Thought Leadership in Action

What could be better than a tasty snack you grew yourself?

Many of us imagine having a bountiful garden, but it can be daunting to pick the right plants that will survive, especially if past experience has suggested you lack a green thumb. To help, we’ve put together a brief list of fruits and vegetables that do well in home gardens, plus some fantastic advice to help you keep everything alive and thriving.

“Beginning gardeners do well when they choose plants and read tips on gardening for busy people,” says Nancy Allred, master gardener coordinator for Anne Arundel County, Maryland. “Some of the best hints include starting small, mulching early and often, and expecting to weed regularly in your garden.”

Stick to Simple Fruits

“Small berries are often the easiest fruits for people to grow at home, especially strawberries and blueberries,” Allred says. These tend not to need a lot of space and require minimal upkeep beyond weeding.

She says the same is true for many raspberries and blackberries, although you should do research on which ones best resist the viruses and diseases most common to your area.

Another piece of good news is that small fruit plants are self-fertile, so one is enough to produce some tasty snacks.

Select Easy-to-Grow Vegetables

There’s a wide range of vegetables that are considered easy to grow for beginning gardeners, so first focus on narrowing the list based on your own preferences. “Plant vegetables that you and your family want to eat,” Allred says. “There are many things that you can grow well, but if no one wants to eat what you grow, it can feel like wasted effort.”

This list of 20 recommended vegetables for school container gardens is a terrific place to start. You’ll find plenty of leafy greens like arugula, broccoli and radishes. Other options to try as your confidence increases are carrots, peas and onions.

Add Pollinators Too

“One thing we encourage all home gardeners to do is to think about adding pollinators to their gardens,” Allred says.

Pollinators can keep your plants and your community healthy, plus many gardeners enjoy watching the birds, butterflies and other species they attract. Between 80% and 95% of local, native plant species require pollinators to survive, so a garden is a way to help the health of every green space nearby.

Look for Local Resources

The final decision of what to plant and when depends on where you’re located, and it’s smart to look for city- or county-specific resources. “Even here in Maryland, planting dates differ depending on if you’re on the coastal side or in Piedmont,” Allred says.

She suggests speaking with a local expert, such as a master gardener, for your area. Each state has extension sites, often connected to a university as an agriculture extension office. These masters are available to answer questions from the public and may hold workshops on the best fruits and vegetables for your area.