Skirret (Sium sisarum)

A forgotten treasure of Europe, Skirret (Sium sisarum) was once prized for its tender, sweet roots. Grown in both castle gardens and monastery plots, this plant is a testament to the rewards of looking beyond the usual vegetables. Think of it as nature’s answer to a sweet, mild parsnip—a delightful flavour hidden just beneath the surface.

🌱 Perennial (dies back in winter and regrows each spring)

🌤️ Light: Full sun to partial shade

📏 Garden Size: Grows around 150 cm tall, spreading about 45 cm wide

🪴 Pot Size: Needs a deep container (minimum 30–35 cm) to support strong root development

🥗 Flavour & Use: The sweet and nutty roots are incredibly versatile. They are ideal for boiling, roasting, or adding to soups and stews, their subtle flavour pairs beautifully with butter, cream, or savoury herbs.

💚 Nutrition & Health: A source of nourishment that’s worth digging for, Skirret is high in fibre and a good source of vitamins B and C. It is also valued for supporting digestion and helping with energy metabolism.

💪 Resilience: A truly hardy and dependable perennial, Skirret is highly resistant to common pests and holds its own in a variety of conditions. Its robust root system ensures a sweet and reliable harvest for years to come.

Sea Kale (Crambe maritima)

Native to UK coastlines, Sea Kale (Crambe maritima) was once a prized delicacy on dinner tables, loved for its elegant, buttery flavour. This striking perennial makes a bold statement in any edible garden with its beautiful mounds of blue-green foliage. It’s a hardy, beautiful plant that brings a taste of the sea to your home.

🌱 Perennial (dies back in winter and regrows each spring)

🌤️ Light: Full sun

📏 Garden Size: Forms mounds about 75 cm tall and 60 cm wide

🪴 Pot Size: Requires a large, deep container (minimum 45 cm diameter and depth)

🥗 Flavour & Use: Every part of this plant is edible. Blanched shoots are tender and have a rich, buttery flavour similar to asparagus. The leaves can be steamed or sautéed like cabbage, and the tender flower buds cooked like broccoli.

💚 Nutrition & Health: A true coastal treasure, Sea Kale is naturally high in vitamin C, calcium, and iron. It provides fantastic support for immune health, strong bones, and overall vitality.

💪 Resilience: A tough, beautiful survivor, Sea Kale is highly resistant to common pests and holds its own in a variety of conditions. Built to withstand the rigours of the coastline, it’s a low-maintenance, dependable addition to your garden.

Scorzonera (Scorzonera hispanica)

Also called black salsify, Scorzonera (Scorzonera hispanica) is an elegant root vegetable with a secret. Its unassuming black exterior hides a brilliant white flesh that is mildly sweet and nutty. Grown in kitchen gardens for its culinary and medicinal value, this hidden gem is a delicious surprise, a plant that truly proves that beauty is on the inside.

🌱 Perennial (grows as a short-lived perennial in UK; often grown as a biennial or annual)

⚠️ Note: May self-seed freely—remove flowers before they set seed if you want to control spread

🌤️ Light: Full sun

📏 Garden Size: Grows about 50 cm tall, spreading 30 cm wide

🪴 Pot Size: Needs a deep container (minimum 30 cm) for straight root growth

🥗 Flavour & Use: The elegant roots are best prepared simply, by boiling, mashing, or roasting. They have a delicate, sweet flavour that is perfect in soups, gratins, or with rich, creamy sauces.

💚 Nutrition & Health: A subtle powerhouse of nutrition, Scorzonera is rich in fibre, iron, and potassium. It is fantastic for supporting digestion and maintaining steady energy levels.

💪 Resilience: A surprisingly tough perennial, Scorzonera is highly resistant to common pests and holds its own in a variety of conditions. It is a reliable, low-maintenance crop that rewards the gardener with a consistent yield.

