Gardening is often about trial run and misplay , and some crops , despite their popularity , just are n’t deserving the rough-and-tumble .
Here ’s a lighthearted look at 15 foods that many arrogate to adore , but few gardeners would willingly uprise again .
1. Kale
Kale is the deary of health enthusiasts , yet it try more like a chore than a delight . This leafy green is know for its robustness , but it abscond quickly , leaving gardeners scrambling to glean before it flowers .
Its bitter taste does n’t do it any favors either . When you grow kale , it tend to take over , overshadowing other crop with its sprawling nature . Gardeners often swear off growing it again , prefer to buy it at the store instead .
Despite the ballyhoo , kale often cease up in the compost ABA transit number rather than on the dinner plate .
2. Zucchini
Zucchini is the vegetable that keeps on giving , and gift , and giving . One industrial plant can produce an overwhelming amount of zucchinis , more than any family could reasonably eat .
While the idea of zoodles may fathom appealing , in reality , many come up them lacking in flavor and texture . nurseryman soon tire of the dateless harvest , wishing they had planted something less prolific .
The initial excitement speedily turns into apprehensiveness as friends and crime syndicate start avoiding your zucchini gifts . It ’s a classic example of too much of a good thing sour sour .
© Gardener’s Path
3. Quinoa
Quinoa enjoys its status as a superfood , but cultivating it is no small feat . The grains are little , making them a challenge to glean , especially when the local birdie population takes an interest .
As if that were n’t enough , the saponin finish demand thoroughgoing rinsing before consumption , adding another footstep to the already labor - intensive process .
For many gardeners , the dream of homegrown quinoa chop-chop evanesce away , interchange by the widget of store - corrupt options . Despite its nutritional benefit , home polish often prove more trouble than it ’s worth .
© Taste of Home
4. Eggplant
Eggplants may be visually striking with their deep purple hues , but they ’re notorious for being cross to mature . These plants attract a server of pests , from beetles to snail , making them a frequent target in the garden .
Their growth can be inconsistent , with some time of year grant small more than letdown . The texture , often name as spongelike , is n’t everyone ’s cup of tea either .
Gardeners often find themselves questioning whether the battle is deserving the outcome , opting instead for less troublesome vegetables . The allure of eggplant fades fast in the expression of adversity .
© College of Agricultural Sciences – Colorado State University
5. Raw Garlic (for shots)
Garlic is a beloved staple fibre in many kitchen , but the melodic theme of juicing it for health shot leaves much to be hope . The pungent flavor is overwhelming , and the fiery sensation is n’t well block .
Most nurseryman produce garlic for its culinary uses , not for turning into liquid form . The movement of naturalize and then juicing it seems exuberant when faced with the needlelike taste .
While garlic may have wellness welfare , drinking it raw is an experience many would rather forefend . A clove tree in a dish is delightful , but as a drunkenness ? Not so much .
© University of Maryland Extension
6. Mushrooms
mushroom have an down-to-earth prayer , but growing them is not for the faint of heart . They require specific stipulation — dark , humidness , and precise temperatures — which can be hard to maintain .
Their appearance , particularly when burn in low light , can be unsettling for some . The process is operose , and the yield often irregular .
For many gardeners , the appeal of homegrown mushrooms chop-chop diminish as they grapple with these challenge . Despite their culinary versatility , mushrooms rest a high - maintenance crop that many only seek once before giving up .
© Gardener’s Path
7. Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is touted for its health welfare , but its gustatory modality is far from appealing . Often likened to fresh mowed lawn , it ask juicing to consume , adding to the tussle . The equipment call for is another investiture , and the payoff is minimal .
Gardeners who develop wheat-grass often do so with high hopes , only to find themselves less than enamored with the grassy flavor .
Despite its vibrant color , the taste give much to be desire , and the effort require can be off - putting . Store - bought juice seems a much simpler option for most .
© Mushroom Council
8. Arugula
Arugula may add a peppery kick to your salad , but in the garden , it ’s another story . This leafy gullible bolts at the slightest hint of heat , turning bitter and unpalatable . Its weedy appearance does n’t help its case either , often intermingle into the scope .
nurseryman cursorily learn that Eruca sativa demands attention , and even then , it may not reward your drive . As the summer Sunday beats down , arugula ’s appeal withers away , leaving behind a bitter perceptiveness .
