Growing Self Seeding Vegetables

You won’t need to seed again!

Gardening is pretty rewarding especially after all the hard work we put in, we deserve to reap a good harvest and a pat on the back for a job well done but the challenge that many home gardeners face is going back to working the soil and reseeding. Won’t it be great to have a garden where the work is done for you after you have done most of the work?

I don’t mean hiring someone to do the job for you which can be pretty costly but rather sowing seeds that will produce a harvest for you year after year, This is the type of garden to invest in as you spend less time working the soil and more time reaping.

Many home gardeners are taking advantage of this garden method that is so beneficial, if you are one of those persons who would rather spend less time working the soil but getting great results then this post is just for you so let’s take a closer look at this garden type as your days of working the soil is made easier.

20 Self Seeding food crops

Here are a few food crops to consider when planning a self-seed garden

Tomatoes

1. What I find so amazing about the tomato plants is that it is so easy to grow, have you ever taken a tomato and just threw it out without having to do any work and after a few weeks, you notice little seedlings springing up.

I remembered a few years ago weed whacking near a fenced and to my surprise, I came across some wild tomatoes which were growing on this fence which was in a bushy area which means the seeds could have been placed there by birds droppings that brought the tomato seeds to this area.

Here no human effort was involved it was just growing wild, so if you are looking for a food crop that will self-seed the tomato plant can do the job for you.

Lettuce

2. Let us now turn our attention to lettuce, lettuce is a popular veggie that is used in many salads and can be grown as a self-seeding veggie. Allowing your lettuce to bolts or set seeds will have you well on your way to harvesting more fresh lettuce grown from your home garden.

Carrots

3. Carrots are a great veggie to have in your home garden, what I love about carrots is that you don’t need that big of a space to grow them. Once your carrot’s roots survive the frost or colder months you can expect them to self-seed which will allow you to reap a good harvest during the growing season.

Onions

4. One of my favorite veggies is onion which has strong flavors. Although I cook with onions my favorite way of eating them is in salads. These biennials will also make your job easier by reseeding.

Radishes

5. Radishes are also self-seeding the way radish self-seed is producing pods, these pods contain seeds that will give you an abundance of radishes.

Cilantro

6. Cilantro is a leafy green that is edible they grow best in the cool weather. Planting cilantro in the early spring may encourage bolting which will cause your cilantro to re-seed giving you a good harvest before the summer heat sets in.

Spinach

7. Spinach is a cool-season plant that is worth the investment, this leafy green is full of vitamins which is so beneficial. What I found so amazing about this veggie is that it can re-seed very quickly. New plants will emerge once the cool season sets in meanly the fall months.

Beans

8. Believe it or not, beans are also added to the list of food crops that re-seeds, In the warmer season expect to reap a good harvest.

Kale

9. A great way to get your kale to re-seed is not to harvest the leaves this will encourage the plant to set seed.

Beets

10. Once the roots of beets survive the cold months preparing for them to re-seed during the following season.

Pumpkins

11. Pumpkins also re-seeds if a few of them are left in your garden, they will decompose and the next growing season will give you a fresh harvest.

Garlic

12. Garlic has so many health benefits but can also be used in the garden to repel garden insect pests, just leave a few of them in the ground and each clove will become a full plant.

Basils

13. I love cooking with basil because of the aroma and taste, basil can also be used to attract pollinators and repel insects. In order for your basil to re-seed simply allow it to flowers.

Parsley

14.  Parsely is a biennial that can re-seed, once planted parsley in its first year will develop green leaves and stems, in its second year will grow a flower stock and the second set of leaves. The flower blooms in the summer and seeds in the late summer and early fall. Holding off from harvesting will cause the seed to scatter and lay dormant until the next growing season which will germanite giving you a fresh harvest.

Potatoes

15. This food crop will not disappoint but will give you a great harvest if allowed to go for themselves, after you’ve harvested your potato just leave the soil and watch as your potatoes give another harvest. A word of warning, however, keep an eye out for potato blight if there is a sign of blight remove those potatoes.

Dill

16. Dill is another self-seeder that will give a harvest, allowing some of the seeds to remain will ensure that you have a harvest during the growing season.

Oregano

17. Oregano has a strong aroma with a slightly bitter taste, this herb, however, will spice up your dishes. Oregano can also self-seed. This sturdy herb will overwinter especially if mulch or fallen leaves are used as an insulator.

Collard Greens

18. Collard greens can get very large, These veggies will grow just about anywhere. This cole crop can also go to seed produce a good harvest during the growing season. When planting collard greens give them good spacing.

Parsnips

19. Parsnips are hardy biennials that can be grown as an annual root crop, letting your parsnips go to seed will give you a supply of fresh parsnips when the growing season starts.

Turnips

20. Turnip is a cool-season crop that can be eaten cooked or raw, when planting turnips give them a spacing of about two feet, once turnips have reached maturity harvest the leaves but not the roots. Covering the ground with a layer of mulch will act as an insulator as your turnips over winter. When spring comes you will have a harvest of turnips.

Additional Tips for successful gardening

1. When installing your garden ensure that you are using the right soil type for your garden plants.

2. Ensure that you are giving your garden plants the right amount of water.

3. When treating your edible food crops for garden insect pests use safe methods such as treatments that are labeled for food crops or making homemade remedies.

4. Before using treatments which is purchase read and follow the manufacture’s label.

5. The use of biological control is another means of safely bringing garden insect pests under control.

6. When using a hand pruner or other garden tools remember to sterilize to avoid the spread of disease.

7. When using fertilizers read and follow the manufacture’s label but in my opinion, I would rather use organics when it comes to food crops which I think is much safer.

The final word

Investing in garden plants that will give you a continual harvest by re-seeding is a great way to reap a harvest by not having to work the soil over and over again so why not invest in a garden of this sort that promises to make your gardening time a lot easier.

About the author

Norman

+ posts

Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.

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