9 Plants You Should ALWAYS Grow

Grow these essential crops in your garden EVERY year if you want reliable, proven plants that throw out a ton of produce for you and your family. @jacquesinthegarden, Chris, and Kevin each share 3 of their garden essentials.
IN THIS VIDEO
→ Power Planter 12": growepic.co/3f7s59k
→ Jacques' Pepper Tunnel (6in1 Trellis): growepic.co/3NaNLhd
→ Agribon Ag-19 Fabric: bit.ly/3H2R9ri
→ Center Cut Squash: bit.ly/3xgJL7z
Available from most seed providers:
→ Cherokee Purple
→ Dazzling Blue Kale
→ Garlic
→ Biquinho Peppers
→ Trionfo Violetto beans
→ Gold Marie Pole Bean
→ Potatoes
→ Summer Savory
→ Black Cherry Tomato
→ Chocolate Cherry
→ Pacific Beauty Calendula
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
00:15 - Squash
01:53 - Tomato
03:24 - Kale
04:28 - Garlic
05:45 - Peppers
07:33 - Beans
08:56 - Potatoes
10:31 - Herbs
11:42 - Tomato Cherry
12:52 - Outro
DISCLAIMER
Epic Gardening occasionally links to goods or services offered by vendors to help you find the best products to care for plants. Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are purchased. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. More info on our process: www.epicgardening.com/disclai...

[@thomaspreece2997]

For me its soft fruit, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. So expensive in stores but so prolific in the garden and with much more intense flavor.

[@dragoness777]

We used to have blueberry bushes in the backyard garden (of mostly herbs) before we moved, store blueberries are such a disappointment both price-wise and flavor-wise since and blueberries are the more consistently good berries in stores in my experience. Many of the herbs couldn't compete with the prolific blueberry bushes.

[@Zubstep1315]

All of that is hard to keep alive in zone 9a when it’s averaging 105°, especially in suburbia where the city sprays for pests constantly which means hardly any pollinators in my area 😭

[@cathyomara7661]

I live in an apartment in Maryland - zone 7 and I have a high bush blueberry in a pot, it's a new plant this year. Next year, I will probably pass it on to my sister in New York since she has a large garden at her house. I was really looking for a miniature blueberry plant rather than the one I bought this year.

[@silverdknight]

I have a question for strawberry growers. How do I grow sweeter strawberries? I got some everberring berries from a local nursery and a mystery breed from Lowes. All the berries I harvest from it were either sour or taste like water. Thanks in advance.

[@viewer-of-content]

@@Zubstep1315 shade tolerant strawberries and unattended beehive would allow you to have strawberries. (their are native varieties of strawberries throughout the gulf of Mexico) beehives do swarm/split if left unattended though, so have a backup hive to put out from storage if they look ready to swarm, and sell the extra hive. the hives can be closed during spray hours if you can figure out those

[@travistaylor6110]

"As a gardener, there is a temptation to grow everything under the sun." I felt that. Haha

[@the_Earth_3]

same bro 😂

[@dorothyg6269]

I’m trying gardening for a third time (I failed the other two times bc previous job and scheduling left no time to garden - it wasn’t a garden issue.) That said… I have started with over 65+ different fruits, herbs and vegetables, lol. I want to grow everything!

[@enhydralutra]

Cherry tomatoes are underrated. They grow quickly, they're very flavorful, and they're prefect for sauces and salads. One plant I recommend that I didn't see on this list, though, is cucumber. The Carolina cucumber is a great choice because it's fairly easy to grow, and versatile enough to be eaten freshly sliced, or you can pickle or quick pickle it.

[@jsmall5952]

Yes agree

[@joanies6778]

Last year I discovered cucumber lemonade fory excess cukes... then I discovered it can be frozen... in ice cube trays. Yum!

[@SoilToSoul]

Yes! We did raised beds this year, in a rushed manner since we haven't had the property long. I stuffed 12 cucumber plants in a 2x2 raised bed because I couldn't throw them away lol. I have canned 32 jars so far of various pickle products! I never would've thought that would happen! Very forgiving and easy with cucumbers this year!

