The Most Versatile Veggies to Plant in your Garden this year
Are you in the beginning stages of planning and planting your garden and need some help? What kinds of plants should you actually put into your garden? At Jolly Lane Greenhouse, we have just about every plant you can think of, but some of our favorite things to grown in the garden are a variety of veggies!
Cruciferous vegetables are the most highly acclaimed and versatile vegetables to plant in your garden, and a staple in most healthy food recipes. You may be curious what a cruciferous vegetable is. To simply put it, they are vegetables like arugula, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, garden cress, Bok choy, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and other similar leafy, vitamin-packed vegetables that belong in the same family.
What makes these the best vegetables to grow
- Health Benefits
First things first, one of the main reasons to have these in your garden are that they’re good for you! Most of these vegetables are extremely rich in vitamins and minerals like folate and vitamin K, and can be cooked alone or combined with other ingredients to create healthy food meals. Dark green, leafy vegetables also contain both vitamin A and C, and contain components that can help lower inflammation and reduce the risk of cancer.
- Variety is the Spice of Life
There are so many different kinds of cruciferous vegetables that you can add to your garden for a wide variety of flavors, textures, and harvest times. This will make sure that you’re eating great all season long. Since there are so many to choose from, we thought it could be helpful to share some of our favorites. Not only are they versatile in the how they grow, but also in the varied ways you can prepare them! Each one of these super-vegetables brings their own unique flavors, textures and boldness to the proverbial table and your kitchen table, too!
One of our favorite go-to veggies is cauliflower since it can be prepared in so many different and creative ways. You can roast “steaks” to release more of the flavor, puree it and use it as a sauce, mash it into pizza crust, or even use it as a substitute for rice or pickles. You can also thoroughly enjoy it as a crunchy snack for when you’re on the go!
Another top favorite veggie to add to your garden, is Brussel sprouts. They are a great cruciferous vegetable that is delicious when roasted, tossed in sweet seasonings like dried fruit or syrup, and served with savory options as well.
We can’t forget that Arugula is one of the easiest plants to grow no matter if it is planted in your garden or grows in a planter all season long. Not to mention, the long list of recipes you can utilize it in! It isn’t just a leafy salad green, but can also be added for flavor!
One of the most popular superfoods is Kale, which is great to eat by itself or to mix in with your other greens in a fresh salad. Great when paired with something sweet, and a wonderful addition to smoothies in order to add an extra vitamin fueled punch, kale can take every meal to the next level!
Although broccoli takes some time to mature, once the initial head of a broccoli plant has been harvested, it can continue to produce side shoots that you can enjoy for months to come. It is the plant that keeps on giving, which is amazing since it allows you to enjoy it in all your favorite meals all season long.
3) They make great companions
We all know that “plants are the new pets”, but they can be even better companions to each other. Companion Planting is where plants are carefully selected to grow next to each other specifically for certain characteristics they may exhibit that are beneficial for the growing process of both plants. When you plant specific vegetables in your garden together, they can help attract insects like pollinators, encourage faster growth, improve nutrients in the soil, and can provide shade for more sun-sensitive plants. Some plants can actually encourage the plants around them to produce more flavorful vegetables when grown in a close proximity.
When you’re deciding what good companion plants may be, you have to assess what nutrients your plants will be pulling from the soil, or if they are potentially enriching the soil in the areas around them. Many of the vegetables mentioned can be great companion plants, and when paired with others in your garden, it can make the growing process that much better!
While planning your garden and summer salads, make sure to include some cruciferous vegetables. They are healthy, there are so many different kinds and flavors that you’ll never get sick of having the same old healthy food day in and day out, and the more the merrier, since they can even help each other grow! If you need some help figuring out exactly what plants will work for you, planting tips, maintenance tips, or just someone to share your love of gardening, give us a call at 605-393-1700. stop by Jolly Lane Greenhouse and meet with one of our staff, and grab a local craft beer or wine at our Garden Bar.