6 Easy Veggies for the Preggo Gardener to Grow

In the beginning of my pregnancy I had big plans for my vegetable garden. I had already faced many obstacles during my previous three gardening seasons which resulted in little to no harvest, so I was determined to make this Fall a successful one.

Despite knowing that I would be in the last few weeks of my pregnancy when my Fall garden had to go in, I was determined. Come Hell or high water, I was going to have a successful garden season damnit.

Then my third trimester came rolling around, and boy did I start to reconsider my plans. From shooting sciatica pain on my right side, pelvic pain on my left, and so much pressure in my hips by the end of the day that I could barely walk — the idea of having to bend over to tend to my garden beds was starting to sound unappealing.

I have planned out all three of my 4×8 garden beds to make sure I’m ready for this upcoming garden season but I’m still trying to decide how much I want to bite off. If I’m having this much pain now, how am I going to be the last couple weeks before baby arrives? That is the golden question.

The smart thing for me (and any other pregnant mama in this same situation) to do is to not plant any varieties that take up a lot of maintenance, require extra pest control, sprout quickly, and can be taken care of by your significant other for a few weeks after baby comes. I really wanted to grow cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and zuchinni (in FL, we can grow these things in the Fall) but going off of my previous experiences with cabbage loopers and vine borers, it’s probably best for me to stay away from them. I was also going to try carrots but I haven’t had much luck with them in the past — and the seeds are tiny which could be extremely frustrating for me to have to try and bend over for that long.

Easy Veggies I’m Sticking To

This season, I’ll probably stick with lots of greens (also grown for the chickens) like lettuce, chard, kale, collards, bok choy, and mustards, peas, green beans, and various cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, broccolini, cauliflower, cabbage). I know I’m pushing my luck, but I still will try a couple sweet and hot pepper plants, just for giggles. Also, although I love starting from seed, I may give myself a break and buy a few starter plants so I don’t have to do as much bending down.

Even though ease of growing can depend on the individual person’s experience and zone they live in, here is a list of 6 easy veggies for the preggo gardener to grow — even when you’ve got a belly that is growing faster than the plants.

1. Lettuce

Lettuce is incredibly easy to grow and the best part is you don’t need a lot of space to do it. If you’re overly pregnant but still want to enjoy fresh homegrown veggies, lettuce is a great place to start.

This is my favorite lettuce variety so far.

2. Chard

The seeds are larger which makes planting much easier. It can be hard to be patient and try and get little tiny seeds just right when you’ve got a bulging belly in front of you. With chard, you don’t have to worry about that which is always a plus.

This is my favorite chard variety so far.

3. Beans

I’ve had a lot of garden failures but one vegetable that has consistently done well for me are beans. I just never planted enough so I was never able to really soak in the success. The seeds are large which makes it easy to plant, they sprout quick, and really all they need is something to climb up and they’re happy. Plus, they grow up which means you don’t have to bend down as much with that big belly in front of you. Amen.

This is my favorite bean variety so far because they produce no strings, yay!

4. Peas

So, I personally haven’t had much luck yet with peas but I think it’s because I have always planted them at the wrong time. Generally speaking, peas fall in the same “ease of use” as green beans and they are a nice, crisp addition to the backyard bounty. Again, they need to trellis which makes this a bonus feature for an expecting mom who doesn’t want to have to bend over.

This is my favorite pea variety so far.

5. Radish

These little bad boys are easy to plant, you don’t need a lot of space, grow great in containers, and sprout rather quickly. The perfect solution for any preggo mama. When I harvest a batch, I’m going to try this fermented radish recipe — it looks delicious.

This is my favorite radish variety so far.

6. Herbs

If all else fails, plant herbs. Herbs are easy to grow, easy to maintain, and don’t require much space at all. I’ve had much success with basil, cilantro, and chives. You can even grow them indoors if your pregant butt doesn’t want to get out in the elements and tend to a garden.

I’ve tried this basil and this cilantro with much success.

Would you add any other veggies to the list? What would they be?

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