Low maintanence veggies?

[Chrissyteacup]

Hey everyone since myeslf and mr coffee pot are expecting a bundle of joy in April was looking for some low maintenance crop ideas I could grow...
I’ll probably grow some chillies still but will have to limit my choices as have 2 chilli grows (that’s 6 plants ) and some tomatoes in my greenhouse border but I plan on leaving one greenhouse empty.
I’ve already a planted out some garlic, shallots and onions for next year so there’s always something that will hopefully grow (and hopefully be bigger then a marble!!)
That leaves me with 3.5 beds to fill I will probably buy mostly plug plants as doubt I’ll have the time to be taking care of seedlings.
Was thinking I could fill one bed with some thug of a squash plant or a couple of plants at either end. Any suggestions welcome!
I’ve had friends tell me “you won’t be able to do your hobbies when baby’s here” I do realise I’ll have to cut down but I will still want to have some me time- or am I being over optimistic?

[bikermike]

Your plan sounds sensible - they do take a lot of time up at first

I suggest buying things from a garden centre that are already grown

Tomatoes, chillies, strawberries, cucumbers are all pretty low effort (or can be, with tomatoes you can do as much as you want), and have stuff you can pick and eat (ie no prep)

Also, depending how things go, you may not be in the mood to do much lifting and carrying for a while afterwards, so is there someone who will fill and move pots for you? I'd put things in pots that won't need repotting too often - tomatoes in growbags etc

[Small pumpkin]

All Veggies can be as high or low maintenance as you want them to be. So I’d grow what ever you want to grow and see what happens. Not all will be happy not being centre of attention but they will just have to deal with it, as you’re going to be a little busy in other departments.
Can’t help with your question about me time as I don’t have & NEVER will have kids .
But I think it’s very important that you do have some me time. I’d hand the child to it’s father or grandparents walk away and do what you want for a few hours ( that hours! Not 18 years, like mine did )

[mcdood]

Your alliums maybe aren't the best for low maintenance as they need regular weeding to get a decent harvest. Squash are good as they provide a lot of ground cover and keep down the weeds, no real pests or protection required. Maybe try growing sweetcorn through it too. Courgettes provide good weed suppressant and are low maintenance for me although I know some people have issues with them.

[ESBkevin]

Plant what you typically want as usual and then let them have at it.

Some things will surprise you, others may shock you. Either way you get some veg and enough greenery to start the following years compost.

[Jimny14]

So I'm the dad of a two year old with a small veg patch at home. My first growing season with little one was pretty similar to before, this last one was more difficult to get time to myself (other half back to work, little one more mobile etc). We've grown broad beans, potatoes, garlic, courgettes, squash, etc all fine straight from seeds in open ground and left em to it only watering in really dry spells.
I would also suggest if you have space a fruit tree, rhubarb and any fruit bushes you like, especially black currants, gooseberries (can't buy em easily) raspberries as for me soft fruit is quite low maintenance. Good luck with it all but definately give little one to someone/put your baby monitor on and get your boots on n in the garden as often as you can.

[Chrissyteacup]

Thanks every one!!
Biker mike I’d not really thought about filling the pots! But I’m sure OH will fill the chilli grows for me so should be alright with that.
Mcdood- Sweet corn through the squash sounds like an excellent idea! I suppose we will just see how good I am at keeping on top of the weeding (im already pretty poor at it oh dear....)
Im set for a for babysitter SP- my mums about 5 mins away and I think I might have to wrestle the little one off her
That’s very true Kevin if it fails at least I’ve tried!
Thanks Jimny good to hear from someone who’s a couple of year ahead of me! I’ve got a few soft fruit plants in my borders that I put in this year so looking forward to seeing if I get anything from them next year!
I know there’s plenty of time to think about it but I do like planning what I’m growing gonna have to rein in that impulse seed buying this winter!

[Rocketron]

French beans (dwarf and climbing) courgettes and beetroot.

[Atta]

It depends really I have a small kids thats include baby and it didnt stop me from anything in growing. I would choose online shopping for an example so when I have someone to watch over a baby I would go to allotment.
Most important kids are growing and what might feel like a foverver situation is not going to last for long.

I plant my tomatoes in soil directly so I can skip watering.French beans are great no space for weeds once they kick off.

[SarrissUK]

Congratulations to the new addition to the family! I hope all of that goes well!

I think kale, cabbages, peas, beans and squashes/courgettes are low maintenance, but maybe I suffer with bad short term memory and can't recall what it was like pre-no dig

[lolie]

Plant what you typically want as usual and then let them have at it.

Some things will surprise you, others may shock you. Either way you get some veg and enough greenery to start the following years compost.

I'm with this suggestion, although perhaps plant on a smaller scale to cut down on the maintenance, and focus on crops that will produce over a long period as well as fast crops which you can sow on a successional basis, rather than medium lived crops where there's not really going to be enough time to get a second crop.

It's hard to predict what's going to be a high maintenance crop from one season to the next, but if one thing starts becoming time consuming then pull it out and plant something else.

You don't need to plant all the beds. You could just use a couple and throw a heap of stuff in the others to enrich the soil before covering them and ignoring them.

[Mr Bones]

Congratulations on your bump Chrissy . Can't improve on what others have already said but whatever you plant if you can cover the soil with a 2cm layer of compost (even shop bought stuff) hardly any weeds will germinate.

[greenishfing]

A neighbour used to bring her little baby to the allotment in the pram most afternoons and the child would sleep happily in the pram. As she got a bit older she played in a small sandpit on the plot. Age 2 or 3 she would be helping with the planting and going round and round the paths on her little tricycle. Children are adaptable.

[Chrissyteacup]

Thanks everyone! After being told I’d not have time to do any gardening I’d been a bit concerned I was expecting too much from myself! You’ve all made me feel so much better! And I do like the idea about little one helping in the garden I remember pulling up carrots and eating them soil and all as a kid!

[veggiechicken]

Congrats Chrissy.
I have no first hand knowledge to share because the only babies I've ever wanted have been covered in fur. However, I'm another who thinks that you should carry on as normal, growing whatever you like. If you can't cope, call on Mr Coffeecup for support, filling pots, weeding or minding the baby.
..................and don't leave the 2nd GH empty.