Easy grow low maintanace vegs plant recomendations please

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KILLERPARSNIP

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Hello all,

I am just about to start with my new allotment and am looking for easy to grow veg ideas that have relatively low maintenance. Do you have any advise ?

Thanks all

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steven c

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Re: Easy grow low maintanace vegs plant recomendations please
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2025, 13:15 »
I say grow what you like to eat  Onions Potatoes Sweetcorn Peas [Alderman] Courgettes all pretty straightforward to grow.  good luck.
from bow like to grow

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whaleroad

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Re: Easy grow low maintanace vegs plant recomendations please
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2025, 15:57 »
Beetroot.

They transplant just fine from being sown in modules, whatever anyone says about root veg. They're largely unbothered by slugs in my experience. They have a long growing season so you can be harvesting them well into winter (location permitting). Plus there are loads of colourful varieties so they make nice looking plants. If someone could just make them taste better they'd be perfect.

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AnneB

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Re: Easy grow low maintanace vegs plant recomendations please
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2025, 17:19 »
I second the advice to grow what you like to eat.
Unless you have a polytunnel or greenhouse I would avoid tender plants such as aubergines, chilli and sweet peppers which also happen to be more difficult to grow.   Tomatoes are good but outside get a blight resistant variety, but they do need a bit of looking after.
Don't overlook soft fruit.   It is very expensive to buy in the shops but once you have planted it, you need to keep weed free around the roots and probably net it in the period when the fruit ripens to keep the birds off or invest in a fruit cage, prune once a year, but that is pretty much it.  It is a good investment.
I would add winter squash and pumpkins to your list.
Also climbing French beans - you can get varieties to be eaten green, or as fresh podded beans or dried for stews and soups.   They are relatively trouble free.
Runner beans too.
I grow lots of peas because I love them, but I do have to net against pigeons, so grow shorter varieties that are easier to net.  Kelvedon Wonder is good variety.

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vikingraider

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Re: Easy grow low maintanace vegs plant recomendations please
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2025, 18:11 »
Pumpkins are good for ground cover as they quickly spread everywhere but need watering regularly

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Hampshire Hog

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Re: Easy grow low maintanace vegs plant recomendations please
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2025, 18:22 »
Agree grow what you like.
I would add consider the costs in the shops.
I grow asparagus which is relatively trouble free and gives you an expensive crop for perhaps 20 years. You have to be patient but mine produces without fail every year.
HH
Keep digging

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Subversive_plot

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Re: Easy grow low maintanace vegs plant recomendations please
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2025, 20:07 »
Beetroot.

They transplant just fine from being sown in modules, whatever anyone says about root veg. They're largely unbothered by slugs in my experience. They have a long growing season so you can be harvesting them well into winter (location permitting). Plus there are loads of colourful varieties so they make nice looking plants. If someone could just make them taste better they'd be perfect.

RE: better taste, try:
https://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=137891.0
Good substitution for queso fresco is blue cheese, or feta cheese.
"Somewhere between right and wrong, there is a garden. I will meet you there."~ Rumi

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Potty Plotty Lotty

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Re: Easy grow low maintanace vegs plant recomendations please
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2025, 20:48 »
I'm not sure very many things are low maintenance but good starter crops I recommend would be:

-potatoes: Once planted require little input except some earthing up. The foliage suppresses weeds to some extent.
-courgettes-buy plants or sow from seeds at home in compost and plant out after hardening off and all danger of frost has passed. Only plant 1-2 plants and protect from slugs for the first few weeks.
-winter squash-as per courgettes.
-sweetcorn-as per courgettes and grow in blocks min 4x4 i.e 16 plants. Slugs don't like them!
-Dwarf French beans-sow directly early May-not support required. Need to pick regularly to continue to produce. Sow again at monthly intervals (if you remember!)
-Dwarf Borlottis-sow directly in early May. Allow to dry on plant and pick the beans. 
-Lettuce-sow seeds and watch them grow but watch out for the slugs.

Don't be tempted by garden centres offerings until you've consulted advice here/online. They often put things for sale far too early so only lead to disappointment.

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AnneB

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Re: Easy grow low maintanace vegs plant recomendations please
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2025, 14:42 »
I agree there are not many vegetables that are maintenance free.  There will always be weeding, watering, protecting from pests.  Actually harvesting takes quite a time too.
There is no getting round the fact that cultivating an allotment requires time and effort to some degree


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