Beets, Broccoli, or Brassicas? How to Choose the Perfect Veggies for Your Garden (2024)

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For new gardeners, the beginning of spring can feel slightly daunting. While dreams of a fruitful veggie patch might motivate you into action, the mere idea of starting is often overwhelming. How do you decide which vegetables to grow—and if you can grow them in your zone?

Since there are infinite options of veggies out there to choose from, we consulted some of our favorite gardening pros to help demystify the selection process. As it turns out, choosing vegetables to grow this season doesn't have to be so stressful.

For guidance on building your perfect veggie garden, keep scrolling. You'll be tasting ripe tomatoes and sweet squash in no time.

First, Buy the Right Seeds

Donna Letier, the founder and CEO of Gardenuity, says her go-to seed resource is Burpee Seeds, though she’s also a fan of Johnny’s Selected Seeds.

Regardless of the brand, though, Letier says to make sure you choose a company that provides you with all the info you need to succeed. This can mean well-labeled packaging or, better yet, a customer service department readily able to answer any questions.

“Seeds have very specific planting needs, spacing and depth requirements, and watering times," Letier says. "A company that can answer these questions or has reviews and product Q&As is important."

A Great Shortcut: Seed Tape

Another tip from Letier is to look for companies that sell seed strips. These are strips or tapes that come ready to plant with the seeds pre-spaced and tailored to the individual needs of the seed variety, which should take some of the guesswork out of the process.

Plant What You Eat

You can do all the research you want on the easiest veggies to grow or the best options for certain climates, but as Letier points out, if you won’t eat it, don’t grow it.

For Letier and her family, they look for a wide variety each season.

“In the spring, I go for seasonal staples like tomatoes, leafy greens, and lots of herbs,” she says. “Later into spring, I plant every kind of pepper, from baby bells to jalapenos, and lots of eggplants. In the early summer months, I plant lots of basil and cucumbers.”

Pay Attention to the Forecast

While a lot of gardening advice has us assessing our local climate seasonally, Letier says when you’re getting started, it’s just as important to consider the ten-day forecast and be prepared for any volatile shoulder-season weather.

“Take into account how long your plants will take to harvest and where you will be planting,” she says. “For this reason, I am a big fan of planting vegetables and herbs in containers that you can move around if the weather changes drastically.”

Plan for All Seasons

While we’re currently looking at spring options, Letier shared her list of crops that work best in each season. This can vary by region, but it’s a great starting place as long as you cross-check for your local climate zone.

• Fall: Cauliflower, broccoli, mustard greens, spinach, salad greens, cilantro, dill and root vegetables.
• Winter: Mustard greens, collards, Swiss Chard, French sorrel, rosemary and thyme, all grow comfortably in mild winter climates.
• Spring: Radishes, tomatoes, spinach, kale, leafy greens, carrots, nasturtiums, strawberries, and every kind of basil.
• Summer: Yellow squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion chives, okra, eggplant, cucumbers, corn, zucchini, peppers, and parsley.

If you miss the spring planting window or struggle to find your green thumb this season, don’t panic. Letier says you didn’t lose your chance for the year.

“We are big fans of fall gardening as well as it is the perfect time to plant rooted vegetables and cool-weather crops,” she says.

Harvest Your Own Seeds

For anyone who particularly loves the idea of a DIY gardening experience, Letier says you can even harvest seeds from store-bought vegetables and cultivate them at home.

"It takes time and every seed will be different but if you want to learn about a specific plant, I encourage you to let Google, TikTok, and the Gardenuity Grow Pro team help you out,” she says.