Easy Gardening

A: Many ‘classic’ vegetables are low maintenance when you start with great soil. To me it’s the key to making gardening easier on you and the plants more pest and disease resistant. But specifically, if I were to suggest easy-to-grow plants, I’d say tomatoes. Some are easier than other but look for hybrids that have been genetically bred for disease resistance. You’ll know these by looking on the tag on the plant. Letters such as ‘V, F, N” indicate resistance to specific diseases. Also plant peppers, and egg plant, beans (pole and bush), Irish potatoes and sweet potatoes (not related), corn, soy beans, lettuce, squash and zucchini (a very fast grower), radishes (the fastest grower) and cucumbers.  Now, understand some years will be better than others, and nothing ventured, nothing gained. I think I learn the most from my failures rather than my successes. So don’t hold back but don’t over do it. That can be the biggest discouragement. When you over plant, gardens can do so well they get away from you and become a discouragement. Start smaller and expand as you can and good luck!