Software
Houzz Logo Print
opal52

Things to grow in small vegetable garden?

19 years ago

We have a small vegetable garden. For spring I grew kale, swiss chard, mustard greens, spinach, spring onions, lettuce, rapini and broccoli. For warm weather, I have already planted bush beans, tomatoes, bell peppers, zuchinni and okra. Soon the cole crops will be finished and I would like to plant something in their place. There are only two in our household, and I would love to have ideas to add variety. There isn't room for corn. I have looked over the lists from the extension departments but do not see a lot of choice based on limited space and hot summers. I have a separate garden for herbs so those are covered.

What do you guys grow?

Comments (7)

  • 19 years ago

    Forgot to add Eggplant to the list of vegetables growing already.

  • 19 years ago

    jalapeno peppers? crookneck squash? butter beans?

  • 19 years ago

    I will continue to grow some thai veggies thru the hot weather season. If you look at Evergreen seeds, they now have great lists of things for hot and humid climates. Just look at the wording. Several types of asian greens are grown in these conditions during summer months. I'm trying them here.
    Tatsoi can handle warmer weather but needs successive sowings as it will mature fairly quickly in heat.
    Ethiopian Kale handles hot humid weather. Seeds are hard to come by but anything for summer greens!!
    Yard Long beans LOVE heat and humidity and will produce longer than any other beans you grow. They are beautiful.
    Malabar spinach, an Indian climbing vegetable is beautiful and tasty - like a strong spinach. We love it.
    Do you like fruit? Think of growing small melon on trellises. I have korean, and middle eastern small melons, easy to trellis. Cucumbers grow up, and there are bushier forms of squash. I grow in raised beds, and let the white pattypan squash hang out over the edge. They do far better than sitting on top of the soil.
    I grow leaf amaranth. It is delicious and so pretty in red and gold. I find it does better started early in cooler weather and then let to grow out in warmer weather.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Evergreen Seeds

  • 19 years ago

    Bush cucumbers are fast and don't take up much room. Picklebush is a small variety that has done well for me.

    You also need some basil to go with your tomatoes!

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks everyone. Lots of good ideas.
    GGG, thanks for the link to Evergreen. I'm going to order some Malabar Spinach seeds for sure and maybe some others. Need to study their information more.

    Twinkle. I have cucumbers planted and don't know why I left them off the list yesterday. I grow them on a trellis to save space. I love basil! Already have some growing in the herb garden and also in containers. I always plant too much (if there is such a thing as too much basil), so last year I tried putting some up in the freezer. I chopped it up in the food processor with a little olive oil, froze it in ice trays, popped the cubes of basil out and quickly put them in freezer bags. It worked great and when added to pasta dishes it tasted almost as good as fresh. Works great for making pesto too. Have I mentioned I really love basil :~).

    Sugarhill, I think I will try some jalapeno peppers. We love making fresh salsa. Is it too late to start them from seed?

  • 19 years ago

    Don't forget to think vertical when considering space. Cucumbers, beans, melons, etc. can be grown up a sturdy support.

  • 19 years ago

    Go to your local library and get books and videos on "square foot gardening." I got a ton of yield in raised beds using his technigues.

Sponsored
Snider & Metcalf Interior Design, LTD
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars25 Reviews
Leading Interior Designers in Columbus, Ohio & Ponte Vedra, Florida