11 Best Vegetables to Grow in New England (With Pictures)
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The New England area sits in the USDA hardiness zones 4 through 6. This hardiness zone is perfect for various vegetables, ranging from carrots to everyday herbs. Knowing which vegetables grow best in New England can help you plant the best garden this year.
To learn about some of the best vegetables to grow in your New England garden, keep reading.
The 11 Best Vegetables to Grow in New England
1. Asparagus
| Varieties | Jersey giant, Jersey supreme, Jersey knight, millennium, purple passion |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 3–8 |
Asparagus is one of the most delicious vegetables, but it is easy to grow as well. Asparagus beds usually last for 10 to 15 years after the original planting. So, keep that in mind whenever you are selecting your location.
There are five main asparagus varieties that grow in New England. The Jersey Giant, Jersey Supreme, Jersey Knight, millennium, and purple passion are the most popular.
2. Carrots
| Varieties | Bolero, Nantes, imperator, Yellowstone, white satin, purple haze, rainbow, and many others |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 3–10 |
Carrots are one of the most popular vegetables in New England gardens. They grow well in the spring and fall, but they are not ideal for growing during the hot, humid summers. It takes about 60 to 75 days for carrots to mature.
The great thing about carrots is that there are many varieties that will grow in the New England region. Boleros and Scarlet Nantes are some of the most popular, but there are plenty of other varieties to consider. Almost all carrots are high in vitamin A and other nutrients your body needs.
3. Corn
| Varieties | Yellow, white, sweet |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 4–8 |
Corn has been a staple in the New England diet for years, and with good reason. Corn grows quickly in the New England area, and many varieties are common. Silver king, daybreak, and silvery queen are some of the most popular, but there are varieties for yellow, white, and sweetcorn.
It’s best to grow corn as a summer crop in New England. The vegetable requires warm soil for it to germinate properly. Shoot for temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit for best results.
4. Cucumber
| Varieties | Albi, citadel, eureka, supremo, vlasstar, Corinto, Katrina, Socrates, speedway, and many more |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 4–12 |
Cucumbers are essential to most New England gardens. Not only are cucumbers healthy and delicious to taste, but they are pretty easy to grow as well. They also grow in gorgeous vines that creep around your garden, creating a lot of texture in life. There are dozens of varieties to choose from.
5. Eggplant
| Varieties | Beatrice, black bell, black beauty, classic, Nadia, Nubia, dancer, Orient express, diamond, and many more |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 5–12 |
Eggplants might not be the most popular vegetable in the nation, but they are common in New England because they grow readily there. They make a good warm-season crop and grow great in warm temperatures.
There are plenty of eggplant varieties to select, including Beatrice, black beauty, and dancer. In fact, there are dozens of eggplant varieties that grow wonderfully in the New England area.
6. Green Beans
| Varieties | All green beans, except lima beans |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 2–11 |
Green beans are an American staple, and it’s partially because they are such wonderful vegetables to grow in the New England area. Green beans are the second most popular garden vegetable in the New England area, second only to the tomato.
Green beans make fantastic summer vegetables. It only takes between 55 and 65 days to mature. Kentucky blue, blue lake, and Scarlet runner are some of the best New England varieties to select.
7. Herbs
| Varieties | Basil, garlic, parsley, and cilantro |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 3–8 |
No dish is complete without the proper seasoning and herbs. If you are already starting a vegetable garden, you might as well add some herbs to that garden as well. Basil, garlic, parsley, and cilantro are all favorite New England herbs. You can grow them indoors or outdoors.
8. Peppers
| Varieties | Sweet bell, sweet Italian, hot ancho, hot cherry, hot banana, hot jalapeno |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 8–10 |
Add a bit of spice to your garden by growing peppers. Peppers do great in New England’s summer climate, making them a favorite summer staple. Just about every pepper you can think of can be grown in the New England area during the summer months.
9. Squash
| Varieties | Summer yellow, specialty summer, winter squash |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 3–10 |
Squash is a great plant to put in your garden if you want to get your children involved. Squash grows quickly and efficiently, which can keep kids entertained. Squash seeds can start growing as soon as three days after planting.
On top of the fun planting, squash is a delicious vegetable that can pair beautifully with practically any dish. You can cook it in many ways too. Plus, getting your child involved with the planting will help to encourage them to eat the squash as well.
10. Tomatoes
| Varieties | Heirloom, hybrid heirlooms, hybrid cherries, and many more |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 5–8 |
If you want to follow other New England gardeners and select the most popular vegetable for your garden, look no further than tomatoes. Tomatoes are by far the most popular vegetable in the area.
Tomatoes do best in a full sun garden. Cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, and striped Germans are the most popular, but there are dozens to pick from. You can expect your tomatoes to mature between 50 and 80 days, but the exact maturation time will depend on the variety you select.
11. Zucchini
| Varieties | Cashflow, payroll, leopard, zucchini elite, golden glory |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA 3–10 |
Finally, the last vegetable to consider growing in your New England garden is zucchini. Zucchini is much like squash, which means they make a great vegetable to add to your garden, especially if you want to get your children involved.
A lot of zucchinis can be grown at once, which means you can expect a decent-sized harvest with this vegetable. You can even cook it in a variety of ways so that you are never bored with your zucchini dish.
Related Read: 10 Best Vegetables To Grow In Texas (With Pictures)
Tips for Growing Vegetables in New England
Growing vegetables in New England is not that difficult. The natural environment is perfect for most vegetable types, which means you shouldn’t have much difficulty finding vegetables that grow beautifully in your garden. Here are some tips to keep in mind while you are growing your vegetables in New England:
Watch Sun Exposure
Most vegetables do best with full sunlight exposure. Select your vegetable bed strategically. You want the bed to have great access to the sun so that the plants can keep growing.
Consider Your Soil Type
Not all soil is suitable for vegetables. Vegetables need loamy and well-drained soil. You can test the soil type in your yard and get different additives and nutrients to add to your soil. Doing this before growing your vegetables will ensure they have the best base for growth.
Pay Attention to Season
New England can have some humid summers. Although this temperature is ideal for some vegetables, most vegetables find the temperature and humidity too extreme. Make sure to pay attention to your planting and growing season based on the vegetable in mind.
Most New England vegetables will need to be planted in the spring or fall, but some will do well in the summer months as well.
Conclusion
Because New England has four seasons, plenty of sunlight, and fertile soil, it’s not too difficult to get into vegetable growing in this area. However, certain vegetables are better suited for the New England area than others.
To get your New England garden up and running, consider one of the vegetables above. These vegetables are notoriously great for the New England region, and many of them are ideal for beginners as well.
Featured Image Credit: planet_fox, Pixabay
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