Below you will find 10 of the best crops to start growing today to be prepared for the ever-increasing food shortages that only seem to be getting worse.
Herbs — add lots of flavor in small quantities, have health benefits due to high levels of phenolic compounds, and attract beneficial insects to help protect your plants. Many herbs can be perennial in mild climates or moved indoors over winter. Keep these growing to add flavor to what can otherwise become a bland and repetitive staple food.
Amaranth — grows like a weed, good for green leaves which can be eaten like spinach and for the edible seeds
Beans — green beans during the growing seasons, for winter purposes fava beans can grow in much colder weather than other beans (the young leaves are also edible).
Beets — high in sugars and minerals, edible roots and greens
Green Onions — fast growing and full of flavor
Kale — high in minerals, easy to grow, and nutritious
Peas — a vining crop that saves space by growing up instead of out, edible pods, leaves, and tendrils
Potatoes — a pantry staple that contains high levels of protein for a plant as well as potassium and other nutrients
Radishes — fast growing and great for adding spice and crunch, radishes are also a great source of trace minerals and vitamins.
Turnips — another nutritious cool-weather crop, with edible roots, and greens
Bonus crop in warm weather:
Cherry tomatoes — high in vitamin C and folate
They have to be planted early so they can ripen in the heat of summer but if kept well-picked they can keep producing up till the first frost. If you find yourself with more than you can eat, dry some to add flavor to winter meals.
Like what we do here at Food Forest Abundance Minnesota…Bootstrap Farmer also Empowers others to grow food! So for all of you, DIY Growers pay them a visit and check them out!
