Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
dens, gardeners need to be selective about planting space-hogging crops like squash, melons, and pump-
kins. They'll grow rapidly and produce creeping vines that can easily take over a small space.
Is it really worth it to grow a watermelon in a small space? Your gardeners will have to decide for
themselves. If they're growing food to save money, a crop's value can be measured in terms of price per
pound, keeping in mind that vegetable prices vary depending on region, season, and where they shop.
It is also possible to determine value by how much a crop yields relative to the space it takes up. Of
course, taste buds and sentiment might win out over economics. It's always okay to grow something for
the sheer joy of growing it. So even though potatoes may be cheaper to buy than to grow, they're sure
fun to dig up, come harvest time!
Value of Crops
More Bang for the Buck
High value for the amount of space a plant takes
up—typically cheaper to grow than buy.
Less Bang for the Buck
Low value for the amount of space a plant takes
up—typically cheaper to buy than grow.
Arugula
Asparagus
Basil
Beans
Beets
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Kale
Lettuce
Mint
Onions
Parsley
Peppers
Radishes
Rhubarb
Scallions
Summer squash
Swiss chard
Tomatoes
Turnips
Zucchini
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Corn
Melons
Potatoes
Pumpkins
Winter squash
PLANNING FOR PLANT-GROWTH NEEDS
Your new gardeners may not understand how big plants can get
while they're growing, or how they
look when fully grown. Vegetable size doesn't necessarily correspond to the size of a parent plant. For
instance, okra pods are quite small, but an okra plant can grow over 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
It is good to educate gardeners on the size of a plant and the direction of the sunlight. A spatial
understanding is valuable, so that larger crops don't shadow smaller crops or make the smaller plants
