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“Rare” depends on where you shop: these vegetables may be unfamiliar or hard to find in some places, but their availability varies by location, season and local stock. This selection—romanesco, celeriac, kohlrabi, sunchokes and fiddleheads—offers five distinct shapes, flavors and easy ways to try something new.
Five vegetables worth looking for
Romanesco: a dramatic-looking brassica
Romanesco is green, with pointed florets arranged in repeating patterns. Its flavor is commonly described as nutty. For a simple first taste, cut it into florets and roast them until tender.
Celeriac: the knobbly celery root
Celeriac, also called celery root, is a rough, knobbly vegetable. Its flavor is often described as earthy and reminiscent of celery. Try it in a soup, mash, or gratin; these preparations make its firm root easy to enjoy.
Kohlrabi: crisp and mild
Kohlrabi is a swollen stem, often sold with its leaves, and may be green or purple. Peel it and slice it for a crisp, mild snack, or shred it into slaw.
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- Beautiful - Variety Pack: Ten large individual packets: Golden Globe Beet (Beta vulgaris), Broccoli Romanesco (Brassica oleracea), Cucamelon (Melothria scabra), Lemon Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus), Chocolate Beauty Pepper (Capsicum annuum), Kellogg's Breakfast Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), Watermelon Radish (Raphanus Sativus), Tendersweet Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), Opal Basil (Ocimum Basilicum) and Rainbow Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris).
- Fun Variety - A great way to start a garden conversation. Also makes a great gift for the adventurous gardener, especially for kids. No duplicate varieties between these collections; try all three for a super bountiful and diverse garden.
- Good Eats - Home-grown fresh vegetables, even crazy colored ones, are hard to beat for flavor and nutrition. Add a unique splash of color to your garden and dinner plate. A fun way to get more vegetables in your family’s diet.
- Easy to Grow - Instructions included on each packet. Plus, we are available to answer all your questions. If these seeds don’t germinate, we will happily make it right for you.
- Safe and Sustainable - Our operation is fully solar powered, and Sow Right Seeds has taken the Safe Seed Pledge to sell only fresh Non-GMO heirloom seeds for you and your family.
Sunchokes: tubers with a misleading name
Sunchokes are knobbly tubers, also known as Jerusalem artichokes. Despite the name, they are not artichokes. Their flavor is commonly described as nutty and slightly sweet. Roasting is an easy way to try them cooked.
Fiddleheads: seasonal fern shoots
Fiddleheads are the young, coiled shoots of ferns. The food-safety guidance here applies to ostrich fern fiddleheads only: not all fern shoots are edible. Their flavor is often compared with asparagus, and they are seasonal, so ask a knowledgeable produce seller what is available and correctly identified.
Rank #2
- EXOTIC CHOCOLATE CHERRY SUNFLOWER SEEDS – Large 5–8" burgundy-black blooms with chocolate centers on 6–7 ft branching heirloom sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)
- POLLINATOR FRIENDLY GARDEN SEEDS – Attracts bees, butterflies, birds, and pollinators, low pollen variety ideal for balancing habitat support with ornamental use
- ANNUAL SUNFLOWER 6–7 FEET TALL – Grows in full sun and well-drained soil, burgundy blooms from summer through fall, great for beds, borders, containers, and cut flowers
- EASY PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED – Every seed packet has details on germination, spacing, care, and seed saving for successful garden growth
- FAMILY OWNED USA SMALL BUSINESS – Heirloom non-GMO seeds from Survival Garden Seeds, a trusted American brand; always open-pollinated, untreated, and quality tested for garden success
How to cook fiddleheads safely
Do not eat fiddleheads raw or undercooked. University of Maine Cooperative Extension advises washing ostrich fern fiddleheads, removing their papery covering, then boiling them for 15 minutes or steaming them for 10–12 minutes. It does not recommend sautéing, stir-frying or microwaving as the only initial cooking method. Its guidance is emphatic: “Under no conditions should fiddleheads be consumed raw or under-cooked.” Read the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s fiddlehead food-safety guidance.
