Best overall garden food crop?

[nell67]

You should see the size of the pie plate he uses, talk about deep dish! I just realized that I like all the veggies listed here! With my opinion of veggies that's more rare than last night's eclipse.

Now here is a VERY smart guy!!!

[trax]

Now here is a VERY smart guy!!!

Just keep posting, you're doing fine....

[nell67]

Thank you darlin,I try

[marberry]

depends on the soil , light , and when u want ur first harvest . fast harvest : potatoes , tomatoes medium : beans , corn long : apple tree , raspberries

[Chris]

I've read before that per acre potatoes provide the most calories of any other crop.

Of course, you also need vitamins, as such, sweet potatoes may be better, or at least necessary for an additional area

Squash would also do well, they keep for a very very long time. I have a few good squash recipes, and they do have nutrition.

Apples can keep for a long time. The colonists used to sink barrels of apples in lakes over the winter and they would keep until Spring.

However, for a truely long lasting food that is a nutritional and caloric powerhouse, look to your nuts. Pecans and Walnuts having the most nutritive value (Walnuts highest in omega 3 fatty acids, pecans highest in antioxidants). In their shells they'll keep for a very very long time, they can also be easily baked into breads like pan forte and or fruit cake, which can then themselves last a long time.

If I were planning a homestead garden that I wanted to possibly be able to provide for my family I would.

1. Plant potatoes, both kinds
2. Maybe a squash or pumpkin patch.
3. An asparagus patch - asparagus is one of the few perennial veggies, not having to save seeds and plant it every year is a very good thing.
4. A raspberry patch, extremely hardy, tolerant, and also perennial raspberries. High in nutrition, grow in any soil, and spread like mad, and come back every year.
5. I would plant numerous fruiting trees, focusing mostly on nut trees. However I would include apples or pears as well.
6. I would also consider black currant bushes. Black currants are extremely nutritious, ridiculously high in antioxidants and vitamin C (ridiculously high), and can be made into jelly without any additional store bought pectin.
7. Finally, I would consider grape vines, purely because of the ease of making raisins, which also provide great nutrition and last a long time. Fruit that can be dried easily is highly beneficial.

The only other thing I would consider, is planting some sugar maples. Sure, it takes a long time for a tree to mature to the point where you can get syrup, however, you never know, maybe one day having some sugar to barter would be a very good thing, and even if the S never HTF the trees are beautiful in the landscape so no loss there.

Things I would not consider because of their disease or storage problems, or being high maintenance, or requiring special growing conditions, or not providing enough calories per sq/ft, etc: Strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, any cruciferous veggie (brocolli, cabbage, etc), cucumber, zuchini, watermelon, eggplant, corn.

[Smok]

cabbage is another top one

[flandersander]

i believe he said that but you're totally right.

[bulrush]

Nell, the ugly stick got its ugly from Beowolf, not vice versa.

[nell67]

Nell, the ugly stick got its ugly from Beowolf, not vice versa.

Umm bulrush,you are talking about my brother here!

[Beo]

I got this lil-sis,
Bulrush, First Off: You judging dudes now? That's a whole new thread of wierdness.
Second Off: There must be no mirrors in your house cause you ain't winning no prizes there for beauty ya cream puff. And Third Off: see the first one ya freak.
Chris great post thanks.

[trax]

Chris, thanks for filling in the entire post with interesting and helpful information, because initially I only read the first couple of lines and then I looked....wasn't getting any help from my nuts so I went back and read on. I wonder what the women reading the thread looked to....

[nell67]

You want me to answer that Trax??? I could tell you,but....

[bulrush]

Bulrush, First Off: You judging dudes now? That's a whole new thread of wierdness.
Second Off: There must be no mirrors in your house cause you ain't winning no prizes there for beauty ya cream puff. And Third Off: see the first one ya freak.

Now don't take me too seri...mmm, cream puffs.

That's ok. I can scare the warts off a toad if I focus myself.

[Rick]

Butt? You were looking to butt?

[nell67]

Butt? You were looking to butt?

Ummm that would be a NO!

[trax]

Butt? You were looking to butt?

If she's not answering me smart boy she sure ain't answering you...

[nell67]

If she's not answering me smart boy she sure ain't answering you...

I would answer you Trax,but I have a feeling I would be in line for a serious spanking!!!!!!

[Beo]

Bulrush I was jk too... bro hardly ever take me serious

[Chris]

Have you seen these:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archiv...potato1001.htm

I sometimes buy peruvian purple potatoes at the supermarket, and I know you can find seeds for them online:

http://www.burpee.com/product/vegeta...rrivals&page=1

Definitely a better potato to grow, you get the high calorie yields but also good vitamin/antioxidant content.

[nell67]

Never seen those before Chris,they taste like other potatoes?