Fruiting Vegetables: A Grower's Guide

Fruiting crops reward attention to timing, balance, and care―with harvests that can anchor a whole season

Tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, beans, and melons are among the most productive―and demanding―crops in a garden or market farm. Fruiting Vegetables: A Grower's Guide offers clear, practical guidance for managing these crops successfully, using proven biointensive methods that support strong plants, steady yields, and healthy soils.

Rooted in The Market Gardener Method, this highly accessible, beautifully illustrated guide focuses on decisions that make the biggest difference: variety selection, timing, fertility, and crop care. Rather than treating each crop in isolation, it shows how fruiting vegetables fit into a well-planned, human-scale growing system.

What this Book Offers

• An overview of major fruiting vegetable families, including cucurbits, legumes, and nightshades
• Practical guidance on sowing, transplanting, spacing, and crop maintenance
• Jean-Martin Fortier's preferred varieties, selected for productivity and flavor
• Proven strategies for irrigation, fertility, pruning, and trellising
• Clear advice on harvest timing, storage, and maintaining crop quality

This guide emphasizes working with plant biology and seasonal rhythms, helping growers reduce stress on crops while improving consistency and output.

Who this Book is For

• Home gardeners growing a wide range of fruiting crops
• Market gardeners refining production of high-value vegetables
• Growers seeking reliable methods without high inputs
• Readers of The Market Gardener wanting crop-specific information
• Anyone aiming for healthier plants and more predictable harvests

Jean-Martin Fortier is a farmer, educator, and internationally respected voice in regenerative, small-scale agriculture. His experience managing diverse crops in challenging conditions informs every recommendation in this guide.

Fruiting Vegetables is part of the Grower's Guides from the Market Gardener series―compact, visually rich manuals designed to help growers build resilient, productive systems.

If you want fruiting crops that perform consistently and fit smoothly into a balanced growing plan, this guide shows you how.