Stir Fry Garden

Fresh tomatoes are one of the most common reasons why people start gardening. But what about planting a stir fry garden? You can grow everything you need for a delicious stir fry dinner right in your own backyard.

Delicious stir fry dinner (Kate Russell)

Stir frying (chǎo) is a Chinese cooking style that uses small amounts of “cold oil in a hot wok” to quickly stir a variety of ingredients into delicious, healthful goodness. If you don’t have a wok, you can do much the same thing in a skillet.

There are no rules!

The nice thing about designing a stir fry garden is anything goes. Whatever ingredients you prefer are the perfect choice. Assuming, that is, the plants are suited to your microclimate. In many cases, you can grow these ingredients in containers on a patio or balcony. ​

Shallots (Kate Russell)

Your stir fry garden design is your own. That being said, raised beds make planting and caring for your stir fry garden much easier. The nice loose soil makes life easier for root systems and you don’t have to bend over quite so far when weeding. Before we start counting our chickens, however, let’s take a look at what you might want to plant in your stir fry garden.

Stir fry garden plant selection

Everyone has their favorite stir fry recipes. This makes plant selection easy. Simply start with what you like. Then, try adding one or two you’ve never grown or eaten before. Who knows, they may turn out to be new favorites! The most common plants chosen for stir fry gardens include:​

• asparagus
• beans - bush and pole
• bell peppers
• bok choy
• broccoli
• cabbage
• carrots
• celery
• chili peppers, such as Trinidad scorpions and Thai red dragons
• chives
• garlic​

• Japanese eggplant
• kale
• mustards
• onions
• peas, such as sugar snap and snow varieties
• scallions
• shallots
• spinach
• summer squashes, such as yellow crook neck and zucchini
• yardlong beans, such as red noodle beans

Bell peppers (Kate Russell)

Rainbow carrots (Kate Russell)

Wax beans (Kate Russell)

Some of these plants grow best in summer, while others prefer California’s wet winter weather. Each Hardiness Zone and microclimate is unique, as far as planting times and days to maturity. You can click on the links above for planting instructions and potential pest and disease problems.

Bon appétit and happy planning!