The turnip or white turnip is a root vegetable. It is commonly grown in temperate climates worldwide for its white, fleshy taproot. There are over 30 varieties of turnips which differ in size, color, flavor and usage. Purple-top turnips are the most common type. Smaller kinds of turnip are grown for human food. Larger ones … Read more
The sweet potato is a plant that is a member of the morning glory family, grown for its sweet, edible, tuberous roots. Sweet and regular potatoes are both considered root vegetables but are only distantly related. Both are tuberous, starchy root vegetables, but they’re not part of the same botanical group – members of the … Read more
Chives, scientific name Allium schoenoprasum, are part of the allium family of vegetables and herbs. This family also includes garlic, scallions, onions and leeks. Chives are the tiniest allium family member and the only species native in both the Old and New Worlds. The botanical name, Allium schoenoprasum, derives from the Greek meaning reed-like leek. … Read more
The tomatillo also known as the Mexican husk tomato and Mexican ground cherry, is a plant of the nightshade family bearing small, spherical and green or green-purple fruit of the same name. Tomatillos are native to Mexico where it has been cultivated in the pre-Columbian era. Evidence of tomatillo eating has been documented as early … Read more
The onion also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable. Because onions are small and their tissues leave little or no trace, there is no conclusive opinion about the exact location and time of their birth. Many archaeologists, botanists, and food historians believe onions originated in central Asia. Other research suggests … Read more
Potato is an annual plant in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), grown for its starchy edible tubers. The potato is native to in the Andes, likely somewhere in present-day Peru or Bolivia. Potatoes were domesticated approximately between 8000 and 5000 BC. The earliest archaeologically verified potato tuber remains have been found at the coastal site of … Read more
The parsnip is a root vegetable closely related to the carrot and parsley. Parsnips have been cultivated for their sweet roots since ancient times. Parsnips are native to Europe, but they have been introduced throughout the world, and because they are so hardy, they now grow wild having escaped from cultivated gardens in many areas. … Read more
Green beans are the unripe, young fruit and protective pods of various cultivars of the common bean. Green beans are known by many common names, including French beans, string beans, snap beans and snaps. The green bean originated in Central and South America and there’s evidence that it has been cultivated in Mexico and Peru … Read more
Bell pepper also called sweet pepper, pepper or capsicum is a pepper cultivar in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Botanically speaking, bell peppers are fruits; however, they are considered vegetables in culinary contexts. Capsicum name comes from Greek word “kapto” which means “to bite” while “pepper” come from the similarity in taste with “black pepper.” They … Read more