I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts on which vegetables are the most pointless to grow. By 'pointless,' I mean ones that take too long, are too delicate or finicky, require too many resources, or just don't taste any better than what you can buy at the store. I'm considering growing potatoes, but I can't help but wonder how much better they could taste, especially since the cooking method plays such a big role.
10 Answers
Onions are my nemesis. I can’t seem to grow them successfully from seed, and if I do, they never get big enough! But I will admit, fresh bell peppers can taste way better than what you get at the store, so I've been torn on those!
Zucchini definitely tops my list. It gets overrun by squash bugs and borers and ends up costing more in upkeep than just buying them at the store. And don’t even get me started on carrots!
I’ve really lost hope in peppers. They never get hot enough where I live for them to produce well. Every year, I’m left with one or two sad peppers and a lot of regret for not planting something else.
I’ve tried growing green onions recently. They were easy, but honestly, getting them from the store is just cheaper and way better quality!
That’s a solid tip! I usually just replant the roots of store-bought green onions. They tend to grow back even better!
I think melons are totally not worth it unless you live where the growing season is long. They consume so many resources and just don’t yield enough for the hassle. And let’s not forget about those winter squashes that take over the garden space too!
I feel like it varies so much for different veggies. For me, tomatoes are just a complete fail. I've tried growing them but they never turn out right. Everything else seems to flourish around me while my tomatoes taste like cardboard. It's super frustrating!
I feel your pain! I gave away a ton of tomato plants a while ago because my yield was pathetic. It’s so disheartening to see neighbors thriving while you’re struggling!
Exactly! I’ve technically harvested tomatoes, but they were always super disappointing compared to what’s available at the store.
I think any heavy vining cucurbit is just too much to deal with. Honestly, I wasn’t impressed with my potato yield either. For the effort, I expected more!
I always find lettuce to be a waste because it doesn’t pack much nutritional punch and the amount of water it needs seems silly. Why put so much effort into something so bland?
Honestly, I think pumpkins are a fun yet space-hogging choice. I planted a few seeds once, and while it was cool to watch them grow and even saw my dog loving the vine jungle, they completely took over my backyard! We ended up with a decent haul of pumpkins, but the real estate they consumed was just too much. Not sure I’d do it again anytime soon.
I had a similar experience with butternut squash. They were growing well until a freak snowstorm wiped them out just as they were maturing. It was a sad sight.
Yeah, it’s a bummer to realize that growing food often ends up being more expensive than just buying it. Half the time you’re fighting pests too!
I've got mixed feelings about potatoes. They can be a blast to grow, plus you can even do it in containers like laundry baskets if space is tight! But I cannot stand squashes, especially with those pesky vine borers that ruin everything. And don’t get me started on carrots—they take forever to grow and thinning them out is such a hassle for me.
Yeah, I think squash only makes sense if you have ample space for their sprawling vines. Otherwise, it's such a gamble for a spot in your garden.
Interesting, I've always found carrots pretty easy to grow. But I had my potatoes get some fungus the first time I tried, so I totally get the frustration!
That’s too bad! I’ve limited myself to a few varieties this year, but when they do well, fresh peppers can be amazing.