Top 10 Low Maintenance Plants for the Edible Garden

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Growing a garden doesn’t need to be overwhelming. If you are busy, but you really want to grow some of your own food and enjoy a beautiful garden without the stress, creating a low-maintenance garden is a good idea. By choosing the right low maintenance plants for the garden, you can make your garden thrive with minimal care. Here are the top 10 low-maintenance plants perfect for your outdoor space!

a collage of 10 low-maintenance plants for an edible garden

These 10 easy-care plants are staple crops here at the East Fork.  Once you set up these different varieties with the right growing conditions, they grow and thrive with little care.

The best low maintenance plants for the garden are often easy-care perennials, drought-tolerant plants, or native plants. 

  

1. Raspberries

Raspberries are a perennial plant which means once they are initially established, they produce berries year after year. 

After a raspberry patch is established, the biggest yearly task is simply harvesting and preserving the berries. We love to make homemade raspberry jam. Raspberry leaves are also wonderful for making tea.

Because of their spiny stems, raspberries are resistant to animal damage.  Here at the East Fork, we have deer, elk, and moose in our yard frequently.  Although these furry friends will sometimes nibble on the tips of the canes, they have never damaged the plants enough to affect berry production.   

closeup of a raspberry bush with red raspberries growing

Maintenance Needs

Raspberry maintenance includes yearly pruning and mulching, usually done in the early spring or late winter. During times of drought, raspberries will benefit from watering. 

Soil Requirements

Raspberries prefer well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter.

Sun Exposure

Full sun is ideal for maximum fruit production.

Additional Info: These hardy perennials produce sweet berries during the growing season and can last for years with proper care, making them a perfect choice for a low-maintenance garden. After a few years, you can expand your raspberry patch by transplanting new growth.

2. Juneberries (Serviceberries)

When it comes to low maintenance plants for the garden, Juneberries win the prize.

Juneberries (also known as Saskatoon or Serviceberries) are a low-maintenance shrub and they require NO maintenance once they are established.  Juneberries require very little water. I never water my Juneberry bush and it produces berries year after year. 

Anytime you can incorporate native plants like Juneberries into your garden, they are likely to thrive without lots of inputs.

closeup of a juneberry (aka serviceberry or saskatoon berry) bush loaded with berries

These blueberry-like berries make a delicious jam!  They are also wonderful when frozen and added to muffins or oatmeal.

Maintenance Needs

Minimal pruning is required for Juneberries, and they can tolerate drought conditions once established.

Soil Requirements

Juneberries are adaptable to various soil types, including poor soils, as long as they are well-drained.

Sun Exposure

Full sun to partial shade is acceptable for growing Juneberries.

Additional Info: Juneberry bushes have showy, gorgeous white flowers in early spring and delicious fruits that attract butterflies. Juneberries can add color and beauty to your landscape while providing low-maintenance food for your kitchen.

3. Asparagus

Asparagus is another perennial plant that after initial planting, requires very little ongoing maintenance. As long as you apply mulch to your asparagus bed to reduce weed competition, and keep the soil evenly moist, asparagus will come back year after year.

closeup of asparagus spears growing in dirt

Maintenance Needs

Asparagus requires minimal care after planting. Occasional weeding and mulching will ensure maximum production.

Soil Requirements

Asparagus prefers well-drained, sandy or loamy soil rich in organic matter.

Sun Exposure

Full sun is best, but asparagus can tolerate partial shade.

Additional Info: Asparagus is a long-lived perennial and can produce for up to 20 years making it a great investment for your low-maintenance garden.

4. Rhubarb

Rhubarb is another perennial plant that comes back year after year. While rhubarb is technically a vegetable, it is often used like a fruit in cakes, pies, and sweet recipes. My favorite way to use rhubarb is rhubarb pie filling!

closeup of rhubarb plant at ground level

Maintenance Needs

Rhubarb is very low maintenance. Just ensure it has enough water, especially during dry summers.

Soil Requirements

Rhubarb thrives in well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter.

Sun Exposure

Full sun is ideal, but rhubarb can tolerate partial shade.

Additional Info: Rhubarb is a hardy plant that provides bright red stalks for pies and sauces. Once established, it can last for many years with minimal care.

5. Apple Trees

Fruit trees might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering options for a low-maintenance garden, but they absolutely belong in that category.

While it can take some time for apple trees to begin producing fruit (4-6 years), once they are established, they can provide bushels and bushels of fruit with very little maintenance.

