What kind of beets did you try? Well grown Chioggas were a revelation for me.

i like swiss chard best when the leaves are young and tender and not too crinkled-the gold, orange and pink types seem to have a milder taste. i use it raw in salads and find the flavor and texture more delicious than spinach. And spinach and chard both taste better to me when they are mixed with just a little bit of arugula.

But you know, it's your garden so you can grow whatever you like ; )

That's the beauty of gardening; you can make sure that you have lots of the things you love! I do try to grow at least one new-to-me thing every year. Some years I decide that I won't ever be growing that again, but some years I try something that now is a staple in my garden. One of my surprise discoveries was actually Swiss Chard! I hate greens. I mean, I really HATE greens. Until a friend suggested that I try the S.C. I love that!! Sometimes it's all in how you fix it, though. How did you fix yours? I only pick the young leaves and steam it lightly with a little bacon in it (when I am planning on fixing it I fry extra bacon at breakfast and use that.) I don't cook it until it's mushy; I agree that at that stage it's gross. But anyway - I know lots of people who garden and the only things they grow are like beans and tomatoes. There is truly nothing wrong with growing only what you know you will eat. You can always go to a farmers' market somewhere and find new-to-you things to try, too, then that way if you don't like it you don't have that much into it and if you do like it you can add it to next year's garden.

Edie

I agree sometimes it is all in how they are prepared. I love all kinds of food and I love to cook. One of the best dishes I have ever had in my life was at Grand Traverse Bay Resort and it was roasted baby beets w/ balsamic served over a bed of mesclun. The beets were like none you've ever had. Some people are used to having veggies prepared only one way. Experiement. I have never had pattypan squash before,grew it for the first time this year. and I can't believe I have been missing out on these all these years.

Life's too short to grow and eat things you don't like. Tom

You gave the stuff an honest try. That's all anyone can ask. :-)

I am growing familar stuff and tried new things in my first garden, not much of any one thing, I have found snap peas disapointing, never had them before, so will probably not grow again, I had never eaten pumpkin before last year so grown one of those, and even though the female flowers don't appear to be opening, just dying! I am so planting one next year, the plant is truely amazing, I didn't know how big they grow (thankfully only planted one) and I love the flowers on it, even though they are short lived. remembered how much I hate radish, and beets so they are out, sweetcorn! why bother? I can buy local for $2 for 12! and they need a lot of care! next year I am going to try spagetti squash for no other reason than I am interested in it! don't know why? never eaten it!
you are not trying to be adventerous, you are adventerous alot of people won't try anything unfamilar or that they have eaten before and hated, I hated Parsnip for 34 years got pregnant, LOVE IT now!

Thanks for everyone's opinion. I figure so long as I grow mostly vegetables I like, then it shouldn't be a problem to try one new thing each year. However, I might still end up planting that Swiss chard and beets next year. My husband loved both of those veggies.

If you don't like swiss chard or beets maybe it is the strong bitter flavor that is a turnoff? You can think of it that way when deciding what to try--instead of trying things that are strong like spinach, kale, sprouts, etc try things that are sweeter and milder like those peas.

You didn't say what you liked that you are growing, but I was going to suggest runner beans. I never even heard of them until I lived in the UK--not only are they prolific but teepees of them are so pretty you can use them in landscaping even. You know you like garden peas, so maybe try sugarsnaps?

I think everyone that gardens for personal use is a bit narrowminded in gardening :) If I had enough room for corn, I'd plant the space with tomatoes instead. Others wouldn't, and would go on to scoff at my potato ban.

I'll be growing 3 types of pumpkin (squash to you guys) this year. Pumpkins are disgusting. I will happily eat any other veggie, and my pumpkin-hatred must be stopped. The only way past this is to spend so much time and effort growing them that I'll HAVE to eat them. And besides, stuff from your own garden always tastes better.
What the others said- eat things while they're small. Have you tried broad beans/fava beans? They are a revelation if eaten young; like masticating a mummified sock if at all elderly...

I hate beets and I gave them an honest try recently. Still hate 'em so I've moved on to other things I like. So at least you tried, even if you found out that you really don't like swiss chard and beets.

As for squash (pumpkins), it was something I hated as a kid but have grown to absolutely love. I'm not sure what kind you are growing but it'll all come down to how you cook them. I am growing butternut and crookedneck but I tried a patty pan recently and now I wish I planted that. My stepmother made patty pan once and it was bland and boring. But when I cooked them stuffed with spices and navy beans, they were divine.