7 Versatile, Low Maintenance, Family Friendly, High Yield, Easy to Harvest & Store Vegetables for Every Garden.

Grow a Meal

7 Veges for Every Garden

Versatile (V)-Can be prepared in a variety of ways.

Low Maintenance (M)-Less time and effort to grow.

Family Friendly (FF)- The whole family will enjoy.

High Yield (Y)-A lot for a little.

Easy to Harvest & Store (S)-Easy to pick and put up.

*Beans V,M,FF,S,Y

Soil: warm, well drained, pH 6.0-6.5Sun: full to partialWater: regularlyDisease/insects: avoid wet foliage, bean beetle/weevilFertilize only if requiredDays to maturity:55-65 daysSpecial equipment: trellises for runner varieties Varieties:

Bush Dragon TonguePole Kentucky

Wonder 

Tips: Tender crop, don’t plant too soon

-Bush types give 3 harvests; pole/runners produce all season long Ideas: Great fresh, canned or frozen! 

*Cabbage V,M,FF,S,Y

Tips: Plant early, cabbage loves cool soil and is hardy.

-Plant an early and a late variety for an extended cabbage season.

-Always rotate location of cabbage in the garden. Ideas: Sauerkraut, coleslaw, sautéed or steamed. 

Varieties: Late Flat Dutch, Early Jersey Wakefield

and Red Ruby 

Soil: cool, moist, slight acid to neutralSun: full or partialWater: regularlyDisease insects: cabbage worms, clubroot, blackrotFertilize heavy feederDays to maturity:75-105 days

*Loose Leaf Lettuce and SpinachM,FF

Tips: Lettuce is hardy, plant

early and late.Ideas: Salads,

wrap sandwiches, use

in place of tortilla shells for

tacos.

Warm weather varieties: Black Seeded Simpson, Butter Crunch Cool weather varieties: Winter Density, Tyee Spinach 

Soil: Loose, fertile, sandy loam soils, well-supplied with organic matter. Sun: fullWater: regularlyDisease insects: aphids, slugs, earwigsFertilizer: maintain fertile soilDays to maturity:50-55 days

*Potatoes V,M,FF,S,Y

Varieties: German Butterball,

Mountain Rose, Fingerlings for small

gardens.Tips: Don’t wash before you store

 Ideas: Potato salad, mashed,

baked or fried with onions and garlic.

Soil: well-drained, fine sandy loam soil, high in organic matter. pH of 5.0 to 6.0 to avoid scab. Hill up when plant is 6 to 8 inches.Sun: fullWater: increase water amount gradually with growth.Disease insects: blight, scab, rot, beetlesFertilize based on soil testDays to maturity:70-120 daysSpecial equipment: dig with pitch fork after vines have died down.

*Tomatoes V,FF,Y

Varieties: Cherry, grape and pear types are easy to grow and suitable for container

gardening! 

Tips: Remember container tomatoes need pollinators. Ideas: Add tiny tomatoes to lettuce, pasta or potato salads. Stir roasted tomatoes into store bought sauce to add home-grown flavor. 

Soil: loamy, good drainage, pH 6.0-6.8Sun: fullWater: regularlyDisease insects: blight, flea beetles, hornwormsFertilize at transplant Days to maturity:55-65 daysSpecial equipment: cages, stakes

*Summer Squash V,M,S,YTips: Summer squash is tender, don’t plant too soon.

-Love Bee Pollinators  Ideas: Marinated vegetable salad, squash fritters, sautéed and stuffed.

Soil: warm soil with a pH between 6.5 and 6.8.Sun: fullWater: regularlyDisease insects: squash bug, vine borer, powdery and downy mildew, black rot, blights, mosaic viruses, bacterial wilt.Fertilize based on soil test.Days to maturity:55-65 days

Varieties: Super Pik Yellow, Patty Pan, Baby Bush Zucchini 

*Winter Squash M,S,Y

Varieties: Amish Pumpkin,

Waltham Butternut, Table Queen Acorn

Tips: Allow to cure in field until shell achieves full color.

-Harvest with stems after vines have shrunk.

-Love Bee Pollinators

Ideas: Roasted with honey and butter, cut in bite-sized pieces and fried, mashed.

 

Soil: very warm, pH 6.0 to 6.5Sun: fullWater: regularly at root (not leaf)Disease insects: squash bugs and cucumber beetles, beware that insecticides can also kill good pollinators.Fertilize heavy feedersDays to maturity:80-100 days 

*Herbs V,M,S

Soil: warm, moist, well-drained soil. pH 6.0-6.5.Sun: fullWater: regularlyDisease insects: Herbs can be used to deter bad insects and attract good insects to the garden:

-Parsley plus asparagus provide vigor to both. -Rosemary with sage repels carrot flies. -Garlic between tomato plants protects against red spider

mite.

Special equipment: plant in herb gardens, flower gardens, as borders plants, in containers, raised beds or in hanging baskets.

Versatile varieties: Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Chives, Thyme, Rosemary and Sage

Special flavors: Dill, Cilantro, Mint  

Tips: Prune every two weeks

Ideas: salad dressing, pesto, roasting meats

and vegetables.