A Bountiful Harvest: Food Crops to Grow for Self-Sufficiency
To grow a substantial amount of food to really feed yourself, you will need to grow plants that not only give high yields, but are also calorically dense.
Let’s start with my favorite- the Winter Squash. Winter squash is not only prolific, but if picked at the right time and stored correctly, these can be stored for many months. Summer squash’s such as zucchini will also give you a lot of food, but it cannot be stored in the same way. Some of the winter squash that we currently have seeds for are a variety of different pumpkins, acorn squash, and Rancho Marques squash.
Another high calorie crop is potatoes. Potatoes are one of the most productive crops, and they provide a good source of carbohydrates. They are relatively easy to grow and store well.
Next on the list is Beans. Although beans are not as calorie-dense as some other crops, they are an important source of plant-based protein and carbohydrates. Pole beans tend to produce more, but if you need to save on space, choose a bush bean. We have both bush and pole bean seeds available.
Leafy Greens: Crops like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are highly nutritious and can be harvested multiple times. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. We do have seeds for greens, but as they are typically grown in the cooler seasons, they are not all posted on our seed page just yet. We do have a few varieties of Kale and Lettuce that are said to be heat tolerant that are listed, but will have more as the Fall approaches.
Other foods to consider growing are cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs. Herbs add flavor to your cooking and don’t need much space to grow. Tomato plants can be very prolific and you can do things like make and freeze sauce to preserve them.
This list is in no way exhaustive. The key is to find the crops that suit your personal preferences and space. Whether you have a small backyard or ample garden space, the joy of growing your own food and nourishing yourself and your family is immeasurable. So roll up your sleeves, dig into the earth, and let the bountiful harvest be the reward of your efforts. Happy gardening.
