10 Hardy Garden Plants That Will Give You Lots Of Produce
Whether you have a yard garden or a few pots here and there, you can plant hardy garden plants and reap the produce benefits. While some plants are more difficult to grow, others are not nearly as picky and will give you a lot of food. Here are a few hardy garden plants to consider planting so you can have more fresh produce than you will know what to do with.
1. Green Beans
Do not rule this yummy legume out just because you do not have room for a trellis. These hardy garden plants come in an array of options, including both climbing and bushy varieties. They are easy to grow and produce a lot of beans, though it may not appear so, at a glimpse. If you see one or two beans at least as long as your finger, you probably have at least twenty more hiding under the leaves. With one or two plants, you will get more than enough beans for a meal in just one harvest, and you will definitely have many harvests.
2. Tomatoes
Probably one of the most popular hardy garden plants in the US, tomatoes fight to survive. Plus, no matter which variety you choose, you will get a bounty of tomatoes from just one plant. There are all sorts of tomato growing pots on the market, including one that grows the plant inverted. Whether you want to get fancy with it or not, tomatoes are survivors. So even if you do not have the greenest thumb, you will still quite likely be able to grow some juicy tomatoes. Try a cherry tomato plant, as the fruit is smaller and less of a strain on the plant to produce.
3. Carrots
These sweet roots are fun to pick, resilient, and can be grown year round. By sprinkling a few carrot seeds onto some soil and gently turning the soil a bit, you will have a crazy amount of carrots in a few months. If you do not have a vegetable garden, pick a patch of yard or use a flower pot to grow these. You can usually tell how big they will be by the size of the greenery above the soil. Pull them as you need them, and let the rest in the soil to continue to grow. You probably will need to sacrifice some by thinning the crop because these harden garden plants will otherwise overcrowd each other.
4. Onions
These are more hardy garden plants that can be grown year round, only being harvested as needed. Simply plant baby onion bulbs of your choice in the soil with the roots down and the opposite end poking out of the soil. As with the carrots, plant in the yard or in a pot. You can plant these pretty close together by anticipating the size of the fully grown onions and spacing accordingly. You can harvest these at any size, so plant a bunch at the same time and harvest as needed. They will take several months to reach a decent size, so plant ahead.
5. Peppers
Whether you want hot, sweet, or bell peppers, you can have them pretty easily. Feel free to mix up your pepper varieties, as these hardy garden plants produce a lot on their own. These are great for potted plants, as they both look interesting and are prone to bug issues, like slugs. But you can certainly throw them outside, too. The plants will likely need staked up because their peppers will become heavy, so keep an eye on them to make sure you get the maximum produce from these plants that you can.
6. Summer Squash
These hardy garden plants will give you a lot of squash all at once, so be prepared. They have a shorter season than most on this list, but the harvested squash will keep for a while in the refrigerator. You can also harvest seeds from your squash and re-sow more plants to enjoy them longer. The plants do take up some space, so if you have the yard space, use it for these. One plant is all you really need, but you can plant two different species for some variety. Though the plants are very hardy and easy to grow, they are prone to leaf mold and squash bugs, so keep an eye out for these unwelcome issues.
7. Leaf Lettuce
If you love salads, you will love growing these hardy garden plants. Simply sow some lettuce seeds, and within about a month you will be able to snip off the leaves for your meals. These plants can be grown year round and are easy to manage, so feel free to plant in a flower pot or two and leave on your porch. Make sure to keep your lettuce shaded during summer and water frequently to keep nice and crisp. Watch for pests like caterpillars, because you are not the only one who loves the sweet crunch!
8. Spinach
Similar to leaf lettuce but much more versatile, these hardy garden plants like the cool shade. They actually need a period of cool weather to take off. Once they have, though, they need minimal care. Spinach is great to plant in a pot or two and trim as needed. Whether you like spinach fresh in salads or cooked in meals, you can control how much you have by how much you plant. Try planting one large pot and use your consumption of the matured spinach to see if that one pot is enough for your cravings, or if you need a second.
9. Radishes
These may be an acquired taste to some, but there are some interesting radish recipes out there. These hardy garden plants are not only super easy to grow; they also grow really fast. In under a month, your radishes will be ready to eat. Since these are root vegetables, they can grow in cooler temperatures, no problem, so you can grow these veggies all the time. They like somewhat shady areas, so plant them accordingly. One nice thing about these red roots is they are somewhat drought tolerant, so if you are a forgetful waterer, it’s okay.
10. Cucumbers
These hardy garden plants require some pampering, as they have tropical origins. They need warm temperatures and lots of water, which makes sense since they are so watery anyways. As long as they are kept warm and in adequate light, you can plant your cucumber vine inside, but you need a trellis. One plant will do it, as these yummy crunchy green veggies grow fast and produce lots. Feel free to attempt making pickles with your cucumber plethora, or pamper yourself a little with some cucumber beauty treatments.
