Growing your own food is one of the coolest things you can do.
There is no doubt that it’s amazing to hold an egg and watch a chicken turn it into another chicken, but to me, it’s just as cool to plant a tiny seed and watch it turn in 50 pounds of zucchini!
![](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/garlic-harvest.jpg.webp)
I live in central New York, in zone 5b where we have WINTER and a relatively short growing season. Our frost-free time is from about Mother’s Day through the end of September.
We have a lot of rain, a lot of humidity and usually, a few weeks in the 90’s just to make things fun.
As a rule, I’m a hands-off gardener, I can’t baby plants and I expect quite a bit of self-sufficiency from the garden. I’m also really bad at weeding and my gardens never look Pinterest-ready.
Vegetable Crops
![hands holding a bowl of fresh spinich leaves in the garden with text overlay " early spring vegetables to plant before your last frost date"](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/spring-Garden-crops-400x600.png.webp)
![rhubarb plant in the garden](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/how_to_grow_rhubarb.jpg.webp)
![dirt clinging to the lower roots of a pile of radishes on a wooden table with text overlay how to grow radishes and 5 reasons you need to grow them in your garden](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/how-to-grow-radishes-400x600.png.webp)
![carrots, beets and a parsnip with green on a cutting board with text overlay "how to grow and eat root vegetables"](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/root-vegetables-400x600.png.webp)
![fava bean pods on a plant](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Fava-Beans-400x600.png.webp)
![close up view of snow pea plant with dark background highlighting two bright green pea pods with text overlay "4 types of garden peas to plant this year"](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/garden-peas-400x600.png.webp)
![large green snow pea](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/how_to_grow_fall_peas-400x600.jpg.webp)
![garlic scapes on a table, how to grow hardneck garlic](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/grow-hardneck-garlic-400x600.jpg.webp)
![clump of green garlic with roots and green sitting on garden soil with text overlay "how to grow, harvest, store & eat Green Garlic"](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/green-garlic-400x600.png.webp)
![](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Green-Onions-400x600.png.webp)
![close up view of bright yellow dill seed head with text overlay Why you need to plant Dill for the kitchen and the butterflies](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Dill-400x600.png.webp)
![red speckled shell bean pods with scattered shelled shell beans on a white surface with a small white cup filled with more shell beans](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Shell-Beans-400x600.png.webp)
![black surface with golden ground cherries or husk cherries scatters around including one cut open and several in tan papery husks with text overlay " how to grow ground cherries & how to eat them"](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ground-cherries-400x600.png.webp)
![white pattypan squash on the vine with a smaller green pattypan squash and a large yellow squash blossom with text overlay "how to grow summer squash: varieties & planting tips"](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-chicken-breed-400x600.png.webp)
![collection of heirloom tomatoes with text overlay "Beginners Guide to Tomato Varieties"](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tomato-varieties-400x600.png.webp)
![half wine barrel planted with cherry tomato plant, basil plant, oregano plant and rosemary plant](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/tomato-herb-garden-400x600.png.webp)
![close up shot of tomato plant with tiny sucker and text overlay "how and when to prune tomatoes & what to do with suckers"](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tomato-suckers-1-400x600.png.webp)
![large borage blossom up close with text overlay Edible flowers to grow and forage](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/edible-flowers-400x600.png.webp)
How to Grow Onions without Starting from Seed
Indoor Food Gardening
![how to grow hydroponic microgreens at home](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hydroponic-microgreens-400x600.png.webp)
![](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/reasons-to-grow-microgreens-400x600.png.webp)
![freshy cut sunflower microgreens on a cutting board with a black plastic 5x5 tray filled with sunflower shoots in the background with text overlay "how to grow sunflower microgreens"](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Sunflower-microgreens-400x600.png.webp)
![pea shoots under grow light in black tray with text overlay How to grow pea shoots](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/how_to_grow_pea_shoots_pin-400x600.jpg.webp)
![](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/gow_king_oyster_mushroom-400x600.jpg.webp)
![tipped over mason jar filled with green alfalfa sprouts, sprouts spilling onto a wooden cutting board with text overlay "how to grow sprouts for fresh food anytime"](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/sprouts.png.webp)
Unusual Garden Crops
Every year I try to add at least one new thing to my vegetable garden that’s a little unusual.
Some might question the sanity of devoting months (or years) of my life to tasting something I’ve only read about in a book. Honestly, I question myself sometimes but that doesn’t change anything.
How to Grow Everbearing Raspberries
Tondo Scuro Di Piacenza Heirloom Summer Squash
Fall & Winter Gardening
Cooking Garden Fresh Produce
![bowl of stweed rhubarb with red rhubarb stalks on a grey stone surface with text overlay "how to cook with rhubarb + delicious recipes"](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cook-rhubarb-400x600.png.webp)
![radishes on a cutting board with text overlay "creative and delicious Radish recipes for spring & winter radishes"](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/radish-recipes-400x600.png.webp)
![bowl filled with garlic scapes against a blue background with text overlay for garlic scape recipes](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/garlic-scape-recipes-400x600.jpg.webp)
![sliced green acorn squash with text overlay acorn squash recipes](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Acorn-squash-recipes-400x600.jpg.webp)
![four differerent spring salads featuring seasonal ingredients](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/spring-salads-400x600.jpg.webp)
![](https://chickenscratchny.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/winter-salads-400x600.jpg.webp)
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