[@SoilToSoul]

@@joanies6778 you have a recipe? This sounds great

[@simongloutnez589]

Haha true, tough since I am a bit allergic to UNCOOKED gourds in general I grow them for my gf and to can some pickle haha nothing like homemade pickles!

[@user-bv5xp7ze1z]

Never even thought about gardening before, but ever since these videos started showing up in my feed, I'm seriously starting to consider it. I can't stop watching these videos. Thanks for introducing me!

[@blue-hawaii-mc4vf]

Do it! One of us! One of us!

[@salpine]

Do iiiit. It’s amazing for mental health too.

[@madeinussr7551]

Start with squash, cucumbers and tomatoes at least. Tomatoes take longer but you can start them now in a milk/ water jug ,( snip holes on the bottom for drainage,soil, seeds,soil ) and close the top. Take the lid off. Mini green house and you don't have to buy seedlings. Cucumbers and squash/ zucchini can be directly sown and come up quick. The best cucumber is the space maker or pickling ( takes up more space). Eggplant and peppers will need to be shown in jugs now cause you ll be late. Good luck! 🤞

[@mittu1814]

Yasser start one. I don't know why but my fiance knows I love my greens and didn't know I needed a garden. This is my 2nd yr gardening with him, they are looking beautiful. 1st year was a failure. Tillered our backyard for gardening. The soil was clay So all that work was practice. Now we're doing in beddings.

[@PrincessJayEze]

IKR! 😄 I mean I used to maintain a few flowering plants here and there during my summer breaks from college and I used to have an Aloe Vera plant in college more so for aesthetic & the fact that it was super easy to maintain 😅 but I’m actually thinking about starting back with like indoor small scale gardening until I start to get the hang of it. And the videos are def interesting & in a way even therapeutic just to watch lol 😅 🌱🪴 ✨

[@EVERBEE_GARDEN]

Onions! Onions are a must have in any garden for me. They support beneficial pollinators, protect other crops from pests, they are so useful in the kitchen, fairly easy to grow and store once harvested. They come in a range of colours, sizes and flavours, produce pretty, often edible flowers - basically onions are extremely hard to beat for versatility :)

[@strgazr04]

I was planning on growing onions but the weather this season was cool for so long. Now I'm worried I'm too late. I'm in NY in zone 7. Everywhere I read said I was supposed to plant onions before May.

[@EVERBEE_GARDEN]

@@strgazr04 Oh yes, it's been a strange Spring, We're only just hitting average Spring temps now in June. My take - gardening rules are meant to be broken. The optimal time may have past, but the way I see it, if there is no snow on the ground and the soil isn't frozen solid, you can plant something. :) In the case of alliums, due to the wide variety, there is bound to be a few that can be sown in your area now. I know ppl say it's best to sow seeds, but I have you tried onion sets? I have also successfully grown spring onions (scallions) just using the ends of supermarket ones, rooted them for a week - 10 days in a jar of water, planted them outside and they grew fairly well. I say if you have the means and the time, try sowing them anyway.

[@strgazr04]

@@EVERBEE_GARDEN I had onion seeds from Ferry Morse but they are 115 day maturity. I’m thinking of buying onion sets and going that route. I just don’t know which kind to get. Seems my local garden stores stopped carrying them.

[@EVERBEE_GARDEN]

@@strgazr04 Just a suggestion - can you order onion sets online? Plus, If you plant 115 day maturity onions, by next week, you have the end of June - mid October, which in theory should be just enough to cover 115 days. Or am I missing something? There is a stronger risk of bolting due to the (hopefully) hot weather, but I'm taking the risk - I got a job lot of sets in April, and I'm planting as many of them as I can. If nothing else, they can help protect my other crops and I have tons of onion tops which I can use in cooking. I hope you can find some method to get your onions. If I think of any other ideas, I will let you know.

[@strgazr04]

@@EVERBEE_GARDEN if I can’t find the 90 day sets I’ll probably just try the seeds. Thanks for your advice!!

