As wonderful as growing your own food is, soil quality is often an issue. While most plants and vegetables thrive in loamy, well-draining soil, amateur and pro farmers/gardeners must still contend with compact, clay soil, acidic soil, rocky soil or other soil types that are not ideal for growing food.
Luckily there are numerous options for dealing with poor soil, including adding nutrients, utilizing raised garden beds and planting vegetables that are easy to grow, so check a few of these veggies out:
Tomatoes
Tomatoes do well whether planted from seed or starter plants, however if you live in a cooler climate starter plants are best. Plant tomatoes in full sun and water daily (unless you live in a particularly rainy area.) Dig deep to create strong root systems with starter plants. Tomatoes also do well in containers. Soil with a pH balance of 6 or 7 is ideal for tomatoes; add lime to increase a soil’s pH level and sulfur to decrease it.
Zucchini
Perhaps the easiest food to grow, well ever, is this squash family member. Two plants should provide more than enough zucchini, and their flowers are also edible! Water them heavily every other day. Zucchini also does well in soil with a pH balance of 6 or 7, and thrives in full sun or partial shade. Butternut squash is another squash option that is easy to grow.
Radishes
An easy root veggie to grow in the fall or spring, radishes grow quickly and will require pulling several weeks after planting to avoid ruin. Plant them in a sunny area in soil that preferably has a pH balance of 6 or 7; water lightly every few days.
Carrots
Carrots do well even in rocky soil – though keep in mind it will look crooked when pulled if grown in rocky conditions. Soil should stay moist, but remember that carrots require less water as they reach maturity. Grow carrots in soil with a pH balance of 5 to 6 if possible, and ensure they receive about half a day’s worth of sunshine.
Corn
Another easy one to grow, although to thrive corn does require space. Plant two rows parallel to one another to allow for pollination, and avoid letting the soil become too dry. A pH balance of 6 or 6.5 is best, as is a location that features “all day” sunlight.
Green or String Beans
Green or string beans not only are easy to grow, but also return nitrogen to the soil. Grow beans during warm weather as they are not a fan of the cold, and harvest them while “young” for tender and sweet-tasting peas. Peas do best in soil with a pH balance of 5.8 to 7, as well as full or partial sunlight.
Beetroot
Try to aerate soil as much as possible before planting beetroot, as this root veggie does best in looser soil. Add lime if your soil is too acidic, and plant seeds at least 2 inches apart. Beetroot grows best with half a day’s sunshine in soil with a pH balance in the 6 range.
These are just a few of the foods that do well in poorer soil! Adding compost to poor soil is generally an ideal way to get the results you want. If your soil is simply too poor to grow anything, look into container gardening and raised bed options.
Happy planting!