colored veggies

[fruitnut]

I bought a pack of "rainbow carrots" the other day, figuring my son might get a kick out of pulling up different colours from the garden.
Has anyone tried growing these, I am wondering how they taste (my garden is a good producer for all root crops?

I have looked online am curious if this is a brand new variety, or simply a mix of older carrots that fell out of favour years ago. Any one heard of these?

[Joseph Lofthouse]

Many seed companies sell "mixed carrots", which are a blend of different colored varieties. They grow fine, and taste fine. There is also an F2 hybrid being sold which produces several colors of carrots.

[littleminnie]

Yep the actual 'rainbow' carrot cultivar is one cultivar that produces several colors. I showed that one at the state fair in 2008 (you can't show mixes there). You'll see a lot of mixes now with red and purple in them which is a mix.

[bertiefox]

I grew the purple ones a few years ago, but was very unimpressed with the taste and texture. Have you tried the colored beetroot like Burpees Golden (yellow) which has a beautifully sweet taste and Chioggia which has pink and white stripes, also very good tasting? I grew an Albina one which was entirely white but didn't find that as appealing.

[heidihi]

I did not care for the texture or taste of the rainbow carrots I purchased for my grandson but he loved pulling a different color carrot each time and he ate every single one! So there is no accounting for my taste I guess
I did try last year just mixing my own colors with extablished and tasty ones that had a variety of colors and the flavors were better but still not as good as a good orange carrot!

[fruitnut]

Thanks for the feedback, I was planning a full 25 ft row, but probably best to plant a half row of rainbow's this year and see how they are.

My 9 yr old finished off almost all my carrots last year!! I'm not complaining, but i'm determined to eat a few more of my own, so doubling up on carrots this time 'round.

A homesteading friend (who puts my weeding efforts to shame) swears by Chioggia, so yes I'll be growing them for the first time this year as well.

Now ... I've been eying orange/purple broccoli... is it worth it?

I know some of the purples are amazing, been growing purple beans and purple asparagus for a few years now...yup spring is here, can't wait for the season to begin!

[steev]

Un-red beets are fine, but I really far prefer Lutz for its tops and ability to stay sweet and tender even when large. I find the white and yellow beets lacking in depth of flavor. That aside, any veggie a kid will eat is a good veggie! I kept my daughter engaged in the garden very often with a handfull of fresh fava pods, shelling and munching.

[bertiefox]

It's amazing how kid's fads can last half a lifetime. I decided as a child I loathed beets as they were only ever served up stewed in vinegar for school dinners and looked awful as well. I would never touch beet until I was in my 40s when I discovered Burpees Golden which didn't look like beetroot. From eating those and realising how great beet are when young and lightly steamed, I of course eat all types of beet now. So encouraging children to try everything in veggie terms is SO important!

[steev]

Absolutely! I always tried to introduce my kid to new foods and my rule was: you don't have to like it, but it's silly not to try it so you know whether you might and that you could eat it in a pinch.

[1066]

I've had some fun and a few successes with coloured veg. and the kids I've fed have by and large gone for them.
I've tried the purple carrots "Purple Haze", bright orange inside and purple skins, best eaten cooked. Others I've tried have been Yellowstone carrots - big and yellow, I'm going to give them a 2nd try out, you do have to earth up a little as the tops can go green.
Beetroot, agree with the Burpees Golden, tried this year, and converted, more subtle flavour than some of the reds
Purple Cauli's are good too, a classic is Purple Cape - stands in winter as well, good cauli flavour (but some kids don't go for that anyway). Am trying to find a good orange one to grow this year, haven't decided yet.
then there are always plenty of choices around yellow, or black tomatoes - particularly the cherries, never known kids not to go for those (and back for more!). Blue potatoes (salad blue, Shetland blue etc) great for chips or crisps.
Couloured veg - must be a big kid myself!!
By purple broccoli do you mean purple sprouting or the calabresse?

[ottawagardener]

I had a purple carrot the other day that was really, really purple. It was suppose to be an heirloom though I couldn't figure out the cultivar name. It was purple right through with only a hint of white near the end. Stained the countertop too. On a positive note, it tasted great for kids: very sweet and tender.

I like coloured vegetables because of their ability to give you other nutrients/antioxidants and so on.

Golden Beets are a staple in my garden.

Love, love, dark coloured tomatoes.

Orange/purple broccoli??

[bunkie]

telsing, i've been looking for years for an all purple carrot. from what i understand, that was the original color of the carrot. a shelter in NYC had written an article about the originals and that a farmer there grew them. i was supposed to get some seed, but they lost touch with him.

i see Territorial seed has an all purple carrot, but it's a hybrid. i'd like to find an op variety so i can save seeds.

[ottawagardener]

I'm not 100% convinced that it was an heirloom rather than a hybrid mix but they were selling them at a produce store. I should go back and see if I can get some more and plant them for seed.