Which Vegetables to Grow in Rocky Soil and Which to Avoid :- In the Northeast, rocks are an inevitable aspect of gardening; even in vegetable gardens that have been well-maintained for many years, some rocks will still be present in the soil. You will inevitably come into contact with them, just as your pitchfork’s tines will. Vegetables can still be grown successfully under these circumstances, though. These are a few of them.
Which Vegetables to Grow in Rocky Soil and Which to Avoid
Potatoes
It should come as no surprise that potatoes thrive on stony or rocky clay soil. Imagine Ireland: farms and meadows surrounded by rock walls made of stones dug out of the earth, a scene somewhat similar to our northeastern farmland. Our northeastern soil is acidic, and potatoes love it too. Just make sure you add lots of compost; any stony soil will benefit from an annual top-dressing with compost, particularly leaf-based compost.
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Vining crops: Squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers
Another excellent option for rocky soil is anything that grows on a vine. The roots of vines are able to move over larger and smaller rocks. No issue if you have some big rocks that need to be removed, such as glacial erratics or boulders. In addition to allowing the roots of these creeping plants to go over or around them, the rocks will help keep the leaves dry and warm the soil in the spring, which may postpone the inevitable fungal illnesses that these plants eventually contract.
Tomatoes, peppers, and greens
Rocky soil is ideal for almost any vegetable that yields edible leaves, such as lettuce, spinach, or Swiss chard, as well as those that are cultivated for their fruit, such tomatoes and peppers. These heavy feeders will benefit from amended soil that has lots of organic matter, so concentrate on adding more leaves to your compost pile each spring rather than clearing pebbles out of the ground. For many years to come, it will serve as your covert tool.
Vegetables That Don’t Grow Well in Rocky Soil
Certain vegetables, like horseradish, parsnips, and carrots, should not be grown in rocky soil. These are the ones with long, straight roots. Rocky soil hinders the formation of primary taproots and, at best, results in odd, twisted roots. Still, when it comes to root crops, there are choices. Many varieties of carrots produce globe-shaped, spherical roots (similar to “Atlas”) that thrive well in stony soil. Other rounded-root crops including rutabaga, turnips, and radishes might be planted.
