Knowing where to begin can be an overwhelming task for those planning to delve into home gardening. Though there is no shortage of options for your fresh bed, choosing between countless alternatives can be a double-edged sword. So, how do you know which essentials to snag and which plants to leave behind?
Hand-picking the perfect plants for your garden will depend on variables specific to your space, like environmental zones, crop goals, and dedicated time. Read on to learn six popular plants to add to your garden this coming season.
Garlic
In addition to being a healthy culinary staple, garlic is surprisingly straightforward to grow. Though you can plant this fragrant vegetable from cloves, investing in high-quality organic garlic seeds will leave you with more robust, tastier harvests.
Whether you opt for a hard or soft neck variation, ensure you avoid cultivating these fragrant plants next to peas, beans, sage, and parsley to avoid stunting the clove’s growth.
Summer Squash
Also known as zucchini, summer squash is an excellent garden staple if you’re looking for a high-producing crop that requires minimal effort for maximum yield. Often, you can plant squash seeds and harvest the fruit in the summer and fall without touching it much in between. Plus, this colourful squash is a remarkably versatile ingredient for your kitchen.
Sage
Garden sage is another high-yielding plant that adds value to your garden and kitchen. This vibrant herb offers a hardy, fragrant scent to any food, perfect for those looking to add a bit of spice to their dishes. Plus, this grey-green plant produces purple, pink, white, and blue flowers in the spring, beautiful addition for those experimenting with plating.
Sage does best in full sun, sprouting from a previous adult plant rather than seedlings. Additionally, take care to plant sage away from cucumbers since the taste can be affected.
Chamomile
Whether you want a practical plant or a beautiful addition to your garden, chamomile is the pop of colour you need in your garden. Not only does it brighten any outdoor space, this aromatic, calming flower compliments nearly every crop, driving away pests and attracting pollinators. Plus, chamomile is easy to grow and harvest as needed—so grab a flower or two when itching for a cup of calming tea.
Peas
Peas are a fail-proof option for gardeners, yielding large amounts of delicious pea-sized snacks during the early summer months. Though they require climbing plant supports to flourish and stay safe from predators, this sweet plant is worth the effort.
Additionally, peas are an excellent choice if you previously planted fruiting plants, as peas restore nitrogen to the soil.
Echinacea
Also known as coneflowers, Echinacea flowers are a stunning addition to any garden. On top of attracting helpful pollinators, this blushing blossom has restorative, supplemental benefits that help reduce the length of common colds and ailments.
Make sure you plant your Echinacea seedlings in high-light areas with nutrient-rich soil and proper drainage.
Wrap up
So you prepared your soil, and now you’re stuck on what to plant. To keep overwhelmed to a minimum, stick to the above essentials to build a strong foundation for your garden.
