Small fruits/vegatables to grow in backyard with minimal maintence? (Dallas: maintenance, garden)

[unknown00]

I just moved into a 0.50 acre lot, I have pretty big backyard that is right now just all grass. I want to plant some small fruits/vegetables, any suggestions on what works well in Texas? No, I do not want any big trees or anything, just small plants/scrubs

[bencronin04]

Tomatoes, herbs, peppers I've all grown with little maintenance. The main thing you'll deal with is critters getting your food.

My parents grow potatoes and types of lettuce as well.

[HP48G]

Rabbits will eat all of it if they can get in your yard.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Look at Neil Sperry's web site. He is THE garden guru for Texas. He has a book he published privately, only available from his office, that tells you what chores to take care of month by month. BUt it is all there on his site, in his Notes. He also has a Facebook page and people asl him questions and he answers them.

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by unknown00

I just moved into a 0.50 acre lot, I have pretty big backyard that is right now just all grass. I want to plant some small fruits/vegetables, any suggestions on what works well in Texas? No, I do not want any big trees or anything, just small plants/scrubs

Vegetable plants are seasonal (not permanent plants), so plan a plot for them that can change from season to season. As far as small permanent fruit trees, Satsuma orange is small and does well in our climate. I had one for years, adored it and got plenty of fruit, but it was finally done in by drought (not cold) a few years ago. Thinking about planting a new one. It was so low maintenance.

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by bencronin04

Tomatoes, herbs, peppers I've all grown with little maintenance. The main thing you'll deal with is critters getting your food.

My parents grow potatoes and types of lettuce as well.

Peppers and herbs are very easy. From the OP's post I think they are looking for a permanent plant rather than perennial? I could be wrong.

[TheOverdog]

Mint, basil, peppers (hot and bell), potatoes (just bury one or two from your bag in the dirt), carrots, pecans, and apricots are what I consider the most dependable garden plants in DFW. They make it through the summer without being eaten and with minimal amounts of watering in extremely dry periods.

Tomatoes grow nice plants, but don't produce much. Strawberries get eaten by bunnies and squirrels. Watermelon & cantaloupe and such don't seem to produce much for me for the size of the vines that grow.

Spinach, lettuce, radishes and stuff like that grow fine all winter.

[ChristieP]

Don't plant mint or basil in the ground unless you want a yard full of it. Confine it to a planter/container. Basil will have to be replanted annually since it's not freeze tolerant.

[DitsyD]

Peach, pear, and plum trees all grow well in this area.

Tomatoes, peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, okra, herbs.

[hbdwihdh378y9]

Don't bother with tomatoes. The wildlife will eat them all, and the plants won't set fruit during the summer.

Okra and watermelon thrive prolifically in the Dallas summer heat. Serrano peppers do well here. And I've had luck with cucumbers.

Basil does well and will reseed repeatedly within a single growing season, and you'll get new plants sprouting up the following spring as well.