Vegetable Growing Guides
73 vegetables with complete growing information
From leafy greens to root vegetables, explore our complete guide to growing vegetables in any climate.
Tomato
The world's most popular garden vegetable. Tomatoes thrive in warm weather with consistent moisture.
Lettuce
Cool-season crop perfect for spring and fall. Bolts (goes to seed) in heat.
Carrot
Root vegetable that sweetens after a light frost. Needs loose, stone-free soil.
Pepper
Heat-loving plants ranging from sweet bell peppers to fiery chilies.
Cucumber
Fast-growing vine that produces abundantly in warm weather.
Zucchini
Prolific summer squash -- one plant can feed a family. Easy for beginners.
Spinach
Nutrient-dense cool-season green. One of the first crops you can plant in spring.
Kale
Extremely cold-hardy superfood. Flavor actually improves after frost.
Green Bean
Easy warm-season crop. Bush types need no support; pole types need trellis.
Pea
Cool-season climber. One of the earliest spring crops. Kids love picking them.
Potato
Underground tuber crop. Satisfying to grow -- dig up your own potatoes.
Garlic
Plant in fall, harvest in summer. Needs cold period for bulb formation.
Onion
Long-season crop. Choose short-day varieties for southern latitudes, long-day for northern.
Chili Pepper
From mild jalapenos to scorching habaneros. Heat-loving plants that thrive in summer.
Radish
The fastest vegetable -- harvest in as little as 3 weeks. Perfect for beginners.
Sweet Potato
Tropical root vegetable. Needs long warm season -- 4+ months of warm weather.
Eggplant
Heat-loving nightshade. Needs long warm season. Beautiful purple fruit and flowers.
Broccoli
Cool-season brassica. Harvest main head, then enjoy side shoots for weeks.
Corn
Plant in blocks (not rows) for wind pollination. Each stalk produces 1-2 ears.
Bok Choy
Fast-growing Asian green. Crunchy stalks and tender leaves. Great in stir-fries.
Arugula
Peppery salad green that grows fast in cool weather. A staple of Mediterranean cuisine.
Beet
Dual-purpose root vegetable -- eat both roots and nutritious greens.
Brussels Sprouts
Cold-hardy brassica that sweetens after frost. Long growing season required.
Cabbage
Versatile cool-season crop. Stores well for months after harvest.
Cauliflower
Demanding but rewarding brassica. Needs consistent cool temps for tight heads.
Celery
Moisture-loving vegetable that needs a long cool growing season.
Swiss Chard
Colorful, heat-tolerant green related to beets. Beautiful rainbow stems.
Collard Greens
Southern staple green that handles both heat and cold better than most brassicas.
Green Onion
Quick-growing allium. Regrows from roots after cutting. Perfect windowsill crop.
Jalapeno
Popular medium-heat chili. Versatile in cooking from salsas to poppers.
Kohlrabi
Unusual-looking brassica with sweet, crisp flesh. Edible raw or cooked.
Leek
Mild, sweet allium. Hardy enough to overwinter in many climates.
Mustard Greens
Spicy, peppery greens that grow fast in cool weather. Many colorful varieties.
Okra
Heat-loving Southern staple. Beautiful hibiscus-like flowers before pods form.
Parsnip
Sweet root vegetable that needs cold to develop flavor. Slow to germinate.
Pumpkin
Classic fall crop. Sprawling vines need lots of space.
Shallot
Gourmet allium with delicate, complex flavor. Multiplies from single bulb.
Snap Pea
Sweet, crunchy pods eaten whole. Perfect cool-season snack straight from the vine.
Butternut Squash
Sweet, nutty winter squash. Stores for months in cool, dry conditions.
Acorn Squash
Small, ribbed winter squash. Perfect single-serving size when halved and baked.
Tomatillo
Essential for salsa verde. Tangy fruit in papery husks. Very productive.
Turnip
Fast-growing root vegetable. Both roots and greens are edible and nutritious.
Watercress
Peppery aquatic green. Can grow in shallow running water or very moist soil.
Artichoke
Stunning architectural plant. Perennial in mild climates. Edible flower buds.
Asparagus
Perennial crop that produces for 20+ years. Worth the 2-3 year wait to first harvest.
Black-Eyed Pea
Heat-loving legume that fixes nitrogen in soil. Southern US staple crop.
Broccolini
Hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli. Long tender stems with small florets.
Chicory
Bitter green used in salads. Root can be roasted as coffee substitute.
Chinese Cabbage
Napa cabbage with mild, sweet flavor. Essential for kimchi and stir-fries.
Cress
Fastest food crop -- ready in a week. Peppery sprouts for salads and sandwiches.
Dandelion
Underrated superfood green. Entire plant is edible -- leaves, roots, flowers.
Edamame
Young green soybeans. High-protein snack straight from the garden.
Endive
Bitter salad green with curly leaves. Blanching reduces bitterness.
Horseradish
Pungent root condiment. Extremely hardy perennial that can become invasive.
Jicama
Crispy, sweet root vegetable eaten raw in salads. Needs long warm season.
Luffa
Tropical gourd -- eat young like zucchini, or dry for natural sponges.
Moringa
Miracle tree -- leaves are incredibly nutritious. Fast-growing tropical tree.
Radicchio
Bitter Italian chicory with stunning red leaves and white ribs. Grilled or in salads.
Rhubarb
Perennial with tart edible stalks for pies and jams. Leaves are toxic.
Rutabaga
Sweet root vegetable -- cross between cabbage and turnip. Excellent stored for winter.
Sweet Corn
Garden-fresh corn is incredibly sweet. Plant in blocks for wind pollination.
Taro
Tropical root staple. Giant elephant-ear leaves. Must be cooked before eating.
Winter Squash
Hard-shelled squash that stores for months. Includes hubbard, delicata, spaghetti.
Yam
True tropical yam -- not to be confused with sweet potato. Staple in Africa and Asia.
Mizuna
Japanese mustard green with feathery leaves and mild, peppery flavor.
Tatsoi
Asian rosette green with spoon-shaped leaves. Mild mustard flavor.
Celeriac
Celery root -- knobby root with intense celery flavor. Great for soups and purees.
Malabar Spinach
Tropical vine with thick, succulent leaves. Spinach substitute that loves heat.
New Zealand Spinach
Heat-tolerant spinach alternative. Spreading ground cover with triangular leaves.
Ramps
Wild leek -- prized spring ephemeral with garlicky flavor. Gourmet delicacy.
Romanesco
Fractal-patterned brassica -- stunning chartreuse spiraling florets.
Salsify
Oyster plant -- root tastes like oysters when cooked. Forgotten heirloom vegetable.
Yacon
Andean root with sweet, crunchy, juicy flesh. Eat raw like a fruit.