IT'S great fun trying to grow something just that bit different, and nowhere more so than on allotments.

These are places steeped in tradition and a 'proper' way of doing things. A very good friend of mine, who does quite a bit of garden television, was once tutted at over his allotment fence for the way in which he was tending his potatoes.

It was accompanied with the usual "Ooh, you don't want to be doing it like that". My friend, being quite an amenable chap (I would probably just have smiled and carried on with my work) went over to his neighbour and asked him where he thought he was going wrong.

Out came the well-thumbed Hessayon book, detailing the precise length of furrow needed and the day of the year that you should be chitting, earthing up and harvesting.

Following written advice is certainly a recommended method of learning how to grow your plants, especially when using such a well-respected horticultural writer as Dr Hessayon. Most of us grew up reading at least one of his books.

In fact, as I sit here on the computer writing this article, I can see three of his books on the shelves above my head.

They are very good for getting to know the basic facts about gardening and the traditional methods used to achieve results.

However, it mustn't get to the stage where the written word stifles creativity and experimentation. Take, for example, any gardening advice book from five to ten years ago.

They would categorically state that vegetables like sweetcorn, plum tomatoes and cucumbers couldn't be grown outside.

This year, I have grown all three quite successfully outdoors at Nature's World. This has to do with a combination of longer, warmer summers and genetic modifications of the crop.

Traditional sweetcorn needs a long germination to maturation period.

Altered ones can manage the same feat within the constraints of our English weather.

We have tried some of the more obscure fruit and vegetables as well this year.

The open greenhouse with no glass (it used to have glass but the vandals had a fun night out earlier this year) has been used as an area of experimentation for several years now.

Last year, we grew some exceedingly long Chinese marrows. We didn't know exactly what they were or how to tend to them, because all the instructions were in Chinese, but they looked fun and were actually quite edible (I acted as a willing guinea pig).

This year, we had cape gooseberries, but not the usual bright orange ones that come encased in a light papery lantern.

These ones grew to three feet high and the pale green casing spilt to reveal a bright purple, spherical fruit. It tasted exactly the same as the orange variety.

The yellow, autumn fruiting raspberries, however, are much, much sweeter than their red cousins. The seeds are softer too and tend not to get stuck in any gaps in your teeth.

The bush tends to hold its shape and leaf much longer into winter, so it keeps its interest for longer.

Most surprising of all, though, were the huckleberries. I only knew of huckleberries from the old Tom Sawyer novels, and had no idea what the berry actually looked like.

We sowed a few plants in the cool greenhouse and they spread like horticultural monsters. They eventually produced trusses of small, round, purple fruit, which were not particularly palatable.

They do make a fascinating jelly or jam though, especially when mixed with bramble, quince or apple. The purple colour intensifies and can only be likened to methylated spirit. It's quite odd spreading that on your toast first thing on a morning.

When the seed catalogues pop through the letterbox over the winter period, do take the time out to order something just that little bit different. Seeds are cheap, but the fun to be had from trying to raise them can be endless.

Brigid is on hand to answer more horticultural questions on 'Ask about gardening' every Sunday from 12-2pm on 95FM BBC Radio Cleveland. Send your questions to be answered in The Northern Echo to Brigid at brigidpress67.freeserve.co.uk or write to her care of Nature's World, Ladgate Lane, Acklam, Middlesbrough.

Published: 27/10/2003