We are a working family farm in Enumclaw with over 150 types of fruits and vegitables - exotic and common.
But the exotic ones are just so much more fun!!
Heirloom Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2002/0915/cover.html
Pumkins of course! These beauties are called Rouge Vif dEmpt - a French heirloom renowned for its flavor.
Baby Boo is a fun small pumpkin - for decoration or individual servings. Yup, they're as white as Casper.
One of the many winter squash we grow. This variety is called "Carnival" and is a truly delicious Acorn variety.
Freshly dug Bavarian Horse Radish (so fresh it still has dirt on it!)
Elephant Garlic live up to their name. The gentle giant of the garlic family. Some say it isn't a true garlic, but it's certainly my favorite for roasting. About the size of your fist and 1/2 pound apiece. Easy to grow in your family peapatch or garden. The trick to growing really big, tender Elephant Garlic is to plant in September, feed monthly and water weekly March thru July.
Asian Cucumbers - some of the sweetest cukes you've ever tasted. Most have no shell, so require no peeling. The only downside is they are very tender and bruise easily. Gentle handling is a must.
Hardy Banana Plant!
Yes we have smaller ones too.
Banana leaves are great steamed with a bit of rice(that has been cooked) rolled in them. you can Add veggies, beans or meat that has been cooked as well. Thai cookbooks have several recipes using banana leaves.
Ever had Sushi? Do you know what Osaka Leaf is in...Wasabee!
Shiso
Both Red and Green
Wisteria (China Blue)
Japanese cucumbers
Mizvna : Japanese Sweet Mustard
Black Tuscan Cabbage
Bok Choy
Asian Plums
Japanese Maples
Of every color!
Oh like our sign out front says Rockridge Orchards and Bamboo Groves
Bigger than your truck Bamboo!
And small garden bamboo.
We have lots of Bamboo poles if you like!
And yes we do pot up bamboo to sell it if you like!
We have 106 different varieties of Bamboo. To adventure threw!
Here is a great article by Washington State University Small Farms http://smallfarms.wsu.edu/marketing/RockridgeOrchards.html
And here is a great recipe for our Bamboo shoots. http://www.northwesthawaiitimes.com/foodjuly06.htm
Other exotics that are not pictured:
Masagi Diakon Radish - Green shouldered White Radish
Mei Quing Choi - small green stem sweeter cousin to Bok Choy. Makes a very nice soup or braised veggie.
Sim Ha - Vietnamese Marsh Lettuce - looks like a ratty weed, but very flavorful quickly heated or very edgy raw.
Sim Choy - longer white stem/green leaf bok choy. Best steamed or in stir fry.
Gai Lan - Chinese Broccoli - can replace broccoli, raab or cauliflower in most recipes.
Minuet Nappa - long paler green mild chinese cabbage.
Tatsoi - tight head of dark green small round leaves on light green stalks. A bit more pungent than spinach, but can be used in and spinach or chard recipe.
Chesnik Red Garlic - (Hot) For garlic lovers. Great baked on bread.
Green Scallions -
Kuribo Kabocha Squash - Very dry, but sweet nutty flavor. Great steamed, baked or roasted.
French Sorrel - high in vitamin C. Was the spring tonic of the European middle ages.
Early Mizuna - feathery green chinese mustard.
Nappa Leaves - round heavily savoyed leaves. Great alternative to bread for lunch. Spread a couple of leaves with cream cheese and can top them with sprouts or salsa. Try chicken or tuna salad even luncheon meat rolled in a leaf. Peanut Butter is good aswell.
Morel Mushrooms -
Bamboo shoots
Arugula Blossoms
Chinese Celery
Collard Greens
Brocolli Raab- Italian Brocolli - longer smaller stems with less heading. Great chopped and added to pasta.