For many , it ’s easy to buy it fresh from the market rather than wrestle with its erratic nature .
© Vegan Family Recipes
9. Romanesco
Romanesco is visually arresting , but growing it is an use in patience . cognise for its fractal formula , it shares the same grow woe as its Brassica oleracea botrytis full cousin . Pests fuck it , and it requires just the right consideration to flourish .
Many nurseryman are drawn in by its singular appearance , only to encounter that its penchant does n’t live up to the hoopla . With so much effort require for a successful harvest time , it ’s often hold not worth the bother .
Romanesco may look like a piece of art , but in the garden , it ’s a demanding prima donna that test your resolution .
© In My Kitchen Garden
10. Jerusalem Artichokes (Sunchokes)
Jerusalem artichokes , or Jerusalem artichoke , are a authoritative case of trespassing beaut . These tubers raise sharply , often taking over entire garden bed . Once planted , they ’re well-nigh out of the question to eradicate , propagate underground with a tenacity that ’s gruelling to match .
While they have a unique , dotty feeling , they are infamous for causing digestive distress . gardener before long regret introducing them to their game , as their persistence becomes more of a curse than a blessing .
For those who hold dear their garden ’s harmony , sunchoke are a deterrent example in caveat and containment .
© School Garden Weekly
11. Lemons (in cold climates)
Citrus limon are a tempting fruit to grow , but in colder climates , they ’re a labor of love with small reward . These citrous fruit trees demand warmness and sunlight , conditions heavily to come by in many neighborhood .
Gardeners hoping to civilize their own citrus often stop up with a single , lamentable fruit after years of effort . The dreaming of bracing lemon tree quickly fade , replaced by the reality of a potted industrial plant that sputter to hold up .
For many , it ’s easy to admire them in sunnier locales or just buy them from the depot . The fantasy of homegrown lemons often stay just that — a fantasy .
© Gardening Know How
12. Purple Carrots
Purple carrot are a ocular treat , but they hail with their own set of challenges . Known for staining everything they touch , from hands to cutting table , they require deliberate handling . While their color is light upon , their look is indistinguishable from their orange counterparts .
nurseryman await something exotic often happen themselves let down . The novelty of purple quickly assume off when faced with the practicalities of cooking and cleanup .
They add a splash of gloss to dishes , but the extra flap can make them more trouble than they ’re deserving . For many , a steady cultivated carrot does the chore just all right .
© Simply Trees
13. Heirloom Tomatoes (Flavorless Ones)
Heirloom tomato plant are keep for their potpourri , but not all are create equal . Some , despite their stunning appearance , offer little more than a reeking predilection . Gardeners put in the elbow grease , nurture these plant with care , only to find that some of their fruit are all show , no flavour .
The disappointment of slicing into a flat tomato can be enough to swear them off altogether . While the variety of shapes and colour is appealing , the gamble on taste leaves many longing for the reliable flavor of hybrid variety show . In the garden , looks are n’t everything .
14. Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is undeniably beautiful , with its rainbow - comparable stalks , yet its acerb taste often requires culinary creativity to enjoy . While it develop prolifically , even in poor soil , gardeners often find themselves at a loss for what to do with the teemingness .
Without the plus of flavorful ingredient , it can feel like a last - resort vegetable . Swiss chard fly high almost too well , tempting gardeners to grow it again despite its polarizing taste .
For those with a taste for experimenting in the kitchen , it supply sizable opportunity , but for others , it ’s a crop considerably admire from afar .
© Savvy Gardening
15. Popcorn Corn
Popcorn Indian corn is a novelty harvest that seldom lives up to arithmetic mean . While the musical theme of grow your own Zea mays everta is entice , the realism often descend short . Each straw requires pregnant quad and effort , yet yields only a couple of auricle .
Wildlife , particularly raccoons , also find these ear resistless , often leave nurseryman with nothing to harvest . The temptingness of homemade Zea mays everta apace dims as the difficulties pack up .
For many , the special wages is n’t deserving the investment , making store - bought alternative far more likeable . The phantasy of newly - popped corn whiskey remains just that — a phantasy .
© Epic Gardening
© University of Maryland Extension
© Whole-Fed Homestead
