Which Plant Do You Recommend Every Gardener Try Growing at Least Once?

[Finnie]

An equally good thread would be, 'what not to plant in your garden, even once'. I'd have a few for that list. And a lot less work every season if I had known.

Oh my gosh don’t EVER plant Cut Leaf Rudbeckia!!

I love rudbeckia, but this is entirely different. Lowe’s had it once and I thought “Oh, a new rudbeckia to try!”. I bought 3. They were pretty cool at first. Grew over 6 feet tall. Pretty yellow flowers, although kind of small sparse considering the thick vegetation they were blooming on. Within a few years they had made a huge dense hedge and were reseeding themselves all over the property.

It was a huge chore keeping them trimmed back because they would topple over in the wind and get in the way of anything near them. I decided to get rid of them, which was hard enough to chop down and dig out the thick established section, but even harder trying to stamp them out everywhere else before they can get a foothold. I know what their little leaf sprouts look like now and I hate them even more than bindweed!

 

[digitS']

Today's lunch included kale, from the garden. Yesterday's lunch included mustard greens, from the garden. The day before, lunch included bok choy, from the garden. Beyond that, my memory fails me but it is likely that we have greens almost every day .

Think about how a plant grows. The seed sprouts and the cotyledon emerge above the soil. Cotyledon – seed leaves. More leaves develop along the stem as the plant grows. The roots grow and later flower buds, flowers, fruit and seeds develop but those leaves have been available for all that time to harvest for greens, if they are suitable. Beets can be harvested for "greens" as they are thinned, roots and all. Shorter time to harvest, the fewer things that can go wrong!

Quick and easily prepared for the table, greens are generally, especially healthy foods. Much of my gardening is directed to maintaining a healthy diet. For many months each year, the production of greens can make a contribution. Along with many gardeners, I have some trouble having greens during hot Summer weeks but biennials like kale, beets, chard and cabbage have a role during those weeks. So do others – with a little special care to start and transplant, we have bok choy throughout the growing season and beyond. The brassicas are a very large family and are well worth exploring. There are several that can survive cold weather and even through the Winter.

Steve

 

[digitS']

my number 1 plant in my flower garden are dahlias

I'd say dahlias

I am voting for dahlias, as well. The caveat is that if you live in colder zones you need a proper storage location. The roots cannot freeze.

A dislike for carrying things up and down basement stairs makes sense to me but complaining about digging up the tubers in the Fall doesn't. Don't gardeners expect to be doing some digging in the soil? The ground where they were dug is nearly ready for sowing seeds and transplants in the Spring. Do some of the cultivation in both seasons.

If you enjoy arranging bouquets for gifts and indoors, I'd like to cast a vote for China asters. They are neglected in our garden choices and I don't really know why. Annuals, you will need a sunny window for starting, unless you are in warmer zones. They take awhile to reach the blooming stage and arrive in a good number of colors: blue, white, pink, purple, red, yellow, orange ... Cushions and Daisies.

A good choice of a bouquet companions are snapdragons. They need a little earlier start than annual asters so suitable indoor conditions have to be met. White and all shades of pink, yellow, orange, red.  Snappy shape and open-face. There you go: simple, beautiful bouquets with a multitude of colors from only 2 flowers. Add 1 or 2 stems of some other flower and/or greens, and folks will be absolutely floored by your artistry!

Steve

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

@digitS' Your post covers great info on the care and treatment for dahlias. They are grown all over the world .
There are 64 different different types of dahlia cultivars. One to fit everyone’s taste. Between 42 species and hundreds of dahlia hybrids.

 

[heartsong111]

I agree with the beans idea. I think I'd suggest runner beans specifically. The bees love them and they are edible (in multiple stages). Not to mention, the dry beans and flowers are just pretty.

 

[ducks4you]

Nasturtiums. Every time I grow them they flourish and spread and control weeds, you can throw the flowers in your salads, and they are easy peasy lemon squeezy!

 

[Branching Out]

Nasturtiums. Every time I grow them they flourish and spread and control weeds, you can throw the flowers in your salads, and they are easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Must say that when nasturtiums are happy they are a delight to have in the garden. These were volunteers that popped up mid-summer, and that continue to thrive.

 

[Zeedman]

IMO vegetables that every gardener should try at least once, are things like shelly beans. Those are sold seldom if at all, and can be an incredibly rewarding crop. Limas or pole shellies for hot climates... runner beans, favas, or bush shellies for cooler or shorter seasons.

"Giant Red Tarka" (bush shelly, P. vulgaris)


"Uzice Speckled Wax" (pole, P. vulgaris). A good wax bean, but incredibly delicious shellies if allowed to mature.


Runner bean "Gigandes" as shellies. The flowers of all runner beans also attract hummingbirds.

Every gardener should try growing okra too, if their climate is warm enough. Fresh-picked okra is so much better than the limp, half-dead okra sold in stores.

I agree with @digitS' recommendation of greens. Many of the Asian greens are suitable for cool climates or short seasons, and grow quickly. My personal recommendation would be for Swiss chard; it can be planted in Spring or Summer, used like spinach, and is incredibly productive... carefully harvest the outside leaves, and it grows back quickly. If I only had 3 square feet of space to plant, chard is what I would grow.

And of course, green beans, because they are easy & so good when fresh picked.

An equally good thread would be, 'what not to plant in your garden, even once'. I'd have a few for that list. And a lot less work every season if I had known.

Chinese lantern!!! I saw some in one of my neighbor's yard, and planted some in the front flower bed from transplants. It spreads incredibly fast by underground rhizomes, and is very difficult to eradicate... it will return from even a tiny piece of root missed. Had to dig up the whole bed to get rid of it. Mint would be 2nd worst.