It’s surprisingly easy to grow some really interesting additions to your everyday meals from seed. Here’s a round-up of unusual edibles to grow and you don’t need a garden…some just a window sill, or a container in a sheltered spot outside.
We love Herboo’s seed selections so here's our pick of their most unusual offerings to add to your dishes and drinks.
1. Amaranth red army seeds
Amaranth red army seeds from Herboo
Amaranth 'red army' seeds are so quick to grow as a micro green, packed with goodness. The young leaves have a delicate pea-like flavour.
How to grow Amaranth ‘red army’ from seed
It couldn’t be simpler to grow these as a micro green. Just sow the seeds densely on firm soil in a 10cm pot, Place on a windowsill, don’t let them dry out and when they get to 10cm tall you can snip off the baby leaves and add them to your salad.
2. Red Shiso seeds
Red shiso seeds from Herboo
Red Shiso is likened to basil and makes a great accompaniment to raw fish or Japanese noodles.
How to grow Red Shiso from seed
Sprinkle seeds sparingly on damp seed compost, keep them moist and cover with a fine layer of soil. When seedlings are big enough to handle prick them out into individual pots so they each have room to grow and get them slowly acclimatised to outdoor temperatures when there is no more risk of frost. When in need of a re-pot plant them into containers in a sunny and sheltered spot. Keep cutting the young leaves to eat alongside sushi or in noodle dishes.
3. Borage seeds
The edible Borage flowers not only add a beautiful touch of bright blue to a salad or to a summer cocktail when frozen in your ice cube tray, but they also are a source of valuable nectar for pollinating insects. Bees love them! The young leaves have a light cucumber taste so work perfectly in a salad.
How to grow Borage from seed
Borage is quick to grow from seed and will flower within a few months. It can be sown directly where it is to grow in a large pot in a sunny spot outdoors or directly into a bed (after flowering Borage will self-seed so if you don’t want the bed to be taken over with Borage be sure to pick the flowers when they are blooming and pop into your salads).
4. forget me-not seeds
Forget-me-not seeds from Herboo
Forget-me-not flowers are dainty and blue, the plants thrive as ground cover in a slightly shady bed, but also look great in patio containers. The tiny edible flowers make a really attractive decoration for cakes.
How to grow Forget-me-not from seed
Sow indoors on damp compost and keep warm to aid germination, don’t let the seeds dry out. When large enough to handle prick out the seedlings and pot on into individual pots. They can be planted outside when the days are warm to flower the following year.
If it’s houseplants that you really love, take a look at our blog 5 houseplants to sow from seed.