There is no experience quite like the simple delight of foraging for dinner vegetables in your own backyard. And while it’s true that tending to a home garden can feel like a lot of work at times, it’s actually not as difficult as it seems most of the time.
If you plant the appropriate seeds at the appropriate time, you may essentially have certain simple garden veggies develop on their own. In addition, you may have peace of mind knowing that your vegetables will never have been exposed to pesticides and will always be harvested at the peak of freshness.
Here is a list of 10 vegetables that thrive in sunny environments and would do well in planters, gardens, or even in a pot on the ledge of an apartment.
Broccoli
The spring and fall seasons are ideal for broccoli growth because the plant prefers cooler temperatures. It is possible to plant it in the beginning of spring for a harvest in the summer, or it may be planted in the late summer for a harvest in the fall.
It is possible to cultivate broccoli indoors in order to protect it from frost, and then move the plants outside once the weather warms up. Grow a single broccoli plant in each container if you want the greatest possible outcomes. The depth of the pots should be between 12 and 16 inches.
When growing broccoli, it is important to keep an eye out for cabbage worms, which are the caterpillars of white butterflies and adore feeding on the heads of cabbage.
Covering your broccoli plants using a floating rows cover or some lightweight bed sheets will protect them from being damaged. If you begin to notice cabbage worms, you can easily remove them by handpicking.
Here you can check out the best summer crops and vegetables you can grow in your garden.
Peas
There is nothing quite like peas grown in your very own garden; the exquisite sweetness of an entire snap pea that has been just picked from the vine absolutely incomparable to anything that can be purchased in a grocery store.
They are also garden veggie that requires little effort but produces a big output, making them an excellent option for beginning gardeners. The only things you need are a container with a depth of at least ten inches and a trellis as well as a cage for the vegetation to climb on.
Pea plants are going to stop producing pods once the warm weather of July arrives because peas thrive in cooler temperatures. You are able to pull them upward and plant something else in the garden throughout the summer that thrives in the heat, like bell peppers, if you don’t have enough room for peas in your garden.
Green Beans
When it comes to growing green beans, there is really just one key guideline to remember: avoid planting them early enough. They won’t be able to withstand a frost, which may lead the seeds to turn brown and kill the plant.
They also have a tendency to cease producing in the midst of the summer; however, if you keep watering them, they will start producing again once the outside temperatures begin to decrease around the beginning of September. The harvesting process takes the greatest time and effort out of all aspects of bean cultivation.
When you select more beans, the plant will produce more new ones; however, mature beans that have been left on the vine for an excessive amount of time might become rough and stringy.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts have a reputation for being unpleasant, often as a result of people eating them after they have been overcooked. This delicious and delicate vegetable may be cultivated in almost any home garden as long as there is sufficient sunlight.
They have a rather extended growing season; depending on the variety, it might take as long as 130 days for the plant to reach full maturity. Because their flavor is enhanced by being exposed to frost, they should be planted in the early summer in most areas, and then they should be harvested in the autumn, shortly after the initial cold snap has occurred.
However, they can only withstand just a few days of frigid temperatures; therefore it is imperative that you harvest them as soon as possible.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes picked right off the vine in their own backyard are often what inspire individuals to start vegetable gardens in the very first place. Tomatoes have been known for being finicky, but cultivating them does not need a great deal of effort as long as you are aware of the potential pitfalls.
Here you can check out how to water tomato plants.
Most significantly, tomatoes always produce the best results when grown in weather that is warm to hot, and sudden cold spells can cause significant damage. To start, seedlings should be grown indoors, and then in May, they should be moved outside. Be sure to keep an eye out for any indications of blight as they continue to develop because it is a problem in many parts of the United States.
Bell Peppers
Once planted in the ground, peppers are a low-maintenance tropical food that thrives in warm climates but needs careful preparation and a lengthy growing season. In areas with a colder climate, it is best to take precautions to avoid overexposure to the cold and to plant them shortly after the last cold snap of the year has passed.
Be on the lookout for aphids along with flea beetles, as these are two of the most prevalent insect pests that attack peppers. Insecticidal soap is a popular organic solution that can be used to control both of these pests.
In addition, there are excellent natural pesticides that can be created at home. It is possible to cultivate peppers in containers, after which they can be brought inside and overwintered as houseplants.
Beets
Gardeners get two crops for the cost of one when they grow beets because not only can the roots of the beets be harvested, but the beet greens may be harvested and consumed. When the roots are picked when they are between 1 and 2 inches across, this is when they taste the greatest. They are delicious and soft when they are this size.
Beets that are larger in size have a tendency to be woodier and have fewer flavors. When grown inside a container, they require a container that is at least 30 centimeters (12 inches) deep. After the seedlings have begun to sprout, you should reduce the number of seedlings growing from each beet seed so that there is only one plant growing from each cluster.
Leaf Amaranth
Amaranth is one of the few leafy greens that can withstand the high temperatures of the middle of summer when others such as lettuce as well as spinach start to bolt. This uncommon vegetable has leaves that have a flavor that is both sweet and sour, and they can be used to enhance the flavor of a wide variety of foods.
It is simple to cultivate; simply distribute the seeds into a garden plot and a container that is at least 8 inches deep, wait for the plants to reach a size of two to four inches, and then harvest the leaves.
It is rich in a wide variety of nutrients, including calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, riboflavin, potassium, zinc, and vitamins A, B6, as well as C, making it a real superfood.
Carrots
Carrot cultivation is a quick and straightforward process, provided that you are willing to do a little bit of guesswork when it’s time to harvest the carrots. When it comes to planting, there are a few guidelines that should be followed, such as having cool weather, loose soil, and plenty of water.
Adding mulch on the surface of the soil once the plants have become established can assist in maintaining the soil’s moisture level. In most cases, the carrots are ready to be harvested after the tops of the roots have become apparent and the roots themselves have begun to rise, although this won’t always be the case.
Between sixty and eighty days following planting, the majority of the types will have reached maturity and be ready to be dug up.
Kale
Kale is a dark green leafy vegetable that thrives in cool climates and grows swiftly. It is related to cabbage along with broccoli and can either be cultivated inside and then moved into the garden or sown as seed directly into the soil of a garden.
It is able to withstand winter, which has been shown to enhance the flavor of the plant’s leaves, but it does not fare well in the scorching heat of summer, which leads it to bolt and become bitter.
It is particularly simple to harvest because you can simply chop off the quantity that you require and then allow the plant to continue growing until the next time you harvest it.