The 11 Most Difficult Vegetables To Grow In Your Garden

Growing your own fresh vegetables in backyard beds or patio planters is a gift from Mother Nature. However, some produce varieties can make gardening seem like a curse. Popular veggies like tomatoes, peppers, and beans are garden staples because they are tasty and easy to grow. On the other hand, some well-known gourds, bulbs, and root vegetables take more than green thumbs to plant and harvest successfully.

Specific growing needs and intolerances to environmental elements are what typically make one plant more laborious to grow than the next. Whether starting from seeds or transplanting baby greens into the soil, some vegetables just aren't adaptable and won't sprout flavorful produce unless cared for to a T. For a stressless planting season, you'll want to avoid these 11 difficult varieties to grow in your garden, or perhaps you're up for the challenge, but you can't say we didn't warn you.

Apium graveolens, also known as celery, demands special treatment before it becomes chunks in your soup. It needs a lot of space, moisture, and nutrients. Without enough calcium, the crops are prone to black heart disease, and you won't notice the discolored center until late in the season. You'll need rich soil as celery's short roots make it hard to gather nutrients. Its roots also can't compete with weeds. If you're up for the task, try growing celery in USDA zones 3 to 11. Make sure to plant each seedling a foot apart and water 1 to 2 inches weekly.

Sweet corn (Zea mays subsp. mays L.) is one of six main varieties of corn and is harvested immature to eat as a vegetable instead of as a grain. You'll need rich, moist soil for your sweet treat to thrive. Plant the corn in bundles of at least four rows to help with self-pollination. They have to be the same variety of corn, as cross-pollination leads to improper flavor and texture. Sweet corn is another shallow-root species that needs a weekly inch of water. Corn can grow in USDA zones 2 to 9. Your location will determine the best time to plant corn for a plentiful harvest.

There are key differences between winter and summer squash, a major one being how easy it is to grow. Winter squash (Cucurbita moschata), although adaptable, requires a large growing area and warm weather to sprout. Zones 3 to 11 are where winter squash are most hardy. Ideally, your crops need full sun, moist soil, and a foot of space per plant to thrive. You'll need to watch out for pests, too. Cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and squash vine borers, along with common insects like slugs and aphids, can damage your gourds. However, spraying your plants with insecticide is risky as it can deter the bees needed to pollinate.

While the green tops of onions (Allium cepa) are easy to grow, the bulbs are high maintenance. Onions require more nutrients than other vegetables. Hence, organic-rich soil is essential. The soil's pH is important, too, and should ideally be between 6.0 and 6.8. For adequate care, you'll need to know what group your onion belongs to. Short-day (hardy in zones 7 to 13) needs at least 11 hours of sunlight, intermediate/day-neutral (hardy in all zones) at least 13 hours, and long-day (hardy in zones 1 to 6) at least 16 hours. Onions are also another short-root vegetable, so consistent watering is key.

When growing lettuce (Lactuca sativa), most opt for fast and easy-growing loose-leaf lettuce. Its cousin, head lettuce, like the popular iceberg variety, is more difficult to grow. Head lettuce is heat-intolerant and can develop a bitter profile when exposed to consistently high temperatures. This zone 2 to 11 hardy crop prefers rich loam soil and lots of water. Overwatering can lead to soft produce. Your head lettuce also needs 12 inches of space apart from each other, but the tiny seeds make precision planting tedious. Don't forget to remove weeds. The unwanted plants will win in a competition for space and nutrients against the salad staple.