When you have a bunch of seed options in front of you, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. It is also easy to lose your train of thought when confronted with so many seed options; in there somewhere is sure to be something you had not yet thought of or may have forgotten about but still wish to incorporate. At times like this, having a garden plan is Iget Bar, but even more useful than that is a seed selection plan that outlines the type of seeds you want to plant and how they correlate with what your ultimate gardening goals are. Make space for at least one of each of these edible ten must-grow plants in your garden plot. Easy to grow and reliable producers of scrumptious produce from spring until fall, our top 10 edible plants will fill your plate with garden-fresh flavor.
Tomato’s perfect partner, basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow, making it a great top 10 must-grow plant. Add it to sauces, soups, and salads for a spicy, tangy flavor. The many varieties, from lime basil to Thai basil, have flavors ranging from citrusy to spicy with a touch of anise. Grow a few and explore the different tastes. Basil grows equally well in the garden and in containers, and its clean, long-lasting foliage makes it a great plant for the edible landscape, too. Try ‘Genovese’. It has the spicy flavor. Basil is easy to grow from seed or transplants. I keep some basil growing year round. I use quite a bit for cooking, love the flavor. Basil leaves hold many important plant-derived chemical compounds that are known to have disease preventing and health-promoting properties.
Beans are some of the easiest vegetables to grow, and a wonderful addition to the top 10 must-grow plant list. Perfect for a first-time gardener or a child’s vegetable garden, beans quickly germinate and produce copious amounts of tasty treats. They are available in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes; some plants produce colorful flowers, pods, and seeds. From snap beans to edamame—you can grow them all. Try ‘Provider’: It is known for its fast growth. Beans are easy to grow from seed. Legumes are called “nitrogen-fixing” plants. They have nodules along their roots, with specialized bacteria called rhizobia, that allow them to absorb nitrogen from the air, then release it into the soil. Fresh beans contain moderate levels of vitamin-C. It is a natural antioxidant. Studies suggest that it help prevent free radical injury, act as an immune booster, and anti-inflammatory agent.
Scrumptious in a fresh salad and lovely in the garden, spinach is a top 10 must-grow plant for the edible landscape. Plant ribbons of spinach through a perennial border, or use it as a tiny, tidy hedge around a plot of early-season vegetables. Plant a late summer crop for harvest in fall. Try ‘Olympia’. Spinach is easy to grow from seed. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a wonderful source of Vitamin A and one of the healthiest sources minerals and nutrients that we can grow. 100 g of farm fresh spinach has 47% of daily recommended levels of vitamin-C. Vitamin-C is a powerful antioxidant, which helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.
The word “mesclun” is French and originally referred to a mixture of tender salad greens that were wild-harvested in early spring. Today mesclun is cultivated in gardens and containers to make harvesting perfectly tender baby looseleaf as easy as stepping out the door. Many flavor-rich mixes are available, making them a tasty addition to the top 10 must-grow plant list. Try a couple, and enjoy the variety of flavors. Mesclun is easy to grow from seed planted in early spring. Mesclun greens are valued for their color, variety, nutritional punch and the mix of flavors. Salad mesclun is a mix comprised of the young, tender new leaves of several greens species. Often called spring mix, the leaves are rich in vitamins and their color and form add interest to a boring salad. It also contains healthy amounts of minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are very much essential for body metabolism.
