source: Pinterest 

Tatsoi, also referred to as the spinach mustard, requires a medium-sized container, about 8-10 inches deep and wide as well. It is because the plant stretches over a foot in diameter sometimes. You need to keep the container in a place that receives at least 4 hours of sunlight. However, if you see that the leaves are getting somewhat yellowish, indicating too much light exposure, just provide some shade to the plant. Water every day, but do not let the container get soggy. 

One thing to note is the tatsoi is a favourite of pests and insects, like slugs, leafhoppers, caterpillars and cabbage worms. Spraying a neem-based solution once a week can help keep such pests at bay. Check for probable infestations in the leaves and stems and take necessary actions accordingly. The harvest time can extend to 5 weeks, after which you can cut the base and harvest the whole plant. You can also cut the mature leaves for consumption and leave the plant to grow further. 

Chinese cabbage

Exotic vegetables to grow indoors 5

Source: Pinterest 

Chinese cabbage can be grown successfully in a pot. However, you can start by planting the seeds in a seed tray and transplant the seedlings to a container once they are mature enough after 2-3 weeks. An important thing that you should keep in mind here is that Chinese cabbage is prone to transplanting shock and may bolt. You can prevent that by using biodegradable pots for the seeds and placing them in the acreage or the large container where you are planning to grow the plant later. These pots will degrade after some time, leaving the seedlings to mature in the final container where they are supposed to. 

Like other winter-loving exotic vegetables, the Chinese cabbage needs not more than 4-5 hours of sunlight per day and temperatures of 13-21 °C. The plant can even survive 0 °C to some extent with stunted growth, but care should be taken not to make it survive the frost. It needs nutrient-rich, moist soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5 for optimum growth. While watering the plant, keep the top 4-6 inches of soil layer moist but not soggy to prevent the roots from rotting. 

Pests like aphids, slugs, blacklegs, and even yellow viruses can cause infestations in the plant. Remove the infested parts immediately to save your napa cabbage from dying. You may also spray some Bacillus thuringiensis to keep the pests, like cabbage worms, fleas and whiteflies, away.

Bell peppers

Exotic vegetables to grow indoors 5

Source: Pinterest 

A crucial ingredient for continental cuisines, salads and curries, bell peppers are an absolute delight for veggie lovers. An added advantage of this vegetable is you can easily grow them in containers at home to avoid running to the stores once your stock is exhausted. All you need is a large container, over 12 inches wide, with drainage holes at the bottom. 

Use a well-draining organic potting mix instead of garden soil to help the peppers grow hassle-free. Also, add some calcium granules to the soil while planting, as the bell peppers are prone to a condition called blossom end rot (the ends of the veggies become black due to calcium deficiency). With six hours of full sun per day and moderate temperature levels, the bell peppers will grow healthily to give you a constant supply of delectable salad ingredients. 

Note: Water your bell peppers early in the morning and never at night to prevent waterlogging and fungal infections. Check the top layer of the soil for moisture. If it feels dry, water it; otherwise, leave it for the day.

FAQs

How to get rid of pests while growing veggies?

Spray high-quality neem oil solution every week on the leaves and stems of the plant. If the plant has already been attacked by pests, remove the infested parts immediately to save it from further damage.

What kind of container to buy for growing bell peppers?

It should be considerably wide in diameter, as bell peppers need space to grow. Also, make sure that there are drainage holes at the bottom to prevent waterlogging.

Is it okay to harvest the entire plant?

It depends! If you want to grow some other veggies after harvesting the plant, then go ahead. But if you want a few more harvests, just cut the mature leaves and leave the plant to grow again.

Can I have broccoli every day?

It’s not advisable to have broccoli every day, as it leads to gastric issues and bloating in some people. Also, it may cause issues in bowel movements.

Is tatsoi toxic?

If you have thyroid issues, chemicals in this veggie can interfere with the hormone production in your body. It’s best to talk to your physician before including it in your diet.

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you.Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com

 

 

 

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