So far we have covered the best vegetables to grow in the southeast and northeast. Today presents five of the best vegetables for the midwest and central plains areas of the U.S.
The midwest is known for it's awesome farm lands, and many vegetables can be grown in this area.
Here are five awesome vegetables that grow well in the midwest.
Cabbage
![Cabbage Is Ideal for the MIdwest Vegetable Garden]()
The typical long, cool springs of the midwest favor growing cabbage, which prefers cooler temperatures. Cabbage should be grown in fertile soil with a pH around 6.5.
It's important to maintain consistent soil moisture with cabbage to prevent the head from cracking. A cracking head can also signal the cabbage is past its harvest time.
Cabbage worms, flea beetles and cabbage maggots are all possible pests of cabbage.
Early Jersey Wakefield, Red Express, and Vertus Savoy are all delicious cabbage varieties.
Potatoes
![Potatoes Are an Excellent Choice for Midwest Vegetable Gardens]()
Most vegetable gardeners in the midwest consider growing potatoes as an absolute must. Potatoes should be planted in early spring and should be mounded with soil as they grow to improve overall production of the plants.
Early-season potatoes can be harvested in early to mid summer, while late season potatoes can be harvested in early fall once the plants begin to die back.
Colorado potato beetles can be a serious problem for potatoes. Handpick them for light cases, or use a form of Bt such as Thuricide for large infestations.
Some excellent choices of potatoes are German Butterball, Red Pontiac, Kennebec, and Swedish Peanut Fingerling.
Corn
![Whats a Midwest Vegetable Garden Without Corn]()
It's difficult to think about the midwest and not think about corn. The fertile soils of the midwest and central plains are well-suited for growing nice ears of corn.
Corn requires quite a bit of nitrogen to grow well, so make sure to amend the garden bed with plenty of compost and well-aged herbivore manures.
It's also a great idea to plant corn in an area where a nitrogen-fixing plant was grown the year before, such as bush beans or peas.
Most corn varieties require an organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion, every two weeks. Corn benefits from regular waterings. Use soaker hoses in straight rows or bunches of corn.
Corn is pollinated by the wind and needs to be planted in large bunches in smaller gardens to get the best production of ears.
Jubilee, Silver Queen, and Ambrosia are all perfect for the midwest vegetable garden.
Cauliflower
![Cauliflower Can Be Difficult to Grow but Worth It]()
Cauliflower can be started in early spring for most midwest vegetable gardens. It is one of the trickiest plants in the cabbage family to grow because it stresses very easily. Once it's stressed cauliflower is quick to bolt.
All the extra fuss is well worth it once you harvest that first beautiful white head.
White cauliflower varieties need to be blanched to limit the amount of light that reaches the developing head. This is done by wrapping the leaves of the plant around the head to block sunlight.
Early White, and Snowball are both delicious varieties of cauliflower.
Garlic
![Garlic Grows Well In Midwest Vegetable Gardens]()
There are basically three types of garlic to choose from:
Garlic cloves should be planted in the fall for a mid-summer harvest. Place a thick layer of mulch in late fall to protect them during hard freezes. Remove the mulch in early spring and add compost to the bed of garlic.
Chinese Pink, Early Italian, and Elephant are all great choices of garlic for the midwest vegetable garden.
If you live in a different region than the midwest, check out these other areas for recommendations:
5 Vegetables That Grow Well In the Southeast
5 Vegetables That Grow Well In the Northeast
5 Vegetables That Grow Well In the Southwest
5 Vegetables That Grow Well In the Northwest
What other vegetables do you grow in your midwest vegetable garden?
The midwest is known for it's awesome farm lands, and many vegetables can be grown in this area.
Here are five awesome vegetables that grow well in the midwest.
Cabbage
The typical long, cool springs of the midwest favor growing cabbage, which prefers cooler temperatures. Cabbage should be grown in fertile soil with a pH around 6.5.
It's important to maintain consistent soil moisture with cabbage to prevent the head from cracking. A cracking head can also signal the cabbage is past its harvest time.
Cabbage worms, flea beetles and cabbage maggots are all possible pests of cabbage.
Early Jersey Wakefield, Red Express, and Vertus Savoy are all delicious cabbage varieties.
Potatoes
Most vegetable gardeners in the midwest consider growing potatoes as an absolute must. Potatoes should be planted in early spring and should be mounded with soil as they grow to improve overall production of the plants.
Early-season potatoes can be harvested in early to mid summer, while late season potatoes can be harvested in early fall once the plants begin to die back.
Colorado potato beetles can be a serious problem for potatoes. Handpick them for light cases, or use a form of Bt such as Thuricide for large infestations.
Some excellent choices of potatoes are German Butterball, Red Pontiac, Kennebec, and Swedish Peanut Fingerling.
Corn
It's difficult to think about the midwest and not think about corn. The fertile soils of the midwest and central plains are well-suited for growing nice ears of corn.
Corn requires quite a bit of nitrogen to grow well, so make sure to amend the garden bed with plenty of compost and well-aged herbivore manures.
It's also a great idea to plant corn in an area where a nitrogen-fixing plant was grown the year before, such as bush beans or peas.
Most corn varieties require an organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion, every two weeks. Corn benefits from regular waterings. Use soaker hoses in straight rows or bunches of corn.
Corn is pollinated by the wind and needs to be planted in large bunches in smaller gardens to get the best production of ears.
Jubilee, Silver Queen, and Ambrosia are all perfect for the midwest vegetable garden.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower can be started in early spring for most midwest vegetable gardens. It is one of the trickiest plants in the cabbage family to grow because it stresses very easily. Once it's stressed cauliflower is quick to bolt.
All the extra fuss is well worth it once you harvest that first beautiful white head.
White cauliflower varieties need to be blanched to limit the amount of light that reaches the developing head. This is done by wrapping the leaves of the plant around the head to block sunlight.
Early White, and Snowball are both delicious varieties of cauliflower.
Garlic
There are basically three types of garlic to choose from:
- Hardneck garlic has a single ring of cloves around a single, stiff stem
- Softneck garlic grows as a cluster of cloves with a soft stem that is ideal for braiding
- Elephant garlic grows a few very large cloves
Garlic cloves should be planted in the fall for a mid-summer harvest. Place a thick layer of mulch in late fall to protect them during hard freezes. Remove the mulch in early spring and add compost to the bed of garlic.
Chinese Pink, Early Italian, and Elephant are all great choices of garlic for the midwest vegetable garden.
If you live in a different region than the midwest, check out these other areas for recommendations:
5 Vegetables That Grow Well In the Southeast
5 Vegetables That Grow Well In the Northeast
5 Vegetables That Grow Well In the Southwest
5 Vegetables That Grow Well In the Northwest
What other vegetables do you grow in your midwest vegetable garden?
