Top 10 Crops To Grow For Survival
What Every Survivalist Should Grow
Top 10 Crops to Grow for Survival and Which Vegetables To Grow In A Crisis – perfect for those who consider themselves survivalists and preppers. It’s also perfect for those looking to be self sufficient and want peace of mind knowing their foods are chemical free. Interesting topic seeing what we’re going through in these current times. We all know gardens are suppose to be fun and relaxing – so by all means grow all the fruits and veggies you and your family like to eat and snack on throughout the summer and into the fall. However if you’re also concerned about future food shortages or just want to have your own homegrown supply of foods, you should also grow the hardy ones to have in a crisis … crops that once harvested can be stored whole, dried or canned, and can be used to get you through the winter. With this in mind, here are the top 10 Crops To Grow For Survival and To Get You Through The Winter.
Barley, Beans, Carrots, Corn, Cruciferous Vegetables, Lettuce, Onions, Potatoes, Squash and Tomatoes. So why these 10 crops? These ten offer plenty of nutrition and calories, they are easy to grow, they will produce high quantities in one season, and they will store well over the long term. Let’s dive right into it:
1. Barley – not only can you eat it, barley can be used for a variety of other purposes. It can be milled to make flour, feed your livestock (if you have any), and to make your beer (cheers). Barley is one of the most versatile crops and has a high level of dietary fiber and manganese
2. Beans – are high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. And they’re also high in calories which will provide you with lots of energy. They make for good fresh eating, canning/freezing, or dry bean storage. They’re also great in soups, cooked and eaten with breads.
3. Carrots – are rich in vitamin A, an essential nutrient for survival. They can be grown in cooler months – early spring and fall, which is not something the other 9 survival crops on this list can do. More on carrots here
4. Corn – is a great source of protein, calcium, and iron. It will yield a higher quantity than any other crop on this list. Sweet corn can be blanched and frozen and will keep for over a year. Also grow grain corn, which can be dried on the stalk to be harvested and stored. It can also be ground and made into a variety or breads and used as a thickener for soup. Corn can be combined with beans for a complete protein.
5. Cruciferous vegetables – includes broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale.
- Broccoli – is packed with proteins, vitamin A, and vitamin K, and will give you the boost and energy to last in any scenario. More on broccoli here.
- Brussels Sprouts – are high in nutriets and fiber, rich in antioxidants and Vitamin K, and contain ALA Omega-3 Fatty Acids. They’ll keep for long term storage by blanching and freezing them. More on brussels sprouts here.
- Cabbage – it’s easy to grow, easy to store, and high in nutrition, even when cooked. Fermented cabbage will last last long and provide a wealth of nutritional benefits for the body and the digestive tract. More on cabbage here.
- Cauliflower – high in fiber and B-vitamins. Great for long term storage when blanched then frozen – they will keep for up to one year. More on cauliflower here.
- Kale – is full of nutrition, can be grown easily and it is cold-hardy (meaning it will grow well into late fall or early winter), can be added to any foods you are cooking, including soups and stews and potato dishes, and can be made into kale chips. More on kale here
6. Lettuce – rich in vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin A. It’s a quick growing crop that will produce alot. The only thing bad is that it won’t store well so be prepared to eat it right after harvesting it.
7. Onion Family – long storage life and perennial nature ensures you will have less chance of a crop failure. Garlic will naturalize and keep on producing, onions and bunching onions will give you a great crop, and chives will provide the greens. More on onions here
8. Potatoes – both white and sweet. Both are easy to grow in a range of climates and soil types, store well, and will sustain you for an extended period of time. Sweet potatoes contain more nutrients and therefore are healthier than white potatoes.
9. Squash – highly productive, low effort crop. Pretty much guaranteed to get a good yield. There are:
- Butternut variety that will keep for up to 18mo, so you can eat it another winter after next season’s harvest comes in.
- Pumpkins store really well and provide enough for winter months.
- Acorn, Spaghetti, and Hubbard – can be stored for up to 6 months in a cool, dark place.
- Zucchini is very rich in vital nutrients, and it’s effortless to grow since it requires minimal attention and nurturing. More on squash here.
10. Tomatoes – are among the simplest crops to grow as all they need are sun and water, they preserve very well, and they make one of the most viable survival foods as you can combine them with almost everything. More on tomatoes here
And there you have it – the Top 10 Crops To Grow For Survival. Come back and check out my next post with the 20 Best Crops For A Survival Garden. Until then – happy gardening and CIAO 🙂