Zucchini, parsnip and salsify — the ones the sabzi mandi never stocks.
The mid-green bush zucchini most widely grown in India. Heavy-bearing and forgiving of a warm spell.
Glossy, near-black courgettes on a compact bush plant. Pick them at 15-20 cm and pick often; a missed fruit turns into a marrow.
Bright yellow cylindrical courgettes that are easy to spot under the leaves. The flavour is the same as green zucchini, with more colour on the plate.
Long, white, sweet roots that sweeten further after the first cold snap. Always sow fresh seed; parsnip seed loses viability quickly.
The oyster plant: a slender cream root with a mild, oyster-like flavour. It needs deep, loose soil to grow straight.
