No one wants to plant a garden only to see it plagued by insects or disease.
And most of us have little time to spend babying finicky plants.
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Keep in mind that local conditions will affect plant performance.
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The same is true of temperature and rainfall.
If you are just starting out, consider taking a soil sample to your county extension office for analysis.
Your local extension educator can help guide you in the best fertilization practices to manage your soils.
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Pay attention to weekly rainfall, too.
Vegetable crops require an inch of water each week, either through rainfall or supplemental irrigation.
Except where noted, the following crops are to be direct seeded into the garden.
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Plants have one of two growth habits, sold as pole or bush varieties.
Pole beans grow as a vine, while bush beans have a more compact, self-supporting habit.
Bush beans are easier to grow because they do not require a trellis.
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Sow beans when the soil has warmed and the threat of frost has passed.
Lettuce
Lettuce is a cool-season crop, best suited for spring andfall plantingthroughout the South.
Non-heading, loose leaf lettuces are the easiest to grow.
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They include red- and green-leaf varieties and are often included in leaf lettuce mixes that are alsoeasy to grow.
Look for heat-resistant varieties.
Lettuce seeds require bare soil to germinate.
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Sow seeds every two weeks in early spring for a continual harvest.
However, they are often plagued by diseases.
Small-fruited varieties, such as cherry tomatoes, tend to be less prone to the problems affectinglarge-fruited varieties.
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This is in part due to their quick growth and maturity.
Cherry and grape tomatoes also produce an abundance of fruits over a long season.
Look for disease-resistant and heat-tolerant varieties.
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Three main types are available.
Peas have a vining growth habit, though some are more compact than others.
They benefit from growing along a fence or trellis.
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Radishes
Radishes are grown in the spring and fall, along with lettuces.
Theygrow very quickly, producing a crop in as little as three weeks.
Sow seeds every seven to 10 days for a continuous supply.
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The flavor of radishes is associated with temperature, with cooler weather producing milder radishes.
you’re free to also snip the leafy tops when young and use them as salad greens.
Potatoes
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Once they’re planted, potatoes can be delightfully hands-off.
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Acidic, rich, well-draining soil will yield you the biggest, best-looking taters.
Just plant them in raised beds or large containers if that doesn’t describe your soil.
For a bigger crop, you could pile up the soil around the plants as they grow.
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Leaves can become bitter in the heat of summer.
Kale
Kale can be grown for a spring or fall crop.
Fall crops can be grown from seed.
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Fall is an ideal time to grow kale in the garden, as a light frost enhances the flavor.
Kale comes in a range of leaf colors and textures, with many varieties corresponding to ethnic cuisines.
It also looks beautiful in mixed containers with flowers.
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Beets
These ruby-red roots are incredibly nutritious.
Beets are packed with vitamins and are particularly rich in folate.
When planting beet seeds, begin by raking the soil to create a smooth seed bed.
Weed management is important as seedlings establish.
Beet seeds are small, dried fruits containing several seeds.
When plants are large enough to handle, thin plants by removing all but one plant every three inches.
Plants need consistent moisture to produce a good crop.
Slicing cucumbers have a smoother skin and grow long and narrow.
Cucumbers need plenty of sunshine and space to grow.
Many gardeners prefer to grow them on a trellis to conserve limited ground space for other crops.
it’s possible for you to also look for bush-throw in varieties that take up less real estate.
Plant seed or transplants after the fear of frost has passed and the soils have warmed.
Jalapenos
These mildly spicy peppers are among the easiest pepper to grow.
They are prolific producers and tend to exhibit fewer problems than bell peppers.
Smaller-fruited peppers are also more tolerant of both cool and hot temperatures.
Jalapenos are planted from transplants after the threat of frost has passed.
Fruits can be harvested in any stage but will gain heat the longer they are allowed to mature.
Once pepper plants get going, they keep producing until the first frost in fall.
Garlic
Garlic is planted in the fall for a late spring to early summer harvest.
The great thing about growing your own garlic is all the new flavors youll experience.
Garlic can be divided into two main groups: hardneck and softneck varieties.
Softneck varieties have a longer storage life and tend to have a more subtle flavor than hardneck garlic.
Hardneck garlic varieties produce large, easy-to-peel bulbs and have more dramatic and distinctive flavors.
Okra
Not only isokra easy to grow, but it produces beautiful, hibiscus-like flowers.
The most challenging part of growing okra is keeping up with the harvest.
Harvest pods while they are still small, about 3 inches long.
