Self-seeding crops, plant once and forget 'em

Marigolds in bloom

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Like flowers, there are also self-seeding herbs and vegetables.  If you are the type that like to plant once and forget about ‘em, these are the ones for you!

The only trick to the whole adventure is that you have to let them go to seed so they can sow the next season’s crop for you.  When they have produced their seed, you can either let the wind do the work for you or you can cut off the seed head and strategically shake the seed where you would like new plants to come up.

Chives flowering

Self sowing herbs:

Basil (bring in the volunteers to overwinter in a pot)

Borage

Chamomile

Chives (garlic chives are particularly aggressive)

Cilantro

Dill

Oregano

Parsley

Self sowing edible flowers:

Calendula

Chamomile

Marigolds

Nasturtiums

Sunflowers

Self sowing vegetables:

Celery

Beets

Broccoli raab

Carrots

Egyptian walking onions

Parsnips

Radishes

Runner beans

Tomatillo 

Tomato

Turnips

Winter squash

Lettuce seed head

Self sowing greens:

Arugula

Chard

Collards

French sorrel

French dandelions (bred to have larger, sweeter leaves than “common” dandelions, but both are very nutritious and great in salads) Kale

Lettuce

Mach

Miner’s lettuce

Orach

Mustards (Giant Red Mustard does great in our garden)

New Zealand spinach

Purslane

Salad burnet

A gentle watch-out, these are plants that easily self-sow so you can get more than you want over time.  When you get the number you want, just get off future seed heads or start harvesting your new seedlings to sell the plants at your neighborhood farmers market or give away to friends!