We have 5 kids and I have (somewhat) jokingly told my family that I am unable to keep anything else alive in our house. I have proven this fact by killing every house plant I’ve had for the past 15 years. However, we have an enormous garden that, most years, surprises me with it’s bounty. It is not uncommon for me to forget to water for a week or more at a time and there have been years when the weeds have grown taller than me…and yet I still fill the freezer with tomatoes, bell peppers, basil, raspberries and pumpkin. I say all this to prove that even someone with a proven ‘Black Thumb’ can grow some of their own food!
Growing your own food, even a little of it, is an experience everyone should have at least once. There’s something about picking food you planted and eating it outside while it’s still warm from the sun that no grocery store produce can compete with.
But you’re busy, you forget to water and weed and you don’t want to spend a bunch of time tending a garden. No problem! Here’s a list of hardy plants that survive pretty well with minimal care.
- Green beans: stick to broad beans (instead of pole beans that need a trellis). Kentucky Wonder is a good variety to try.
- Lettuce: it sprouts quickly and can be re-sown every 2 weeks to keep a steady supply Spring-Fall. Try Buttercrunch and Arugula.
- Cucumbers and Zucchini: once they’re established they’ll grow like crazy!
- Spinach: the more leaves you pick, the more it grows! Renegade and Baby’s Leaf are good varieties.
- Tomatoes: they need a little water and a lot of sun. Try Big Beef or Roma.
- Summer squash: want to look like you a can grow anything? These plants grow large and produce a lot! Gold Rush and Sure Thing are great.
Black Thumb Hint: plant them in the ground whenever possible. Pots are great, but they contain the roots to a small area so the plants are more dependent on your watering them. Those roots spread out and you’ll end up with plants that need less care!