[@levi9486]

I'm so deep into the Epic Gardening lore that I knew Kevin was going to say potatoes before he did. The potato story arc continues.

[@AUniqueHandleName444]

To be fair pretty much anybody making this kind of list SHOULD say potatoes

[@freeto9139]

POTAATO !!!

[@v32finish]

Omg I knew this comment existed before I even saw the video

[@andrewgin9658]

Underdog pollinator plant: Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower). Pollinators for days

[@Ryanrulesok]

Kevin really needs to be in a metal gear solid game, the way he camouflages himself and stealths through the undergrowth

[@RyuuKasai]

Lmao right, here’s me looking for this comment when everyone else is talking seriously about the content. Love the cold open crawling out of the shrubbery. :D

[@SWCnetworkdr]

Love all the suggestions. I would include radishes, carrots, strawberries, cucumbers. As you mentioned, an urban farmer tends to get carried away with trying to grow anything and everything. Yep, that's me!

[@simongloutnez589]

Hahaha yep us too, but since we moved to our new appartment we had to size it down and we feel its actually help us to plan a bit better : quality over quantity this year!

[@elizabethsessions4486]

Same. 👀

[@clarissamiles]

Yesssssssss! Same here:)

[@epicgardening]

Great additions!

[@gonfreecs1237]

For some reason my carrots won't grow. Any reason why?

[@katehenderson8194]

Sweet potato - I’ve recently started using the leaves as a spinach replacement and it works really well :)

[@LizfollowsHIM]

I didn't know that. I'm going to try it.

[@radiationshepherd]

Filipinos put the leaves in soups a lot

[@SuperUsername147]

Yes! I just discovered that the entire plant is edible and put some leaves in my dinner last night. I’ve also been collecting wild purslane which grows prolifically in my community garden plot.

[@user-dm1tv6nl2e]

Started doing that this year too :)

[@crimson4066]

Yes! And they grow VERY quick

[@Bellbebell]

My must-grow is lettuce: good, dependable leaf lettuce. Salads made fresh with home grown lettuce is just miles above store bought for flavour!

[@self-sufficiencyinthecity]

Agreed

[@gerriashe3593]

Yes!! This is my first year growing Romaine lettuce 🥬 and I’m loving it!! Way less waste bc I pick as I eat so it’s fresh and grows well.

[@1ogkilla]

My lettuce keeps getting bitter cuz it’s too hot in Houston😩🥲

[@janetgonzales6779]

@@1ogkilla I live in a very hot climate (Bakersfield, CA). I grow lettuce in the fall, winter, and early spring. By late April, it's all over. But I do enjoy it for many months of the year.

[@4yearsago343]

There's a tropical lettuce, it taste really good

[@jessicaorozco1749]

I was never a melon fan, either watermelon or other melons. After trying home grown cantelope, I just can’t not plant it. I will always grow a cantelope for as long as I’m able to. They are sweet, juicy, and taste like honey. Simply amazing!

[@Ash-xx5zd]

Any specific type of melon you'd recommend? Can you share your grow zone and region for relatable aspect, as well? ...thank you! U may have inspired my next crop! 🤗🤗🤗

[@A1BASE]

I'm trying to grow cantaloupe for the first time this year and have a bunch of seedlings going, but they seem to be incredibly slow going. Most don't even have their first real leaves yet and it's been over a month. Did you find they took a while to get going?

[@seeroh3908]

@@A1BASE I haven't grown cantaloupe, but melons in general need lots of sun, heat, regular watering, and good soil (they're heavy feeders). Sometimes you need to fix one of these conditions to get them going.

[@rachr9571]

@@Ash-xx5zd I grow a French mini cantaloupe called petit de Rennes and I get my seeds from Baker Creek. They are amazing and grow so well in containers and they are easy to tell when they are ripe. I’m in zone 5b

[@jessicaorozco1749]

@@A1BASE it must not be warm enough yet. They love the heat and will flourish in it and not too much watering.

