High-maintenance vegetables
Posted on July 31st, 2009 – 9:45 AMBy Connie Nelson
I’ve always been a perennial person, so I’m kinda used to that work cycle. I spend a lot of time in the spring improving the soil, putting in new plants, transplanting, etc. After that, my plants are good to go, save for the necessary watering and dealing with the occasional disease or nasty pest.
But this year, I pulled out some of my perennials (!) to put in vegetables. I planted tomatoes (too many, of course), peppers, cucumbers, squash, broccoli, salad greens and a whole bunch of herbs. I figured that I’d plop them in the ground and more or less ignore them until harvest time. But these upstart plants have been downright demanding.
The tomatoes need to be watered almost everyday and after an initial scare, I’ve had to monitor them constantly for blight. The squash (which I’m growing in a container because I have no space) needs to be feed weekly or it pouts and produces yellowed leaves. And the herbs, well, half of them have bolted already (the cilantro, the basil) and the other half are refusing to grow.
My perennials, on the other hand, look spectacular. Too bad I can’t eat them . . .
So, here’s my question: Am I just whining or is growing veggies more work than growing perennials?
18 Responses to "High-maintenance vegetables"
Just by the nature of having to put a seed in the ground, a veggie is more work. Plus you have to harvest. But in between, the maintenance is dependent on the plant; some are easier than others. Flowers…yeah. Just feed them every now and then and watch them look purty.
There are things you can do to minimize the maintenance, depending on the plant in question. But even with the easiest, low maintenance veggie out there…some days I just feel like going to Chipotle instead of cutting down some lettuce. 
Ha! I guess I’ll be joining you at Chipolte! How ’bout the one on Hennepin?
Lettuce is the one thing I love to plant. I try to plant it all season long. But this year, some bug has been feasting on my lettuce, mustard and chard. I still pick it and eat it (after a thorough washing, of course) but the leaves have more holes than green stuff!
I’m about *this* close to buying a dustbuster for the sole purpose of pest eradication in the garden. The shop vac, while highly effective, needs a lot of extension cord and…well, let’s face it: Anything short of a fully matured corn stalk is going in. Effective… just a bit too effective. But yeah, I’m sick of bugs too.
I’m not one of those “grow one for you, and one for the pests” kind of guy. It’s all mine. Sample at your own risk.
…I wonder if the shop vac can solve my rabbit problem. THWOOOOMP!!!
Yellowed squash leaves means fertilize? Would that be the same thing for cantaloupe? A few of my cantaloupe leaves are starting to yellow.
High maintenance, totally true; but you do get alot of compost out of all of the plant after harvest–oh yeah, that’s more work. Now you have to have a compost pile, turn it, then put it on your perennials. For about a dozen tomatoes, or one squash, you will have bushels of leaves, stems and roots.
Oh noooo - this is not sounding good, except for Geoff’s ideas about rabbit erradication with the shop vac (super funny). I just planted a zucchini and summer squash this year and they both got covered in some kind of fungus and the leaves yellowed and the summer squash all but shriveled up after 2-3 little fruits, I thought it was a fluke! 
I have worked this summer on cleaning out a flower bed to prepare it for what was supposed to be a super fun veggie garden next year . . . now I’m really scared instead of excited. Seriously, anyone have any tips for success?
And I was thinking this season that vegetables are more rewarding than perennials! Probably because some of my perennial beds need renovation and have a serious problem w/ perennial weeds (quackgrass& dandelions). With veggies and annuals the perennial weeds aren’t a problem because the soil is completely worked and amended every year.
WannaBee,
It does sound like a fungal disease. I’d rip out those squash and throw them in the garbage, not the composter. The disease may have come in with the plant or been in your soil. Here are some ideas:
Work to improve the soil by adding compost or composted manure.
If you plant again, make sure the plants have plenty of room and plenty of sun.
If possible, water early in the day and use a soaker hose so the leaves of the plants don’t stay wet.
You might want to plant your squash in a different place next year to avoid contamination. You could even try a container.
Anyone else have some ideas?
Hmmm…I’ve been planting Roma tomatoes, bell peppers, and lots of different herbs in containers every year for the past 7. I have never found them to be high maintenance. In fact, as far as the herbs go, they are much more low maintenance than any of my flowers. If I forget to water them a few days, and they start looking glum, a little water perks them right up and they are fine. Maybe it has just been a rough summer to start this? I am west of the metro, and my veggies/herbs are planted in hot sun, though I do not water every day. They have all produced a little less fruit this year than in the past, but still going strong. So if you are having a bad year, try it again next year. I think it might have just been the weird summer weather that’s giving you trouble.
Hmmm…I’ve been planting Roma tomatoes, bell peppers, and lots of different herbs in containers every year for the past 7. I have never found them to be high maintenance. In fact, as far as the herbs go, they are much more low maintenance than any of my flowers. If I forget to water them a few days, and they start looking glum, a little water perks them right up and they are fine. Maybe it has just been a rough summer to start this? I am west of the metro, and my veggies/herbs are planted in hot sun, though I do not water every day. They have all produced a little less fruit this year than in the past, but still going strong. So if you are having a bad year, try it again next year. I think it might have just been the weird summer weather that’s giving you trouble.
Thanks, Vivica Glam.
I haven’t done much container planting for a few years because in-ground planting is so darn easy. I guess I’m just not used to the upkeep.
Say, I’ve heard it was a great year for herbs. So many of mine bolted. Are your herbs doing well?
some of the annual herbs (cilantro and basil in particular) will bolt. Cilantro needs to be replanted every three or so weeks and it hates warm weather. Basil needs to be picked at least every week to keep from bolting (but the more you pick, the more you get!). And perennial herbs (hardy lavender, sage, etc) may experience some transplant shock the first year, but should come back better than ever next year.
I forgot to say: Don’t let it discourage you, though! Getting used to a new rhythm might feel weird at first, but it will only get easier. Yes, they’re more work, but green beans so fresh and sweet — so worth it…
Thanks, Megs. I am enjoying the rewards. It’s just that I’m not used to the demands growing vegetables make. My perennials seem so carefree, even if they’re really not . . .
[…] Greengirls » Blog Archive » High-maintenance vegetables […]
Yes, vegetables are more demanding, they are greedy for nutients, want ONLY full sun, and do not play well if they don’t get their own personal space… But you can’t beat the freshness of homegrown produce, picked and served still warm from sunlight with all its natural flavor. Add in the swell varieties that you can only tasle if you grow your own food and Geoff is right, purty is swell but tasty is better.
Yes, Connie - My herbs are doing great! Container gardening is about all I do, since I don’t really want to dig out my perennials. I am not that adventurous. Ha!
If it’s any consolation Connie vegetables get easier after that first year of finding how they grow. The first year I had the veggies I wasn’t so sure that I could eke anything out of my garden to eat, but after amending with compost for several years I rarely have to add or feed. This year I got some yellowness to the peppers and tomatoes which I fed with compost tea and they pulled right around. I am still always amazed that each plant is so space hungry.
Greengirls Connie Nelson, Robyn Dochterman and Jaime Chismar are dishin' the dirt from the backyard garden and beyond. Whether you're a greenthumb or greenhorn, they're eager to learn from your misshaps, mistakes -- and most importantly, your sweet successes -- all growing season long.
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