Where to find them—and how to judge freshness
Farmers’ markets and specialty grocers are possible places to look, but no retailer or season can be guaranteed everywhere. Availability changes by location and time of year. Ask produce sellers what is in season and whether they can identify the vegetable, particularly when buying fiddleheads. For freshness, inspect the produce in front of you and ask the seller how it has been stored; there is no single freshness test that applies equally to these five very different vegetables.
Rank #3
- Beginner-Friendly Planting: Plant aunt molly ground cherry seeds 1/4 inch deep. Ground husk cherry tomatoes (ground tomato seeds) prefer 65–85°F for quick germination of these heirloom seeds non gmo .
- Quick Fruiting Cycle: Husk cherry sprouts in 5–10 days when soil stays at 70°F. These physalis seeds mature in 60–85 days, producing succulent ground cherry tomato seeds akin to rare fruit seeds.
- Exceptional Germination Rate: Pineapple ground cherry seeds deliver 90% sprout success. These Ground Cherries Seeds thrive in USDA zones 4–8, yielding tangy fruit.
- Compact Garden Favorite: This ground cherry plant reaches about 2 ft tall. Plant ground cherry pineapple seeds in full sun; These Ground cherries garden seeds are ideal for a bountiful home garden.
- Tropical Sweetness in Every Bite: Each ground cherry bursts with sweet tropical notes. Enjoy them raw or in pies, jams, and salsas. Combine this heirloom variety with summer vegetable seeds for flavorful harvest!
Can you grow any of them at home?
Kohlrabi is a practical starting point. Utah State University Extension describes it as a cool-season vegetable suited to a sunny location with fertile, well-drained soil. Conditions and planting timing depend on your local climate; Utah State University Extension’s kohlrabi guide provides growing details. The available guidance here does not establish equally specific home-growing advice for the other four vegetables.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are unusual vegetables more nutritious?
There is no reliable comparative nutrition figure established here to show that these five are more nutritious than familiar vegetables. Their shapes and flavors make them interesting additions to a meal, but rarity or novelty alone is not evidence of a health advantage.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Beautiful - Large premium packet of Midnight Dreams Pepper (Capsicum annuum) seeds. A crisp, sweet bell pepper that matures from green to ebony black. Harvest when peppers are firm and dark in color. Transform your backyard into a lush pepper oasis, enjoying an endless supply of fresh, home-grown produce that not only enhances your meals but also elevates your gardening experience! Minimum of 300mg per packet (about 40 seeds).
- Productive - Peppers germinate in 8-15 days when soil temps are 75-85°F. Plant 1/4” deep and space 18-24” apart in an area with full sun. This variety will grow 18-30” tall with a spread of 18-24”. Peppers will mature in 65-85 days, plant in USDA zones 3-12.
- Good Eats - The large, blocky shape of these bell peppers makes them perfect for stuffing. Add a gourmet touch to salads, stir-fries, and grilled dishes. Sweet peppers are a favorite for their mild flavor and versatile uses. These are not only productive plants, but typically have lush foliage that looks great in gardens and in landscape beds.
- Easy to Grow - Instructions included on each packet. Plus, we are available to answer all your questions. If these seeds don’t germinate, we will happily make it right for you.
- Safe and Sustainable - Our operation is fully solar powered, and Sow Right Seeds has taken the Safe Seed Pledge to sell only fresh Non-GMO heirloom seeds for you and your family.
Rank #4
- Fresh seeds, yard long bean seeds
- The beans have a wonderful nutty asparagus flavor, & can also be used dried.
- This vine is actually considered a subtropical plant, so grows very well in hot & humid areas.
- They grow just fine in cooler Northern climates too, & will continue to produce until frost.
- The plants are disease resistant, & have become a popular market variety in the US.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
