Don’t let a few stones spell the end of your veggie garden—use these tips to grow your favorite crops
Here in theNortheast , rocks are just a part of gardening life story , and even if you are raisingvegetablesin an previous garden ( one that ’s been well tended for decades ) , there will still be some rocks in the soil . You ( as well as the tines on your pitchfork ) ca n’t help but encounter them . However , there are still plenty of veg that you’re able to arise well in these weather condition . Here are some of them .
Vegetables That Grow Well in Rocky Soil
Potatoes
It should be no surprise thatpotatoesare a natural selection for rocky or stony clay dirt . Think of Ireland — a landscape that look very much like our northeastern farmland where meadows and fields are lined with rock walls filled with Harlan Fiske Stone removed from the grime . potato also love our acid northeastern grease . Just be sure to add plenty of compost , as any stony soil will gain from an annual refresh with compost — especially one made from farewell .
Vining crops: Squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers
Anything that grows on a vine is another good selection for rough land . Vines have roots that can pilot around smaller rocks and Lucy Stone . If you have some magnanimous John Rock like glacial erratics or Boulder that can not be removed — no job . The roots of these vining plant will not only voyage around or over them , but the rock will allow for added warmth to the soil in leap as well as aid in keeping the foliage wry , possibly delaying the inevitable fungal disease these plants suffer from afterwards in the season .
Tomatoes, peppers, and greens
most any veggie that produces edible leave — spinach , Swiss chard , orlettuce , as well as those that are grown to develop fruit , such astomatoesandpeppers — can develop well in rocky ground . Amending grease with plenty of organic matter will help these weighty feeder , so rather than removing rocks every spring , concentre on tot up more leaves to your compost mickle . It will be your private weapon for years to come .
Vegetables That Don’t Grow Well in Rocky Soil
There are also vegetables you ’ll want to void grow in rocky filth — namely , those that should have long , full-strength roots , likecarrots , Pastinaca sativa , or horseradish . Rocky soil interferes with primary taproot growth and produces strange , distorted roots at well . Still , there are options when it do to rout crops . Various carrot form rounded , globe - shaped roots ( like ‘ Atlas ’ ) that will grow fine in stony soil . regard planting other assault - rootage craw such as radish , Brassica rapa , or turnip cabbage .
For more entropy on veggie horticulture in the Northeast , check out :
And for more Northeast regional reports , get across here .
— Matt Mattus is the source of two books : Mastering the Art of Flower GardeningandMastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening . He gardens in Worcester , Massachusetts .
picture , unless otherwise note : Matt Mattus
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Greens like Swiss chard produce above the surface and aren’t bothered by rocky soil.
Potatoes don’t mind growing around small stones.
Winter squash as well as other vining crops will be fine in our northeastern soil, and rocks may even provide some additional warmth.
Tomato roots can easily grow around rocks in the soil.
Rocks can impede root vegetables like carrots from growing long and straight and may deform root structures.Photo: Steven Cominsky
