Veggies to Plant in Your Illinois Backyard Garden Now

It’s go time. Whether you had seeds germinating inside or in a greenhouse over the winter it’s time to get them in the ground. The following vegetables can help with your household food costs.

You may believe you don’t have the skill to grow food. You’ll never know until you try, and you’ll never get better unless you keep after it. We all learn how to do things over time. There are plenty of factors that go into your potential yield. The biggest effect in food growth is not trying at all.

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Now is the time to get the following vegetables in your backyard garden to enjoy later this spring and into the summer months.

Tomatoes 

Whether they are little cherry tomatoes or huge beefsteak tomatoes, choose a style you think you’ll consume and get those plants in the ground. If you manage them right, you’ll have so many tomatoes that you’ll be sharing them with neighbors, family and coworkers.

Onions  

Try two different types. A green onion that you can keep clipping on through out the year that will keep giving your dishes flavor accents all spring and summer long. Plus a bigger onion like red, white or sweet onions (that have a yellowish color). Whichever you believe you’ll put to use more in your meals.

Cucumbers   

Give these plenty of space as the vines will grow fast. Cucumbers are a fantastic warm weather veggie for salads, sandwiches, or just in water, (!!) even sliced by themselves. Cool and refreshing on hot days. Once you get the hang of cucumbers you can branch out to pickle them. Yes you!

Lettuce

Pick a style that works for your family’s eating habits, Romaine, Butterhead, Red leaf or Summer Crisp. Clip off what you use and let it keep growing and producing for you.

Carrots

When started in the cool part of spring they tend to stay sweeter when harvested. Get them in the ground now.

Peppers 

Bell peppers will grow up and start popping and can be used in many recipes. Jalapeno peppers grow well, even out producing Bell’s in your garden. Whether you choose Poblanos, Habaneros, Jalapenos or Serrano peppers, you will ultimately have enough to share. Unless you are someone who likes heat on most dishes. Spice it up!

Other veggies you can plant in March include: Beets, Cabbage, Parsley, Spinach, Brussell’s Sprouts and many others. Herbs are also nice to have on hand and grow easily. It’s time to get growing. It will make a difference in your food costs.