Last Updated on February 27, 2026 by Daily News Staff

7 Vegetables to Grow Easily in Your Home Garden

(Family Features) Growing fresh, healthy vegetables at home may not be as hard as it sounds. Novice gardeners just need good dirt, easy plants to grow, lots of sunshine and the right amount of water.

Once you’ve prepared your garden plot, select one or all of these vegetables, which are among the easiest to grow:

1. Lettuce – Plant lettuce seeds directly into the garden or a pot then repeat every two weeks. It can be cut a few weeks after planting. Some harvest lettuce by pulling it up – roots and all – but cutting a little off the top every few days can keep it growing until summer’s heat turns it too bitter.
2. Spinach – This vitamin-packed green is planted and harvested just like lettuce.
3. Cucumbers – Make several mounds of dirt near the edge of your garden and place 2-3 plants around the center of each. Cucumbers are notorious for growing vines that overtake other plants, so be vigilant about keeping them contained. 
4. Squash – Like cucumbers, summer squash is planted on small mounds at the edges of a garden so their vines can be contained. Most varieties, such as yellow squash and zucchini, are quite prolific and just a few plants can feed a large family all summer long.
5. Tomatoes – Purchase plants that grow best in your area of the country from your local garden center. All plants should be staked or enclosed in tomato cages because successful plants produce an abundance of large, heavy fruit throughout the summer months.
6. Bell Peppers – Bell peppers are easiest to grow from plants. Space them about 1 foot apart then watch them take off with little care required. The only real trick to growing bell peppers is knowing when to harvest. If you’re growing red, orange or yellow varieties, they’ll start out green then turn color as soon as they ripen.
7. Carrots – Dig a long, shallow trench in soil that is free of rock. Sprinkle the seeds along the row, cover lightly with topsoil and wait for the top of the carrot to pop through the soil. Once a bit of orange appears, pull and enjoy.

Find more tips for growing a bountiful garden at eLivingtoday.com.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

SOURCE:
Family Features

If you’re spending Lunar New Year in Guangdong, there’s one place the celebration is guaranteed to be loud, colorful, and unforgettable: the dinner table.

A new report shared via PRNewswire from South spotlights how food anchors New Year traditions across the province—and offers a simple guide for international visitors wondering what to order, try, or look for while the festivities are in full swing.

The report notes that it’s the Year of the Horse, and that the Lunar New Year spirit is sweeping across Guangdong, with seasonal dishes and shared meals taking center stage.

Why Guangdong’s New Year celebration is all about food

In Guangdong (home to Cantonese cuisine and a deep culture of banquet-style dining), New Year meals aren’t just about eating—they’re about togetherness, symbolism, and starting the year on a high note.

The report emphasizes that food has long been at the heart of the region’s holiday celebrations, making it one of the easiest (and most delicious) ways for visitors to connect with local culture.

A must-try list curated by Consuls General in Guangzhou

The hook here is the source of the recommendations: the report promises an “ultimate must-try list” handpicked by Consuls General in Guangzhou—a diplomatic, international lens on what’s worth tasting during the holiday.

While the PRNewswire version points readers to the full list in the original report, the takeaway is clear: if you’re in Guangdong for Lunar New Year and want to eat like you’re part of the celebration, this guide is meant to help you start.

What to do next if you’re visiting

If you’re traveling through Guangdong during the holiday stretch, a few easy ways to use this kind of list:

• Ask restaurants what their Lunar New Year specials are
• Look for dishes meant for sharing (the New Year table is rarely a solo experience)
• Try something seasonal you wouldn’t normally order—New Year is when many families go all-in

Read more

Source: PRNewswire

At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.

Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience. https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/

Advertisement

(Feature Impact) Green beer and decor may get all the attention, but for hosts looking to wow their St. Patrick’s Day guests or astound their loved ones, a traditional Irish recipe can become an annual tradition. Celebrate the luck o’ the Irish with this St. Patrick’s Day Stew, a hearty, beefy meal loaded with chuck stew meat, potatoes, carrots, onions and, of course, stout beer.

To find more recipes that put tradition center stage, visit Culinary.net.

St. Patrick’s Day Stew

Recipe adapted from Simply Recipes

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Servings: 6

• 1 1/4    pounds marbled chuck beef stew meat, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
  
• 1          teaspoon salt, plus additional to taste, divided
  
• 1/4       cup extra-virgin olive oil
  
• 6          garlic cloves, minced
  
• 4          cups beef stock
  
• 2          cups water
  
• 1          cup extra stout beer
  
• 1          cup red wine
  
• 2          tablespoons tomato paste
  
• 1          tablespoon sugar
  
• 1          tablespoon dried thyme
  
• 1          tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  
• 2          bay leaves
  
• 2          tablespoons butter
  
• 1          large onion, chopped
  
• 4          carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  
• 3          pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  
• 2          tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Sprinkle beef chunks with 1 teaspoon salt. In large pot over medium-high heat, heat olive oil.
2. Pat beef dry with paper towels and add to pot, working in batches to avoid crowding pot. Cook until browned on one side then flip and brown.
3. Add garlic cloves to pot with beef and saute 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add beef stock, water, beer, wine, tomato paste, sugar, thyme, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Stir.
4. Bring mixture to simmer then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
5. In separate pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions and carrots; saute until golden, about 15 minutes.
6. After beef mixture simmers 1 hour, add onions, carrots and potatoes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer uncovered until beef and vegetables are tender, about 40 minutes. Discard bay leaves and spoon excess fat.
7. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

SOURCE:

Culinary.net

At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.

Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience. https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/