Here are the crops with the fastest / largest yields and some suggestions for the long haul in case this coronavirus sticks around for a while!
Never a bad idea to have an extra healthy food stash around!
A Little Background: Our Home Garden
I wouldn’t call myself a “prepper,” (well, maybe sometimes) but I am thinking about what these next couple of months may bring if the shelter-in-place continues to be extended—which I’m guessing it will. In the last 7 days of our Shelter-in-place here in Santa Cruz County, our garden has greatly improved our lives on a daily basis. We have an endless amount of kale, bok choy, mustard, lettuce, cilantro, chives, and different types of broccoli which is allowing us to have healthy, fresh veggies in almost every meal. Since we aren’t too keen on venturing out to the store at this point, the garden allows us to eat well and be a bit more creative with what we eat, helping our physical and, maybe more importantly, our mental well-being.
Quincy loves the fresh veggies from the garden, so far broccoli is her favorite :). Great to know that she’s getting the healthiest food possible, even during lockdown
We have been enjoying our wide variety of greens with our eggs in the morning & broccoli with dinner more than we could have thought. There’s something about knowing that you have a fresh, nutrient-rich option in the convenience of your backyard during a time of crisis. We have been extremely grateful that our garden is producing so well and it has motivated me to make sure that every inch is planted for spring, as soon as it can be. Usually, I’ll wait a few more weeks before getting the crops in the ground, but in this situation, I’m going to want to harvest at the earliest possible time…I hope this advice helps you to be motivated to start your garden soon as well! (P.S., if you don’t have a garden and are looking for the place to start, we are now offering an online video course on how to do it right—just launched this week!)
State of the Garden
To give a little context, we are already growing lots of potatoes which will be a great food source in about a month and ongoing through the summer. We also are lucky to have a few berry bushes that are starting to flower and a plum tree already growing fruit. The kale and greens are starting to bolt / go to seed, but I’m positive some will still be tasty for another month, maybe more. The broccoli is pumping and will be for another month or so and we are JUST getting our first snap peas now, so that will be great for the next month or two.
OK, here we go…
THE FIVE (actually 6) BEST OPTIONS TO PLANT ON LOCKDOWN!
Got a hiding zucchini? This can happen to you too if if you are even away from you garden for just a week! Great for stuffing..
This is my list of best vegetables to plant based on:
A) How much and how fast will it produce?
B) Do I like to eat it?
C) Is it a crop that I can count on?
D) Right time to plant?
Note: Don’t forget that garden prep is absolutely crucial for getting these to yield like we want them to (more info)
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Zucchini/Summer Squash
Summer squash plants produce a LOT…and they come in really fast. If you pick up a starter plant at the nursery (and your garden is prepared properly) you could be harvesting within 4-6 weeks of planting! If we are still dealing with the Coronavirus through May, I will be very happy to have daily zucchini for my stir fry. Summer squash is fairly easy to grow, which is why in some places people tell you to lock your car in July and August or else you might come back to a car full of Zucchini :)
Cucumber
Fresh Cukes are a great snack on their own, can be extremely prolific and don’t take too much time to get to a point of harvesting. I love throwing them in a salad or dipping in hummus, so that’s my next choice for something to plant right now. Of course, if you start from a starter plant you will be able to harvest sooner, but they can also be grown from seed if that is your only option.
Tomatoes: Sun Gold, Super Sweet 100s, Early Girl
While tomatoes will take quite a while to get your first harvest, once they come in there is nothing like it. Will most definitely lift the lockdown morale if we are still holed up at home as we get into June. I expect early July as a time for the beginning of my tomatoes and will try to get varieties like early girl in there as well to hopefully produce a bit sooner than some others. Use starter plant for faster yield.
Basil: Italian Varieties
Basil is another crop that is so prolific and adds lots of life to your dish. It doesn’t take up too much room in your garden and you really only need one or two plants unless you are making lots of pesto or some other concentrated dish on a regular basis. Morale booster, makes a great fragrant bouquet as well and attracts lots of beneficial insects!
Kale & Potatoes (TIE)
Kale - While is some places kale may not do so well in the summer time, where I am in the Santa Cruz mountains, kale will do just fine. I may consider planting slightly behind some of the other crops in order to give it some shade during those hot summer days. We use kale in almost every meal and it grows so easily that we love having it year round!
Potatoes - Potatoes have to get a mention in the top 5 (even though I’ve already planted them). You’ll want to give them their own container and you are nearing the end of the best window for planting, so if you want to grow potatoes DO IT NOW! As many of you know, I’m a huge fan — they really are the gift that keeps on giving and would be crucial if you’re ever really in a pinch. Watch this video to get the low down of how to plant potatoes & what to expect
Super sweet 100s are not surprisingly pretty dang sweet!
Summer Squash comes in many different shapes and sizes, all prolific
Honorable Mention Due to its Speed
Radishes — Some people may not be huge fans of the radish, but they take up very little space and some varieties go from seed-to-harvest within a month! Try watermelon or french breakfast if you’re feeling crazy
Others to think about: Filet Pole Beans, Hot Peppers (big yield)
Final Thought
I can’t stress it enough, having fresh veggies is a game changer. Having a space outside with plants that change so quickly also provides stress relief for us parents and for our 8 month old as well (she loves seeing the daily changes) :). Now that you might have a little more time at home, it is perfect timing to slow down and start yourself on a great path for spring and summer harvests!
Stay Safe, Keep Smiling - Josh Levine, StartOrganic Co-Founder