What Vegetables Grow Best In Arkansas?
Arkansas is home to many warm-season and cool-season vegetables. The best vegetables to grow in Arkansas will have a short maturity time, be able to withstand the hot summers and cold winters, and thrive in the soil specific to this region.
Warm-Season Vegetables
Warm-season vegetables need the warmest parts of the summer in order to grow the best. These include:
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes need plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures in order to produce large and juicy fruits. Arkansas is home to some of the best heirloom and hybrid varieties of tomatoes.
- Peppers: Peppers thrive in Arkansas’s hot temperatures and high humidity, producing abundant harvests of sweet and spicy varieties.
- Cucumbers: Arkansas summers are warm and humid, making it a great place for cucumbers to thrive. Pickling and slicing cucumbers are especially popular in this region.
- Eggplants: Eggplants prefer hot temperatures and tend to be among the earliest maturing vegetables in Arkansas.
Cool-Season Vegetables
Many vegetables can survive Arkansas’s cold winters, making it possible to grow them year-round. Cool-season vegetables include:
- Lettuce: Lettuce prefers cool temperatures and moist soil. It is possible to grow a variety of lettuces in Arkansas.
- Brussels sprouts: These hearty plants can tolerate cold temperatures and are usually harvested after a light frost.
- Broccoli: Broccoli prefers cooler temperatures, and this vegetable is especially popular in Arkansas.
- Peas: Arkansas’s soils are well-suited for growing peas, and they can be grown in either cool or warm seasons.
Arkansas is home to an abundance of vegetables, both warm and cool season varieties. With proper planning, planting, and care, Arkansas gardeners can enjoy a bounty of delicious and nutritious vegetables year round.
