11 Most Difficult-to-Grow Vegetables in the Home Garden

The best way to determine if vegetables are difficult to grow is to try cultivating them yourself! The worst that will happen is you’ll lose out on a harvest. The best thing that will happen is the learning process. You’ll discover what grows well in your home garden and what doesn’t.

This is how I learned that arugula and spinach love growing in the fall or spring in the Pacific Northwest, but they vehemently dislike the heat of midsummer. Sometimes, all it takes is planting the seeds at the right time for a successful harvest. Other times, it may be best to consider alternative crops that grow well in your region.

No matter where you live and what you like growing, these 11 difficult-to-grow vegetables pose a challenge for home gardeners. Take on the challenge and try to grow them anyway, or opt for easy-growing alternative vegetables. 

Little Finger Carrot

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Snowball Y Cauliflower

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Mouse Melon Cucamelon

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Arugula

	botanical name Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Arugula isn’t a difficult-to-grow vegetable, unless it’s hot outside. Hot weather causes quick-growing annuals, like arugula, to bolt and flower. Their leaves lose their mild flavor, and they grow more intense and spicy. 

Instead of annual arugula, try perennial arugula. It’s a bit easier to grow than the annual kind, and it often returns perennially in the garden in USDA hardiness zones 5-10. Its flavor is a bit spicier than the annual kind, making it perfect for mixing with other greens like lettuce, endive, and spinach.

No matter the arugula you’re growing, aim to get it going in the cool of fall or spring. Seeds will struggle to germinate in the summer, and you’ll have better luck when the weather is mild.

Broccoli

	botanical name Brassica oleracea (Italica Group)
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1.5-2.5’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Broccoli is a cole crop, meaning it’s a part of many vegetables that descend from a single wild ancestor. Cole crops include cabbage, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower, among others. They love maturing under the cool of autumn or spring, and they dislike midsummer heat.

You’ll find the best results when harvesting broccoli in the transitional seasons. Start seeds indoors to beat late spring frosts, and transplant starts before summer arrives. You may do the same in summer—start seeds indoors, then transplant the starts when cool fall weather arrives.

Some growers in frost-free regions may grow broccoli in the winter. Plant starts in the garden this fall, and add mulch around their roots to protect them. Winter growing is ideal in areas of Southern California, Florida, and other southern states without frosty weather. 

Cabbage

	botanical name Brassica oleracea (Capitata Group)
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Cabbage is another cole crop, and it’s technically a biennial. It throws up many leaves as a young plant, and they wrap up into a tight round ball the first year. In the second year, the ball unfurls and yellow flowers emerge.

We harvest cabbage in its first year to enjoy the round ball of crisp leaves. For this head to form, two to three months of cool, sunny weather is a must. Cabbage may bolt in the summer; it’ll act as an annual rather than a biennial, and grow flowers the first year.

Prevent bolting cabbage by growing these difficult-to-grow vegetables in fall, winter, or spring. Growers with frost-free winters should try cultivating it during the coolest months of the year. Watch for pests the entire time, and pick them off when you see them. 

Carrot

	botanical name Daucus carota subsp. sativa
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3”-3’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Carrots are delicious, crunchy, and versatile in the kitchen. They’re cheap at the grocery store, and these vegetables are considered difficult to grow, which is why many gardeners avoid cultivating them. Don’t let this discourage you if you’re up for a challenge!

Carrots need two specific things to thrive. The seeds need consistent moisture to sprout, and the seedlings need plenty of sunlight to thrive. Avoid letting the soil dry by setting a sprinkler on a timer for automatic watering. 

If you struggle to grow carrots, try planting dwarf varieties like ‘Little Finger.’ They grow quickly, and they need less time to mature than full-size varieties.

Cauliflower

	botanical name Brassica oleracea (Botrytis Group)
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2.5’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Cauliflower is another member of the cole crop group, and it needs cool weather, consistent moisture, and lots of sunlight to thrive. It’s a bit easier to grow than cabbage, but it still needs lots of care to grow well in the home garden.