[@j.l.emerson592]

My take on must have garden plants: Potatoes Corn - dent corn for cornmeal Squash - Winter squash (includes pumpkins) Legumes - Dry beans (pinto, navy, lima, fava, "cow pea/southern pea/black eyed pea", etc) Tomatoes Melons - all kinds, as a sweet morale booster Sunflowers - snacks & cooking oil Alliums - garlic, onions, leeks Herbs - culinary & medicinal Bonus garden plants: *Peanuts - most calorie dense legume, also adds nitrogen to your soil, makes a good cooking oil, etc (read about George Washington Carver) *Marigolds - great companion plant - attracts pollinators, the strong scent repels pests, provides REAL (natural) protection from root knot nematodes & they're beautiful *Tobacco - for trade or making a natural pesticide ☆I totally forgot some... Hot peppers - MUST HAVE for me Sweet potatoes - almost totally pest & disease free, can be raised in the same bed without rotation, almost 'self seeding' because unless you're OCD, a tuber or two will almost always get left behind to grow the next generation

[@wmluna381]

Nice list.

[@levinaugust3331]

Also sweet potatoes shoots are actually edible, pick some and sauteed it with garlic and onion. Delicious

[@Lizzy_333]

How do you get a peanut plant?

[@j.l.emerson592]

@lizzy: several seed companies sell peanut seed. You first need to determine if you have a long enough growing season to grow peanuts. Peanuts require at least 100 days to grow a mature crop.

[@Lizzy_333]

@@j.l.emerson592 OK and thank you! I live in southeastern MI. I’ve just never thought of how they are grown or how! Also, hot peppers, (jalapeños) are a MUST grow for me too! 🔥 😃

[@helenmcclellan452]

In addition to those you mentioned, a must in my garden are: eggplants, butternut squash, onions, and sweet potatoes.

[@sanetramenon1610]

The best summer vegetable in the garden for me CUCUMBER. All day snack. Easy to grow

[@mariehyde5425]

I'm a huge fan of the Cherokee Purple, I plant these too!!

[@SoilToSoul]

Me, too! Just pulled some off my plants yesterday 😍 my absolute favorite variety

[@elizabethsessions4486]

Mine are taking off. Hoping I can get a good harvest :)

[@kwall1464]

Me too!

[@GardenHappy]

Do you notice that the Cherokee Purple take forever to mature and you only get a few?

[@mariehyde5425]

@@GardenHappy yes I have had that issue, I am hoping that the amendments that I added will give me better results this year.

[@grassrootsgarden8822]

I can not go without growing sugar snap peas! I ❤️ them and so does my dog! 🐾

[@DaNortWoods]

Radishes!! They are so quick to grow and it’s the first harvest of the season. Always a way to brighten your mood and get you excited for the season( if you somehow aren’t already).

[@yvonnesnyder4180]

@@neonice have you roasted them? Heaven in your mouth!

[@rickytorres9089]

@@yvonnesnyder4180 Interesting!! Heard that you can pickle these things but not as a roast!

[@yvonnesnyder4180]

@@rickytorres9089 This spicy mellows a bit and you still get some nice crisp. Kinda like roasted beets or carrots with more zestiness.

[@rickytorres9089]

@@yvonnesnyder4180 I really appreciate that description of yours. Thanks for your support to me. :)

[@VeryGreenly]

I have tried growing radishes the past three years hoping I’ll get an easy win and get to taste a beet. However, I haven’t gotten any growth under the soil just roots.

[@Goatbeez]

I love reading all the additional "must-haves" in the comments and the reasons people are giving. I think that's really helpful too and kinda helps localize things. You guys are great

[@alexelsewhere404]

Huge fan here, loving your channel from prison colony Sydney Australia. Started gardening and following your tips

[@epicgardening]

🙏🏼 happy to hear this

[@mattbutler4763]

It’s a great channel, love it! And we aren’t too far off from being the prison colony of USA, I feel you Ausie Ausie Ausie!!!

