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11 Fast-Maturing Crops You Can Still Plant This Summer
Did spring planting get away from you this year? We may already be well into the summer season, but that doesn’t mean you have to throw in the towel with your gardening endeavors. There are several fast-maturing crops you can still plant for a bountiful late-summer or early-autumn harvest. Give these 10 options a try.
1. Radishes
Crisp and crunchy with a pluck of spice, radishes are a quick and easy crop that you can plant now and enjoy in just under a month’s time. Some varieties, like the De 18 Jours, can be harvested in just 18 days. More common varieties, such as the dainty and delightful French Breakfast, won’t take much longer, with the vast majority coming in at 30 days or less.
2. Baby Carrots
Despite their name, baby carrots are often just regular carrots harvested ahead of schedule. But some are genuinely small, petite and ready to eat in less than 60 days. If you want a quick and easy carrot harvest and don’t mind their small and delicate figures, check out Adelaide and Paris Market Atlas varieties, which can be harvested in about 55 days given the right growing conditions.
3. Arugula
Tired of the same old salad? Nothing against a classic lettuce, but arugula is a wonderful way to spice up your run-of-the-mill bowl of greens. And better yet? You can grow it in your own backyard (from seed) in just 30 to 40 days. If you’re happy with sweet and tender baby greens, expect to harvest in about a month. If you want a more mature plant, give it 40 days.
4. Cucumbers
Love to much on pickles? You’ll be pleased to learn that one of the quickest crops you can put in the ground right now is the humble cucumber. They are delightfully easy to grow, prolific in their abundance and as varied as you can imagine. For the fastest crop, consider the Spacemaster, which grows on compact vines and is ready to harvest in about 55 days.
See more:Â 10 Heirloom Crops to Grow in Your Summer Garden
5. Bok Choy
Small, fresh and downright fun to say out loud, Bok Choy is the perfect fast-maturing crop for anyone who likes to whip up a good Asian fusion dinner on any given weeknight. Bok Choy has a mild, cabbage-like flavor and is packed with beneficial vitamins and minerals. You only need to wait about 50 days for these guys to make the leap from garden to plate.
6. Broccoli Rabe
Growing broccoli rabe couldn’t be easier. In just about 35 days, when the stems are approximately an inch wide, you can trim them off, rinse them under cold water and enjoy them chopped in a salad, sauteed in butter or incorporated into a creamy pasta dish for an extra boost of vitamins from these healthy greens.
7. Microgreens
Microgreens are the unsuspecting heroes of the procrastinator’s garden. Most microgreen seeds are ready to harvest in just two weeks. Not two weeks from transplanting, mind you, but two weeks from dropping those little seeds in the soil. There’s arguably no faster way to reap the rewards of gardening – and they come in all kinds of fun flavor combinations, too.
Want to get started planting your own? Check out Microgreen Growing Guide.
8. Sub-Arctic Plenty Tomato
Want to grow something a little more ambitious? Tomatoes require a longer window to maturity, but the Sub Arctic Plenty is a variety renowned for its fast production and tasty yields of bright red fruits. Everyone may rave about the beloved Early Girl, and we’re fond of that one as well, but this curious variety will give you tomatoes even faster, offering you something to pick in just 42 days.
See more:Â 25 Seasonal Recipes to Make With Fresh Tomatoes This Summer
9. Green Beans
Green beans can generally be divided into two groups: pole and bush. Pole beans often produce more pods, but bush beans are the way to go if you want a fast-maturing crop. Many bush varieties also flourish in containers and small gardens. If you’re hoping to get a decent crop before the cool weather arrives, look into varieties like Topcrop and Contender, which can be ready to eat in about 40 to 50 days.
10. Turnips
Full to bursting with antioxidants, mast-maturing turnips are a fabulous way to fill out the garden this time of year. They’re quick and simple to grow from seed and will be ready to go in approximately 60 days. If you’re content with miniature turnips (anywhere from 1 to 2 inches in diameter), you could even pull them at the 30-day mark.
11. Green Onions
Onions will take anywhere from 100 to 175 days to mature, but green onions are another story. You can clip green onions grown from sets at the six-week mark, which is an infinitely faster option than waiting up to 25 weeks.
See more:Â How to Make the Most of Your Summer Harvest Before the Season Ends
I have a major problem with the crops. Whenever it comes the time to ripe, either plant dies or the vegetables. I do not know how to fix this Tried many things. I hope you can help me.
Thank you for this article