Questions tagged [food-crops]

Crops which are grown for food.

are simply crops which are grown for food. Although most crops are, indeed, grown for food; some are not. For example cotton is grown for textile fibers.

Use this tag for questions specific to growing food crops - e.g. choosing a food crop for a particular situation, or for finding good combinations. Questions about specific crops should use the specific tag for the crop in question.

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Is it safe to grow food plants near the road?

I have been told that debris/pollution from the road will find its way into my plants, but I don't know how much to be concerned about this. We have a nice porch which could be used as a vegetable garden, but it is near a side street. It is,…
Alex Feinman
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How large a cultivation area to feed one person?

Consider a project like the Earthship. Supposing one would like to grow food (organic polyculture) indoors in such a habitat (i.e. in a green house). How many m² would be required to feed one person yearly?
neydroydrec
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How to get rid of bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) once and for all?

I have an allotment in England where I grow vegetables and fruit. One of the biggest problems I am having with it (other than the soil desperately needing fertilising) is the bindweed infestation. I have tried all sorts to get rid of it. I have…
AvieRose
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Calorically dense crops that can be grown in southern Ontario, Canada?

I'm experimenting with growing my own food, and have been for a few years now. My goal, in the very long term, is to be able to homestead and grow as much of my own food as I can. In terms of sheer number of pounds of food grown, I think that…
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Is it safe to eat fruits and vegetables planted in a pet cemetery?

Are there any safety concerns in eating fruit and veggies from plants that have been growing where dead pets have been buried? Not a full blown pet cemetery, but a small and intimate location in the backyard where the beloved family dog or cat has…
Eight Days of Malaise
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Growing beneficial, edible plants in the woods

We are purchasing some land in northern KY. and want to start growing food in the wooded area. We plan to plant ginseng but beyond that we are looking for other suggestions as to what we can grow in this thick woods. Very little undergrowth, older…
NKY Homesteading
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How can I grow cold weather crops in a hot climate?

I would really like to grow brocolli, potatoes, blueberries, and/or spinach in Oklahoma (zone 6). But all my previous attempts have failed miserably. Does anyone have pointers on how to do this, or should I just give up? Even tomatoes are difficult…
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How bad is it to use colour newsprint for paper pots?

Discussions here and here talk about making these frugal paper pots to ease the shock when transplanting seedlings. I've heard though that you should only use black and white newsprint, as the colour ink may contain heavy metals. But with the rise…
AvieRose
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Which crops or vegetables can withstand 40 degrees Celsius?

I want to know which crops or vegetables will withstand 40 degrees Celsius (103 degrees Fahrenheit)?
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Which root edibles can be harvested in the following years after they are planted?

I would like to plant some root edibles (is it correct to call these vegetables?) near my house which will either remain a viable food source for longer than a season, or propagate so that there will always be a viable source of food in the area. I…
Hoytman
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Would LEDs be beneficial for most plants?

I'm trying to grow the following indoors: Lambs lettuce Purple Coneflower Thyme Dill Bergamot I'm having a hard time getting things to grow with fertilized soil and sunlight by windows, I'm wondering if any type of LED would help or am I missing…
Rebecca RVT
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Are there mulling spices that can be grown in zone 5 northern USA?

I'm a fan of mulling spices used in wine and cider, but I can't think of any similar fragrant plants that grow in my neck of the woods. Mulling spices I'm thinking of are allspice, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. I think all of those grow in southeast…
cr0
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Organic Gardening: Best Practices

So this is a kind of open-ended question, if it's too broad I'll try to be more specific, or remove the post. Do any of you have good resources for information on organically growing peppers? Do you have any pro tips that you've experienced…
kyle_engineer
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How can I improve the soil in a new allotment, which is covered in wild grass?

I am in the process of getting hold of a standard style UK allotment, 10 poles or about 10x25m (2722.5 sq. ft., .052 acres) The plot will be covered mostly in wild tall grasses, and is likely to have been that way at least 6 months to a year. The…
Oliver
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What are the optimal N-P-K levels for fertilizing potatoes?

I have some russet potatoes that seem to be doing well growing in a plastic tub. (This photo was taken near sunset; they do get 8+ hours open sun.) I have a choice between these three fertilizers, and was about to go for the 7-4-5 but figured I'd…
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