Since you will be using mulch and therefor have little weeding to worry about, I would suggest potatoes, both sweet and white, winter squash, corn, and peppers.

Hi! I'm wondering how low-maintenance is low maintenance? Once a week? I'm pretty sure I remember a discussion like this from last year, so if you do a search in this forum for "low maintenance" or "little maintenance" you might find it. Mulch sounds like a good idea. Anyway, I think most of the root crops would fit your bill, since you can harvest them when you feel they are ready (unlike a tomato, which you had better harvest when it thinks it is ready!), and mulch should keep them from having to be weeded too often. And brassicas, especially the leaf crops. Cheers!

Sunni

I have a similar situation, but both gardens are on my farm. I'm putting in a kitchen garden for all the things that need more attention and are harvested throughout the summer. This will be close to the house and I'm putting a seating area there as well (hopefully a grape arbor).

Further from the house, I'm putting in a garden for all the vegetables that are harvested later or I want to use for freezing, canning, etc. That's where I'll put the corn with pumpkins (one of my favorite combinations, especially in the fall) climbing beans, broccoli, potatoes, winter squash, roma tomatoes, asparagus and red raspberries. I also hope to put a small covered seating area there. I'm a big believer in having a shady place to take a break in any garden :)

I think corn and pumpkins would do well in your extra garden. You might try asparagus too, as long as you can check it often when it's time to harvest. If the tomatoes will get enough water, the corn should be fine.

I agree with vermontkingdom.

Look for crops that take a while to mature - that way they can be set in a "field" and left alone for a while - although watering may be required if there isn't enough rainfall.

Also look for crops that need wide spacing - that way you can use your beds at home for items that can be spaced close together to maximize space.

So, crops best suited for a larger field would be corn, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, maybe cucumbers, onions, and carrots (take a while to mature - but very finicky with soil type and watering).

Bush green beans may be suited well if you give them one long 100' row - but you will have to go back every now and then to pick them and keep them under control.

Here is a link that might be useful: BsnTech Gardening Blog

You didn't mention how many people you are feeding or if you plan to do food preservation. For two people, I think two 25 foot rows of beans may be too much (I plant one yellow, one green) if 2 people are just eating fresh.

I think beets are low maintenance. You can enjoy thinnings as green and harvest the beets from small to large. I also think a variety of broccoli that makes side shoots might also be considered low maintenance. I think I might even include swiss chard on the list. I agree with corn, potatoes, winter squash and peppers. We anticipate our pepper crop with joy, frugally harvesting when they get just big enough and crossing our fingers for a nice crop of sweet red peppers. I grow a variety of heirlooms.

My list might be biased toward rainy New England summers. Except for seeding, I don't think I've needed to water much. I also started my big beds as lasagna beds topped in the spring with nicely aged compost. If it weren't for the nasty creeping jenny and witch grass reaching into the garden from the field, I wouldn't have much weeding to do. Last year I planted carrots in the row of sugar snap peas. By the time the peas were done, the carrots had a good start. I might not have gotten great germination because of planting like that but I didn't have to do any thinning.

These are great ideas!

It is just my wife and myself, but I have no qualms about sharing with neighbors, co-workers, and my parents. My wife grew up in the country and loves canning etc. In fact, that is the main reason for the extra space (tomatoes since she wants much more for preserving).

Mainly I want to be a good steward and show respect to the other gardeners, and keep my plot tidy and productive even when life happens.

The advice has been great! Thank you all for your input.

Beets,Radish and Spinach will be good additoin for your garden.

I think a lot of things are low maintenence tomatoes don't really need a lot of love you can always pick the pinks early when you are there and let them mature in the house

The new triple sweet synergentic corn claims longer field standing times

Mulch as you know is the greatest timesaver known to man!

If you do have to water a timer sure helps so you can take care of other things at the same time

Happy gardening