It is best to select an apple variety that will do well in your climate. It’s also a good idea to choose disease resistant varieties.

a upward view of apple tree branches loaded down with red blushed green apples

Maintenance Needs

Apple trees require little attention beyond minimal yearly pruning in the late winter. You may need to provide some water during dry spells during the first 2 years after planting.

Soil Requirements

Apple trees prefer well-draining soil, but they can adapt to different soil conditions.

Sun Exposure

Full sun is crucial for healthy fruit production. Make sure you plant your tree in a sunny location.

Additional Info: Apple trees not only provide delicious fruit ready for fresh eating, desserts, and applesauce, but they also add beauty to your landscape. Apple trees provide beautiful pink or white blooms in spring, and add shade to your outdoor space.

6. Garlic

Garlic is one of my favorite things to grow. Best planted in the fall (mid October in my area), garlic is ready to harvest in the early summer.

Garlic is easy to plant, and doesn’t require ongoing maintenance other than watering. If you apply a thick layer of mulch to your garlic bed, you won’t even need to pull weeds.

closeup of freshly harvested garlic

Maintenance Needs

Garlic requires very little care after planting. Watering is only required during dry spells which don’t usually happen in our area during fall, winter, and spring when the garlic is actively growing.

Soil Requirements

Garlic thrives in well-drained, fertile soil with a good amount of organic matter.

Sun Exposure

Full sun is best for bulb formation and production.

Additional Info: Garlic is easy to store for months and doesn’t require extensive preservation methods. Garlic is a great option for those with limited time and space.

7. Peas

Peas are a great plant for new beginning gardeners to grow. They can be planted in the early spring, typically germinate easily, and require no maintenance other than maintaining adequate soil moisture.

It’s best to provide some type of support or trellis system for your peas to climb on, but once your trellis is in place and your peas have germinated, you can just sit back and watch them grow. This is the trellis system we use here at the East Fork for peas and green beans.

closeup of peas growing on a woven wire fence

Maintenance Needs

Peas require very little maintenance. Just provide support for climbing varieties and water regularly.

Soil Requirements

Peas prefers well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter.

Sun Exposure

Full sun is best, but peas can grow in partial shade.

Additional Info: Plant peas in early spring for a harvest in late spring, or plant in late summer for a fall harvest.

8. Chives

Chives are a perennial herb that come back year after year. This delicious herb starts growing in the early spring often when it’s still too cold for other plants.

Chives are always the first thing I can harvest from my vegetable garden.

a closeup of purple chive flowers

Maintenance Needs

Chives are very low-maintenance. The only thing you need to do to keep you chives healthy and productive is to divide the plants every 2-3 years to provide more growing space.

Soil Requirements

Chives can adapt to various soil types but they prefer well-drained, loamy soil.

Sun Exposure

Chives can thrive in full sun or partial shade.

Additional Info: Chives produce gorgeous purple blossoms in early summer! These colorful blooms are edible and can provide a pop of color to salads and other recipes. Chives can thrive in different conditions, making them a perfect fit for your low-maintenance garden.

9. Sage

Sage is a perennial herb that will provide fresh herb harvests year after year with only one initial planting. It can be used in a multitude of recipes in your kitchen.

closeup of sage leaves

Maintenance Needs

Minimal care is required for healthy sage plants. Occasional trimming to maintain the bushy shape of the plant is all that is required.

Soil Requirements

You don’t need ideal soil to grow sage. It can thrive in any soil condition.

Sun Exposure

Flavor is best when grown in full-sun.

Additional Info: Sage is drought-tolerant and has lovely gray-green leaves, making it a perfect addition to rock gardens or container gardens.

10. Dill

Dill is an annual herb that need to be planted every year, but if you let your dill go to seed, it will come back on its own every year. This herb reseeds itself very easily.

I have random dill plants growing all over my garden.

a closeup of a yellow dill flower

Maintenance Needs

Dill requires no maintenance other than keeping the soil from becoming too dry. Because dill readily reseeds itself, you may need to thin seedlings to provide adequate growing space, but you can also let nature take it’s course and grow a dill jungle.

That’s kind of how I roll folks.

Soil Requirements

The best soil for dill is well-draining soil with a good amount of organic matter.

Sun Exposure

Dill grows best in full sun.

Additional Info: Growing dill in your garden is a great way to attract beneficial insects and pollinators. Pollinators love dill’s yellow flowers.

Finding low maintenance plants for the garden doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With these 10 low maintenance plants, you can enjoy a beautiful and productive garden with less time and effort. Make sure you choose the plants adapted to your soil conditions and climate.

Provide each plant with the right amount of water and sunlight and you’ll have a thriving garden without the overwhelm.

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