7 Vegetables That Can Be Challenging to Grow, According to Gardening Experts

Few things are more satisfying than harvesting vegetables you’ve grown yourself. But some crops make gardeners work much harder than others. Whether they’re prone to pests, sensitive to weather, or simply slow to mature, certain vegetables can test even a seasoned gardener’s patience.

To find out which crops are the most demanding, we asked gardening experts to share the vegetables they consider the toughest to grow—and why beginners may want to think twice before planting them.

Meet Our Expert

Related: 11 Drought-Tolerant Vegetables for a Bumper Harvest—Even if You Forget to Water Them

01 of 07

Cauliflower

Cauliflower tastes delicious in salads and snacks, but it can be a trial to grow this vegetable in your own garden. It takes anywhere between 50 and 100 days to grow—often on the longer end of that range—and is very sensitive to temperature fluctuations.

“To form a proper head, the plant must not be stressed,” says Christine Coker, extension research coordinator at Louisiana State University AgCenter. “Heat can cause buttoning that looks like tiny heads or loose curds.”

However, despite its complexity, she notes that cauliflower can still be a great crop for fall gardens—if you have the patience for it.

02 of 07

Eggplant

Eggplant is very vulnerable to pests, which can make it difficult to successfully grow in your garden. Flea beetles, in particular, will devastate young eggplants, says Kathy Jentz, host of the GardenDC Podcast.

“To keep flea beetles off, you can throw a row cover over the eggplant seedlings, but it may not produce much fruit, as the flowers then won’t be accessible to pollinators,” she says.

So while eggplant is delicious, she recommends not growing it in areas where flea beetle infestations are likely.

Related: How to Harvest Eggplant So It’s Tender, Flavorful, and Never Bitter

03 of 07

Rhubarb

Rhubarb adds striking color and texture to the garden, but it grows best in regions with cool temperatures. “It needs cool temperatures and won’t grow in most areas south of the Mason-Dixon line,” says Jentz.

Gardeners in warmer climates may find rhubarb more challenging to grow, as high temperatures can cause plants to go dormant. However, if you’d like to try growing it outside its ideal range, consider choosing a heat-tolerant variety or planting it in a location that receives afternoon shade.

04 of 07

Artichokes

Artichokes are unusual plants that can add both visual pizzazz and edible rewards to the garden, but they have some specific growing requirements. “These vegetables require vernalization to produce buds,” says Coker. “And they struggle in heat and humidity.”

Because of these needs, artichokes tend to perform best in regions with mild temperatures and can require a longer growing period than many other vegetables. Gardeners outside their ideal climate may need to provide extra care to achieve a successful harvest.

05 of 07

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts require a bit of patience, typically taking 90 to 120 days to mature. They’re also considered heavy feeders, meaning they benefit from a steady supply of nitrogen to produce firm, well-developed sprouts.

Cool weather is another key to success. “Heat can result in loose, poor-quality sprouts,” says Coker. Gardeners in warmer climates may find them more challenging to grow, while those with long, cool growing seasons are often rewarded with the best harvests. As Coker puts it, “This is one I like to buy frozen!”

06 of 07

Onions

Bulbing onions have a few specific requirements that can make them more challenging to grow than some other vegetables. “Bulb formation is dependent on correct daylength variety selection,” says Coker. “Early growth is slow, so long-term weed control is a must.”

They’re also sensitive to the timing of nitrogen applications and can be susceptible to thrips and fungal issues, she says. For gardeners willing to pay close attention to variety selection and ongoing care, onions can be a rewarding crop. However, success often depends on matching the right type of onion to your region and providing consistent maintenance throughout the growing season.

Related: When to Plant Onions for the Most Productive Harvests, According to Horticulturists

07 of 07

Asparagus

Asparagus is a long-lived perennial that can provide harvests year after year once established. However, it requires some patience at the outset, as plants often need a few years before they’re ready for regular harvesting. “They’re greedy plants that don’t like anything planted in their root zones,” says Jentz. “The plants take up a large garden space all year long.”

While asparagus is often considered relatively easy to grow, gardeners should be prepared to dedicate a permanent section of the garden to it and wait for the plants to become established. For those with the space and a long-term gardening mindset, that investment can pay off with years of future harvests.

Read the original article on Martha Stewart