With the Covid-19 restriction to public gathering and kids being home from school you’re probably looking for some alternative recreational activities. For the last ‘lockdown’ period quite a few of our customers told us that they wanted to start gardening. Since gardening is a popular stress reliever and an activity that bears fruit in the future, we think it’s an excellent way to pass the time. Plus it gives you a chance to bond with the family not to mention, as any home gardener will tell you, the best tasting produce is what you grow for yourself. But before you don your boots and straw hat, take a few minutes to read through our recommendations for easy vegetables that you can start your kitchen garden with.
1. Tomatoes
The tomato is perhaps the first thing anyone thinks of when they hear the term ‘kitchen garden’ and for good reason; they are extremely versatile. They find their way into salads, soups, curries, sandwiches, juices, condiments and most beloved to trinis, the tomato Choka. You name it, the tomato is probably in it, next to it or before it.
There are lots of varieties in color, size and texture to choose from and for our warm tropical climate, small cherry tomatoes are especially prolific. Common varieties can be purchased as seedlings at any plant or agro shop. For the adventurous, you’ll likely have to start the more exotic tomato specimens from seeds. We suggest you plant a variety (of varieties), you wouldn’t regret it.
2. Sweet Peppers
Sweet Peppers are far more than just another ingredient on your pizza. To start with its packed with nutrients, most notably, an exceptionally high amount of vitamin C. It is also a good source of antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamins A, K and B6 and high amounts of potassium and magnesium.
One of the most delicious dishes starring sweet peppers is muhammara, a Levatine concoction of roasted red sweet peppers and walnuts. Roast em, stuff em, fry em or ensalad em, they are as nutrious as they are delicious and always better when grown at home.
3. Lettuce
Many people are completely unaware of the huge variety in flavors, colors, textures and shapes the world’s favorite salad greens come in. That’s because lettuce typically doesn’t last long after harvesting and only a handful of varieties last long enough to make it to the commercial markets and grocery shelf.
So now that you know that there’s more to lettuce than Romaine and Iceberg you’ll be pleased to know that lettuce is super easy to grow for yourself at home. You could impress guests with unique salads grown right in your very own kitchen garden free of pesticides and harsh chemicals.
4. Cucumber
It’s no accident that cucumbers have been cultivated by humans for over 3000 years. It’s cool and refreshing and a great source of vitamin K. They also make great pickles if there’s a surplus so wastage is unlikely.
Apart from these, cucumbers are really easy too grow in our tropical climate and yield so many that you’ll have extra for your neighbors and friends and you’ll probably still want to know how to pickle them.
5. Pak Choy
It’s very likely that every single article on healthy diet that you’ve ever come across mentioned dark green leafy vegetables. While spinach is often the first thing that comes to mind, here in T&T we have another leafy green that adds a little more of a punch to the flavor profile and in fact is ideally suited to our climate. Pak Choy, Patchoi or Bok choi, however you prefer to call it is a rich source of vitamins A, C and K while also providing folate, vitamin B6 and calcium. This is one of the easiest veggies to plant and it just takes a few weeks from planting to harvesting. You’ll love to see it growing in your garden and we advise that you plant a couple seedlings each week to have a constant harvest. Use it in stir fries, soups or as an alternative to spinach in any dish.