Red Amaranthus (Amaranthus caudatus)

With its vivid red leaves and towering, cascading seed heads, Red Amaranthus (Amaranthus caudatus) is both a beautiful statement and an ancient staple. Cultivated for thousands of years across the world, this bountiful crop was revered by the Aztecs and has now returned to offer both its stunning visual appeal and its abundant nutritional value.

🌱 Annual (does not survive UK winters; may self-seed in warmer conditions)

🌤️ Light: Full sun

📏 Garden Size: Can reach up to 200 cm tall, spreading about 60 cm wide

🪴 Pot Size: Medium to large containers (minimum 30 cm deep); best performance in open ground

🥗 Flavour & Use: Every part of this plant is useful. Its young leaves are mild and earthy, perfect for steaming, sautéing, or adding to soups. The protein-rich seeds can be toasted, cooked like a grain, or ground into a nutrient-dense flour.

💚 Nutrition & Health: Revered for its nutritional density, Amaranthus is packed with protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. It is a fantastic source of plant-based goodness that supports strong bones, healthy blood, and sustained energy levels.

💪 Resilience: A truly tenacious survivor, Red Amaranthus is highly resistant to common pests and holds its own in a variety of conditions. Its towering growth is a testament to its hardy nature, making it a dependable choice even for the beginner gardener.

Dwarf Pea (Pisum sativum 'Tom Thumb Victorian') 

A charming, compact heirloom variety, the Dwarf Pea (Pisum sativum 'Tom Thumb Victorian') was bred specifically for tight spaces. Once a favourite on Victorian windowsills and in kitchen gardens, this cheeky little plant is perfect for pots, patios, or for bringing the joy of a fresh harvest right to your doorstep.

🌱 Annual (does not survive winter; replant each spring or return to The Forgotten Garden for fresh stock)

🌤️ Light: Full sun

📏 Garden Size: Grows to about 20 cm tall and wide, very compact

🪴 Pot Size: Small to medium containers (minimum 10–15 cm deep)

🥗 Flavour & Use: The sweet peas are perfect fresh, steamed, or stirred into soups and stir-fries. You can even pick the young shoots early for tender salad greens, adding a touch of sweetness to your meals.

💚 Nutrition & Health: Despite its small stature, this pea is high in protein, fibre, and vitamins A and C. It is a perfect little powerhouse for boosting immunity, aiding digestion, and providing a burst of energy.

💪 Resilience: A tough and versatile little plant, the Dwarf Pea is highly resistant to common pests and is built for thriving in small spaces. It produces a reliable, delicious harvest in pots and containers, making it a perfect, low-maintenance choice for gardeners with limited space.

Babington’s Leek (Allium ampeloprasum var. babingtonii)

First noted by a Victorian botanist on the rugged Isles of Scilly in the 1830s, Babington’s Leek (Allium ampeloprasum var. babingtonii) is a true traveller. This perennial has journeyed from its wild coastal home to become a cherished cottage-garden favourite. Spreading reliably by underground bulbs, it offers a consistent harvest of mild leek-garlic greens for most of the year with almost no fuss.

🌱 Perennial (hardy; once planted it returns every year and slowly expands)

🌤️ Light: Full sun

📏 Garden Size: Flowering stems up to 1–1.5 m tall; clumps spread 20–30 cm wide over time

🪴 Pot Size: Large containers at least 30 cm deep; best long-term in open ground

🥗 Flavour & Use: The leaves and shanks have a mild leek-garlic flavour, perfect for cooking just like a standard leek. The top-set bulbils can be sautéed, pickled, or scattered raw for a gentle, allium-family crunch.

💚 Nutrition & Health: A powerhouse for immunity and digestion, this rugged leek is comparable to standard leeks. It’s a good source of vitamins A, C & K, plus manganese, iron, and fibre.

💪 Resilience: A plant that knows how to survive, Babington's Leek is highly resistant to common pests and is built for thriving with minimal intervention. Its hardy nature and ability to spread on its own make it an excellent, low-maintenance choice for any gardener.