30% Off Shrubs Now – 3/24/26

Good Things Come in Small Packages, Compact Short Snack Cucumbers & Mascotte’ Dwarf Bush Beans

Chef Jeff Veggies, McDonald Garden Center Chef Jeff Veggies, McDonald Garden Center Cucumber Short Snack & Mascotte' Dwarf Bush Bean In the world of gardening, bigger is not always better.

Good Things Come in Small Packages, Compact Short Snack Cucumbers & Mascotte’ Dwarf Bush Beans

melpers

In the world of gardening, bigger is not always better. Nowadays, seed companies are constantly producing new varieties of vegetables that can be grown as compact plants in small areas and even in pots, so don’t let limited growing space stop you from creating a bountiful garden. And contrary to what you might think, compact and dwarf vegetables are just as tasty and certainly as healthy as their larger counterparts. Here’s a few of our favorites from the Chef Jeff collection:

Short Snack Cucumber
Short Snack Cucumber produces high yields of 6-inch, glossy, spineless, deep green cucumbers. These thin-skinned, seedless cucumbers are an excellent addition to salads or make for a healthy, on-the-go snack. Short Snack produces fruit early and often. Harvest as often as possible, since the more fruit you pick the more the plant produces.

Mascotte’ Dwarf Bush Bean
This dwarf bean is an award winning “All American Selection” as well as named a ‘Top New Edible Plants for 2014’ by Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. 5-6 inch, stringless, slender, flavorful pods grow on bushy plants 16-18 inches tall making them ideal in patio containers, window boxes or small gardens. The unusually large, white flowers add an ornamental element, and the beans set on top of the leaves for easy harvesting.

TIP: Compact and dwarf varieties of vegetables require the same light and soil conditions and fertilization as standard varieties. Vegetables grown in containers or raised beds may need more frequent watering, since the roots may dry out quicker.

Recent Blog

Related Articles

The First Flowers of the Season: Early Spring Perennials to Plant Now in Virginia Beach

There’s a moment every year when the garden finally wakes up. The days stretch a little longer and suddenly you start noticing color again. In Virginia Beach and the Hampton...

Early Spring Planting Guide for Zone 7-8 Gardens

Our relatively mild winters allow us to start planting sooner than many parts of the country, but shifting temperatures still call for a thoughtful approach. The key in USDA zones...

From Surviving to Thriving: The Power of Houseplant Nutrition

Keeping houseplants healthy isn’t always as simple as it sounds. If you’ve adjusted the light, double-checked your watering schedule, and your plant still seems like it’s just…existing, you’re not alone....

Explore McDonald Garden Center