Asparagus is the earliest vegetable you can harvest from your garden in the spring. The young, tender shoots of asparagus usually reach cutting size about mid-May in North Dakota. New shoots may be cut as often as every other day if temperatures and moisture conditions are favorable.
Leafy greens include lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, kale and arugula. They are easy to grow and prepare, and provide a wide variety of nutrients.
Many types of onions are available to grow and use. Onions are ranked sixth among the world’s leading vegetable crops. On average, people eat about 20 pounds of onions a year.
More than 5,000 varieties of potatoes are grown throughout the world. The average person in the U.S. eats 124 pounds of potatoes every year. Potatoes can be used in a wide variety of recipes.
Pumpkins are one of the colorful symbols of autumn. Most people think of using them solely for the purpose of carving and displaying, but pumpkin can be used in many ways on your menu, including soups and desserts. Try roasting the seeds for a crunchy snack.
Snap beans are delicious vegetables that are easy for people of all ages to grow. They are easy to preserve, so we can enjoy them year-round.
Sweet corn on the cob (or off the cob) is a tasty addition to meals. Corn, also called “maize,” is sold by color, not variety (white, yellow or bicolor). Corn can be preserved in different ways to be enjoyed year-round.
Botanically, a tomato is classified as a fruit because it has seeds and is derived from flower tissue. Nutritionists consider tomatoes to be “vegetables” on the menu. Tomatoes can be frozen, canned or dried, so we can enjoy them year-round.
Squash has been used as a nutritious food for thousands of years in North America. You might find buttercup, butternut, acorn and/or spaghetti squash in your local grocery store. Botanists consider squash to be a fruit, but it is used as a vegetable on menus.
Herbs have been used for cooking, medicine, aromatherapy, religious ceremonies, pest control and decoration since the beginning of civilization.
Learn how to successfully grow leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and more. After harvesting your bountiful greens, prepare them using one of these delicious recipes.
This publication summarizes the benefits of gardening with children and provide information about basic garden preparation, tools and resources for parents/adults.
Pesticides include natural and man-made substances such as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, disinfectants and rodenticides. They are used to help control, destroy and repel destructive pests such as insects, weeds, plant disease organisms, germs and rodents.
This publication summarizes the process of pollination in different vegetables and fruits grown by the backyard gardeners of North Dakota. Successful pollination is needed for fruit or berry production. The role of pollinators in growing vegetables and fruits is summarized as well as best management practices to attract and protect pollinators.
Home-grown potatoes, or those purchased at a farmers market or other venues, are a nutritious part of a healthy diet from early July until the following spring in northern areas.