Like broccoli, cauliflower forms a head of immature blossoms. The heads may bolt into flowering spikes if the weather is too hot or dry, or if the plants sit too long in the garden. 

Consider planting the ‘Snowball Y’ cauliflower variety if you find these vegetables difficult to grow in your garden. This cultivar matures more quickly than others, requiring only 70 to 80 days to mature after planting. 

Celery

	botanical name Apium graveolens var. dulce
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1.5-3’
	hardiness zones 3-6

These vegetables are extremely difficult to grow! I tried it this year and found pests, bolting stalks, and poor yields. Celery needs cool but not too cold temperatures, consistent moisture, and lots of sunlight to thrive. 

You may have better luck growing celery at the end of the growing season rather than the beginning. Plant seeds in pots in spring, and transplant them during midsummer for a fall harvest.

Other growers are in the perfect position to cultivate celery. It’s not difficult to grow in the right region. Areas with long, cool, and frost-free springs are the ideal spots to plant celery.

Another common issue with celery is blanching, the process of shading the stalks to soften their flavor. You’ll need an opaque pot or an overarching structure that doesn’t let light through. The stalks lose some of their bitterness, and they gain the distinct green-white hue that store-bought celery has. 

Corn

	botanical name Zea mays
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5-8’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Corn is the crop of summer! Its tall stalks fill the sunny home garden with lush green growth and giant ears full of corn kernels. Though corn is delicious and thrives during the hot season, these vegetables are difficult to grow at home.

Corn crops receive pollen with the wind. They aren’t self-pollinating on their own, and they don’t rely on insects. The wind must dump pollen grains from the tall male flowers onto the female silks sprouting out of the ears below. 

For a successful crop, plant 12 or more corn plants. Arrange them in a square with multiple rows, or in a circle on a mound. You may boost pollination by cutting off the male flowers and dusting them onto the female silks.

Cucumber

	botanical name Cucumis sativus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8”-1.5’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Cucumbers grow off vines that resemble squashes and melons. They have yellow blooms that turn into green cukes after pollination. They’re difficult to grow because they have many needs in the home garden.

Cucumbers require consistent moisture, yet they also need good drainage in the soil. They benefit from growing on trellises to prevent leaf diseases, but they lose more moisture the higher off the ground they grow.

To save yourself time and effort, try growing quick-maturing cucumber varieties with dwarf habits. Varieties like ‘Spacemaster 80’ and ‘Quick Snack’ are smaller than most other types, and they need less maintenance to perform as well as full-size cucumber vines. 

Melon

	botanical name Cucumis melo
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-9’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Melons are close relatives of cucumbers (they’re in the same genus). Similarly, they need lots of care and maintenance to thrive in your home’s garden. The vines like to climb, and they need support to stand tall.

Additionally, melons ripen over a long period. Lots of heat and sunlight are necessary for a successful harvest. Early spring frosts and cold temperatures will zap the fruits, turning them mushy and brown.

Melons grow best in areas with long, warm summers. If these difficult-to-grow vegetables struggle in your garden, try growing cucamelons! These unique plants sprout small fruits that resemble watermelons in appearance, though they taste like cucumbers. 

Spinach

	botanical name Spinacia oleracea
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-1’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Unlike melons, spinach requires mild weather to thrive! This vegetable performs best during cool seasons with ample moisture. Fall and spring rains are perfect for spinach, and they lead to perky, fresh leaves full of flavor. 

Try growing spinach when temperatures are high, and you’ll see why it performs better in mild seasons. They bolt, like cilantro, and sprout flowers and seeds instead of lush leaves. 

If the sun is high and the heat is present, consider planting spinach in partial shade instead of full sun. Plant it in containers and move them to the shade, or sow seeds in a shaded bed. 

Watermelon

	botanical name Citrullus lanatus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4-8”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Watermelons have many needs, like melons. They need consistent moisture, lots of space to roam and spread, and plenty of heat. Their roots need well-drained soil that isn’t soggy or dense. When the watermelons form, they need plenty of nutrients, water, and heat to properly mature.