GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn — Gardeners come in two sorts… those that start from seed and those that buy plants. Perhaps a combination is best.
There are some vegetables that grow very easily from seed. Growing from seeds can save a lot of money compared to buying plants. Try these five easy-to-grow vegetables from seed:
Cucumbers: Whether you like to make pickles or slice them up fresh, cucumbers are quick to sprout and will be climbing up your trellis in no time.
- Leaf lettuce: Simply sprinkle the seeds on bare soil and you’ll have lettuce sprouting sometimes in just a few days!
- Beans: Bush or pole beans are very easy to grow from seed and many varieties have lovely flowers as well!
- Squash: Both winter and summer squash, including pumpkins, almost jump out of the ground when planted.
- Kale: If you love a good hearty green, kale is simple to sprinkle in soil and harvest a short time later.
Then there are others that are rather difficult and you’re better off buying the plants already growing.
Here's that list:
- Head lettuce: Not to be confused with the leaf lettuce we mentioned above. To grow a real head of lettuce take even watering and the right combination of temperatures and sun to keep from going to seed. Just buy this at the farmer's market.
- Carrots: In order to get long, beautiful carrots, you need loose soil so those roots can easily grow down. If you have dense, rocky, or clay soil, skip the carrots.
- Cauliflower: Cauliflower has a long growing season but doesn’t like cold and that makes for a difficult combination here in the Midwest.
- Tomatoes: Getting tomatoes to sprout is not the problem. It’s just that if you want fruit before fall you have to start them inside and keep them properly lit and watered for several weeks before planting them outdoors. Forget it if you don’t have a grow light.
- Peppers: Same story as the tomatoes. Peppers need to be started indoors with a grow light and are notorious for taking time and care to start indoors. Super hot varieties are the trickiest because they can take a long time to germinate.
So there you have it, but don’t let us talk you into or out of growing something you want to plant! The best advice is to grow what you want to eat! Experiment and have fun, it’s as simple as that.
Next week we’ll have the flower version of this list. Stay tuned!
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