The best crops

There’s something for every urban gardener in this list of hardy, edible plants.

YOU DON’T HAVE to live in the Okanagan to enjoy a bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables every year. Plenty of tasty, interesting crops grow in Central Alberta climates, giving urban gardeners ample opportunity to eat their fill.

With the help of Bob Stadnyk, Greenhouse Manager and talkshow host at Greenland Garden Centre, we’ve rounded up the eight best edible plants for all types of gardens—and gardeners—in the greater Edmonton area.

Best Overachiever: Squash

For gardeners with space to spare, these crawlers are up to the challenge. Squash like zucchini, spaghetti and pumpkin are heavy producers, and will fill up about as much space as they’re given. According to Stadnyk, planting smaller varieties like zucchini or small pumpkins will yield more fruit, while larger ones will produce less. Plant squash in large garden beds with lots of sun, and harvest in late August or early September.

Best Fruit: Honeyberries

For gardeners wanting to expand their repertoire outside of the traditional Alberta berries, the winter-hardy honeyberry bush—or Haskap—produces antioxidant-rich fruit resembling grapes. As one of the first bushes to flower in the spring, honeyberries are ready for harvest in July. Once the berries are dark blue all the way through, put a large plastic container on the ground under the bush and shake, shake, shake!

Best for Friendly Competition: Peppers

“A lot of young guys like to get together with their buddies and see who can grow the hottest pepper,” says Stadnyk. Pick up an already-started ghost, hot habanero, or scorpion pepper plant from a greenhouse to make up for our short growing season, and pop it into a south-facing garden bed or pot. At the end of August, invite your fellow growers over to find out whose pepper blazes through the competition.