The days of sneaking bags of zucchini onto your neighbor’s porch are over. This summer, instead of wondering what to do with all the extra squash, join hundreds of other gardeners by participating in the Plant a Row for the Hungry effort. Plant a Row is a national project that asks gardeners to grow extra vegetables, herbs and fruit, and donate the produce to a neighborhood food bank or church pantry. For more information on it, visit — or talk to your local food bank.
The best vegetables for planting and giving are those that can be used in many ways. Choose varieties that mature early and produce throughout the season, like these:
Squash. Love it or hate it, summer squash is a versatile veggie. Creative cooks can transform squash into just about anything delicious, including dessert. Instead of growing zucchini, plant something different, like the gourmet climbing squash called Trombetta. This Italian heirloom grows light-green, 12- to 15-inch trombone-shaped squash with a nutlike taste.
Beans. Kentucky Wonder pole beans are an old-fashioned favorite and one of the more prolific beans around. A packet or two of seeds will yield grocery bags full of long, straight beans. To guarantee fresh beans all season, plant successive crops every two weeks until early August. Pick vines regularly to keep them producing, and use scissors to avoid breaking stems or branches.
Cucumbers. Make the most of your cucumber planting space by training vines to grow up a trellis. Growing vertically means more plants and more fruit. Pick slicing cukes when they’re about 6-8 inches long for best taste. Straight 8 is an All-American Selections winner and flavor favorite. Salad Bush produces full-size fruit on compact plants, perfect for container gardens.
Beets. They’re a good Plant-a- Row selection because they store well in the fridge. Put in a long row of mild Golden beets, and harvest some of the edible greens while they’re tender (about 4-6 inches tall). Then harvest roots when they’re about 1½ to 2 inches in diameter for the best taste.
Tomatoes. Indeterminate varieties produce tomatoes over a longer period of time. Small, cherry-type varieties, like Sungold, will produce many flavorful tomatoes; hybrid varieties like Big Beef will produce larger fruit. And Better Bush produces abundant yields on plants that grow well in small-space gardens or in patio containers.
Jodi Torpey is organizing the Denver Metro Plant a Row for the Hungry effort. For more information, visit or her blog at
