Veggies
Lettuce - when growing lettuce remember to plant them near tall growing plants such as tomatoes so they get enough shade. Don't forget to keep the dirt moist at all times.
Tomatoes - Roma tomatoes are sweeter than the beefsteak so they make a great sauce. Be careful when buying plants for your garden. If they are too mature they might not adjust to your soil properly. Also, vine ripened tomatoes carry twice as much vitamin C as the ones that are picked early and ripened artificially. If you didn't know, these yummy veggies help keep your eyes healthy and protect against some types of cancer!
Eggplants - Even though they need a full season to grow, the Japanese eggplants ripen faster. In this case you can buy a plant that has already formed.
Onions - I LOVE onions! These guys are great for your health as well. They contain special compounds that keep your hair, nails and skin strong and also help your digestive tract! Containing calcium, vitamin C, folic acid and potassium onions are way better for you than you think! Scallions are one of my favorites too. They are very easy to grow and go well with a lot of dishes. Tip: one seed will only get you one scallion so make sure when you eat them, cut the white root off and plant it back in the soil. It will take about three weeks to regenerate. You will get plenty of beta-carotene and vitamin C from these guys!
Peas - Make sure you get those stakes ready because peas tend to grow very tall. Especially, sugar snap peas which are great for stir fry's and pasta dishes. They remain their crunch and are less stringy than snow peas.
Bell Peppers - The colored peppers are more sweeter than the green ones and less gassy! They are more colorful because they are more mature. They may take all summer to ripen but are worth the time and effort. Just buy mature plants instead of seeds. Make sure they are organic! Peppers are usually the most expensive at the market. So grow your own and save tons of dough. Eat these for vitamin C, potassium and fiber!
Celery - This veggie can be used in many dishes from soups to salads and is great for you too. They not only provide folic acid and potassium but they also are rich in silicon which helps your bones and tissue stay strong. They grow easily in planters in case you don't have much space.
Cucumbers - These plant very well and definitely give back. You will be sure to have plenty of cucumbers all summer long. The best time to pick them is in the morning when its a little bit chilly. Cucumbers are quite refreshing due to their high water content. When not peeled they are a great source of silicon, potassium, folic acid and vitamin C.
Carrots - Plant carrot seeds in a tightly packed line so they grow uniform in size. Keep an eye on the plants because you will have to weed out the bad guys. This should leave a good carrot every five inches or so. Carrots are a great source of calcium, potassium and fiber.
Green Beans - These grow very well in heat but hate cold nights so try to wait until the weather stays at a nice 60 degrees before planting these babies.
Herbs
Basil - Watch the flowers as they bud and snip them off before they bloom to keep the leaves tender and fresh.
Oregano - Once these bad boys gets a growing you will have more than enough for the summer. All you need are one or two good plants and your set.
Chives - Just by planting these in your garden once will bring them back year after year. Try Garlic Chives for their subtle garlic flavor and edible white flowers. They are a good source of beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium, iron, folic acid and potassium. Who knew! Chives go great on baked potatoes, yummo!
Cilantro - Watch these during the hot summer. They don't last too long in direct light so you will have to repeat the planting process a couple of times but the plants grow quickly.
Dill - Always keep dill separated from the other herbs due to cross pollination. You don't want any crazy things growing in your garden! Try the Fernleaf Dill which are more compact and last longer during the season than what you normally find in the market.
Parsley - This herb goes well with any dish and carries a whole lot of iron, beta carotene, calcium, vitamin K and potassium to name a few. It also helps to freshen breathe! Parsley grows best in full sun and loose soil that is rich and moist.
You can also check out these sites for more information:
National Gardening Association
Organic Gardening
You Grow Girl
Veggie Gardening Tips
Container Gardening Guide
Vegetable Gardener
Organic Herb Gardening
Here are some great places to get seeds:
Seed Savers
Rare Seeds
Heirloom Seeds
Heritage Harvest Seed
Target also sells organic seeds for less than $2 a pop!
Have a lot of veggies from your garden? Too many? Check out Veggie Trader to share and sell them with your neighbors! You can also share tips on I Dig My Garden with other garden lovers.
Information attained by:
Food Network Magazine - May 2010 Issue
Raw Energy by Stephanie Tourles
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