14 Miniature Fruits and Vegetables You Can Grow in Even the Smallest Garden
Watching the seeds you diligently planted and tended transform into food your family can consume and enjoy throughout the year is downright satisfying. And it’s even more fun when you’re working with new and unusual crops. Most of these miniature vegetable varieties pack a good nutritional punch despite their diminutive size. Plus, they’re perfect for growing in window boxes, planters on patios or balconies, or in smaller gardens. If you haven’t already tried growing these unique plants, here are a few to try this year:
1. Lady Finger Corn
We have the Amish to thank for this beautiful heirloom popcorn variety. These tiny plants produce ears of corn that are slender and measure between 6 and 7 inches, but their kernels are without hulls and bursting at the seams with that delicious flavor we all know and love. Many believe this popcorn originated somewhere in South America because of its similarities to varieties found in Argentina and Paraguay.
View this post on Instagram
2. Fairy Tale Eggplant
The name alone is reason enough to grow this delicious miniature vegetable in your garden. Just like their larger predecessors, the Fairy Tale Eggplant variety comes in a rich purple and white color. The plant grows to a dense 18 to 24 inches and produces fruit that tops out anywhere from 2 to 4 inches in length. Many gardeners claim they are free from bitterness and have fewer seeds than you might expect.
3. Window Box Basil
Compact but just as fragrant as the more popular (and larger) varieties of basil, Window Box Basil is just what it sounds like. This flavorful herb looks beautiful in window boxes, on kitchen counters or planted along the edge of outdoor herb beds. Tiny, bright green leaves top out at approximately half an inch, which means you can easily trim them off the plant to use in everyday cooking without burdening yourself with chopping.
See more: How to Start a Vegetable Garden From Seeds
View this post on Instagram
4. Tiny Tim Tomato
If you love a good cherry tomato but don’t have much space to dedicate to growing the more popular vining varieties, look no farther than the Tiny Tim Tomato. Like many of the plants on our list, this bush variety grows beautifully in containers and produces an abundance of cherry tomatoes that are approximately ¾ inch in size. Even better than that, this variety is known for its fast growth. You can expect to enjoy the fruits of your labor roughly 60 days after planting.
5. Honey Bear Squash
These autumnal treasures top out around 24 to 30 inches and produce anywhere from three to five squash per plant. It makes the perfect addition to any small garden, especially considering how it grows as a compact bush rather than a trailing vine.
View this post on Instagram
6. Sugar Baby Bush Watermelon
If you’re working with limited space but want the satisfaction of growing your own watermelons this summer, this is the solution. Sugar Baby Bush Watermelons grow on 3-foot vines and produce early fruits that weigh between 6 and 12 pounds. Unlike your average watermelons, these have a dark green skin – but the inside is bright red, juicy and as mouthwatering as the larger varieties.
Get the seeds
7. Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe
With dark orange flesh and an impeccably sweet flavor, the Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe is an heirloom variety known for producing fruit on a prolific scale. Each fruit is medium-sized, around 2 to 3 pounds, and has a firm but sweet flesh. We can trace this variety back to the late 1800s, when it was very popular. Here’s to hoping this one makes a comeback.
View this post on Instagram
8. Kiwi Berries
Ever considered growing kiwis? Depending on your climate and garden zone, you may be able to cultivate kiwi berries in your own backyard. Unlike their larger cousins, these ripen while they are still small (hence the name), and you can eat them without peeling off the skin. Full to the brim with vitamins and antioxidants, they are a wonderful addition to your diet and are guaranteed to impress your friends and family – especially when you tell them you grew these fruits yourself.
View this post on Instagram
9. Thumbelina Carrots
Carrot connoisseurs claim these are delicious raw or cooked because of their delectably sweet flavor. And they would make an excellent addition to a vegetable board thanks to their petite size, but many also claim they work beautifully in stews and soups. You don’t even have to peel these little beauties, which makes them pretty convenient to work with in the kitchen.
10. Cucamelons
Have you ever seen a miniature watermelon? That’s precisely what a cucamelon looks like. If you can picture a watermelon that has been shrunk down to approximately an inch in diameter, you have a basic understanding of the cucamelon. Also known as a mouse melon or a Mexican Sour Gherkin, these fruits are about the same size as a grape but taste like a slightly sourer cucumber.
See more: 6 Bizarre Hybrid Fruits and Vegetables You Should Know About
11. Kalettes
When you hear the name kalette, you may envision miniature kale. But this is actually a hybrid that was developed by crossing kale with Brussels sprouts. They grow in tall stalks, similar to the Brussels sprout, and they take a fair amount of time to mature. If you have the patience to wait about 120 days or so, this plant can be a fun addition to your miniature vegetable patch.
View this post on Instagram
12. Miniature Bell Peppers
You can often find miniature bell pepper seeds in a mixed variety with colors ranging from ruby red and auburn orange to lime green and deep purple. Thanks to their small size, these peppers make delicious snacks when paired with hummus or stuffed and enjoyed as an appetizer before dinner.
See more: 15 Flavorful Pepper Recipes to Try This Summer
Get the seeds
13. Little Gem Lettuce
Commonly considered one of the easiest greens to grow, this variety produces small but mighty heads of lettuce that are just the right size for individual salads. Some gardeners even enjoy their petite, Romaine-style lettuce leaves on sandwiches. Little Gem Lettuce also happens to handle heat quite well, which means gardeners in the South can take full advantage of this variety too.
View this post on Instagram
14. Babybeat
If you love beets but want to try something different in your garden this year, look no farther than the Babybeat. Unlike its larger counterpart, the Babybeat can be harvested at an early age without compromising shape and skin texture. They mature quickly and are best enjoyed steamed or cooked whole. Even your friends and family members who claim not to like beets can probably be swayed by these cute varieties.
One Comment
Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.
[…] See more: 14 Miniature Fruits and Vegetables You Can Grow in Even the Smallest Garden […]