Some believe that we should talk to our plants to make them grow better. If that’s true, some of the exotic vegetables being shown lately are so gorgeous that we can flatter them shamelessly without feeling the least bit hypocritical. 

There are some truly wondrous-looking veggies available these days for the gardener who likes to experiment. They’re being discussed everywhere these days. Upscale gardening magazines are running articles on them, with page after page of color photographs. There are blogs on the Internet regarding their culture, and even venerable old stands like Park Seed Company are featuring “Unique Veggies” on the web. Some we may be able to plant soon as a fall crop and others may have to wait until next year. At any rate, it may soon be possible to have a vegetable garden worthy of a garden tour.

One of the most intriguing of these exotics is Romanesco Veronica, Brassica oleracea Romanesco. This one is variously described as a broccoli, as a cauliflower, and as an F 1 hybrid. It looks like an alien life form and it’s absolutely stunning. The chartreuse head is an orb consisting of multiple shallow cones that appear to be composed of beaded spirals, and the cones themselves spiral around the entire head. 

In the garden the plant is reported to be three feet high and wide, with large cabbage-like leaves; the recommended spacing is 24 inches. It will probably be a fall crop for us, and since broccoli is a heavy feeder, it is even more important than it usually is that the soil be really well amended. Surprisingly enough, we can find Romanesco broccoli in the frozen food department of our local supermarkets. Steamed, it has an exceedingly mild flavor. Park Seeds and Thompson & Morgan are sources, among others. 

Eggplant “Purple Rain” has oval, six- to seven-inch purple fruit with mottled creamy white vertical stripes. Burpee Seed Company describes it as “the most beautiful eggplant we’ve ever seen.” The white flesh is mild tasting and the eggplant holds its shape well when cooked. “Purple Rain” is a good-sized plant and it would grow well in a container, as long as you give it a large enough tub or box. 

Veteran gardener Tom Brink recommends using a container in those areas of shallow soil that are often found on the western side of Waco. Eggplant roots like to grow vertically, he says, and suggests that the container be at least 18” deep. Eggplant likes the same growing conditions as peppers, and appreciates plenty of water. 

Another new vegetable in the purple range is “Purple Passion” asparagus. It’s a high-yielding plant whose burgundy spears are plumper than the norm, with tight rounded tips. The sugar content is 20 percent higher than the green form, and the spears are so tender that the entire spear can be cooked. Its mild taste means it is often eaten raw, and the purple color would make an interesting garnish in salads, although it turns green when cooked. One caveat: our summers may be less than ideal for growing this particular asparagus, but considering its pluses, it may be worth a try.

Red-stemmed Malabar spinach, Basella alba ‘Rubra,’ is a reseeding annual that some Waco gardeners already know, because Master Gardeners Ila Jean Carothers donates many starter plants each year to the Master Gardener plant sale. This fast-growing vine will cover a small structure in short order, and it’s quite beautiful, as well as being edible.  Ila Jean says that it’s a moderate water user, and that it will reseed but won’t appear in spring until the weather gets really warm. The dark green leaves are highly nutritious and have the added advantage of being insect and disease resistant. That, plus the plant’s heat-loving qualities make it a recommended one for local gardeners to try. If you missed this year’s plant sale, seeds are readily available, and some of our better local nurseries grow it, although it’s usually gone by summer.

Mariachi pepper is a comely little hybrid that is extremely productive as well as being a treat to the eye with its yellow, orange and red four-inch fruits. These peppers are hot, yes, but not unbearably so. (For those of us who tend to be wimpy about peppers, this is a consideration.) It matures early and is continuously productive.

There are innumerable more fascinating edibles to explore, but for now, we’ll close with the heirloom “Fish” pepper. This is a moderately hot pepper with a unique fruity taste. In the garden, it’s a delight, so be sure to plant it where it can be seen, because this is one showy plant. The variegated green and white foliage is lovely, and the peppers are eye-catching. Not only do they come in a wide range of warm colors but they also have vertical stripes of green and yellow as well. Fish pepper will grow about two feet high and wide.

Good nutrition that tastes delicious and is lovely as well. You may find yourself out in your garden murmuring, “Oh, you have such good taste, and you’re beautiful, too!”