[@Pooters73]

Great channel, so easy to learn and follow as a beginner. Also, LOVING the intros; popping out behind pushes, crawling out from under plants. So random, but I love it.

[@self-sufficiencyinthecity]

😃😃😃😃 yes I heard it is getting that way

[@kenlejful]

@@mattbutler4763 i'm living in the free state of Florida. Best governor Florida has ever had. I literally put a mask on less than 10 times& that was for Walmart&Dr.

[@JJStarr]

My friend's 74-year-old dad has been using a power drill augur to plant all his seedlings for a few years now, and it's made planting so much easier for him after developing arthritis.

[@thegardenguru]

Love that you included potatoes! I think some people don't think to grow them because you can always get them for cheap but they're such a great crop!

[@thevegetablequeen]

My favorite crop to grow is okra! I absolutely love it sliced and sautéed. It's easy to grow and doesn't care too much about soil conditions. Additionally, my local grocery store only sells it basically rotten on the shelf (while charging a premium), so if I want it I have to grow it!

[@micheleolson9914]

Ocra have gorgeous hibiscus type flowers🌺 too, very ornamental as well as productive!

[@ColonelKlink100]

They're good raw too, eaten right out of the garden.

[@TisDana]

Okra is some healthy for you and has gotten extremely expensive!

[@kadripress1]

my must-grow: shallots. I plant them from seed and I plant them like garlic. They are arguably easier to grow than onions.

[@cynthiadoe3096]

First time growing shallots and am excited to have scapes! I can’t wait until they open and then harvest!

[@debrasfrugallife3703]

Cool I'm trying them out this year plus some white pearl onions

[@Grow3Glow]

I love how you came crawling out of the plants classic !!

[@everlastinglife5978]

Squash are awesome. They produce a lot, the bees love them, and they shade out weeds.

[@anne-mareescott5918]

Perpetual spinach and rainbow chard. They grow so well in my cool climate and don’t stop producing. Pick young leaves to add to a salad. Chop the stalks and cook in a stir fry, or add to soups and stews along with the chopped leaves. Dehydrate or freeze the leaves to add to soups and curries later. Chickens love the older leaves.

[@acatinthegarden]

Must grow for me is asparagus! So easy to grow and comes back year after year.

[@Doc1855]

We can’t get asparagus to grow. 😐

[@wendycash54]

Just bought asparagus this year to try.

[@shelahogletree7711]

Hands down asparagus is my favorite! It comes up early, by itself, just when we need the vitamins most after a long winter Next is blueberries 🫐. Both hardly require any care.

[@Smileface68]

Tips on dealing with asparagus beetles?

[@sarahj2607]

Here are mine up in Toronto- tomatoes, zucchini, kale, Swiss chard, pole beans( literally still using beans that were from my grandpa 20 years ago- we call them ‘grandpa’s beans) beets, a herb garden and a variety of hot peppers!

[@FubarKen]

As a southerner you missed black/pink eyed peas, butter beans, and okra. All southern staples, easy to grow, low input, and high returns. Also I would replace kale with collards. 100% agree on tomatoes, squash, potatoes, and garlic.

[@Doc1855]

Our growing season isn’t hot or long enough to grow Okra 😢 When I’m cooking down my greens, I cook Collards, Turnip greens, Mustard greens and Swiss Chard together with 2-3 heaping Tablespoons of bacon grease, salt and pepper. About 10 minutes before pulling the greens off the stove, I put fresh Garlic in. Sweet onions are also good but add them about the same time you add the Garlic, so they’re still crunchy . Try it. I think you’ll like it.

[@j.l.emerson592]

I didn't miss much. I was actually listing mostly calorie & storage crops. Okra & leafy greens don't have much to offer in the way of calories. The low calorie crops that I did list were mostly for flavoring other foods... Some of the others are for morale or for trade. If you plan to grow most of your own food, you need to be aware of appetite fatigue. That usually happens to the elderly or very young children. When the foods you serve become repetitive, some people will begin to eat less. So if you add sweet crops like melons or other types of fruits, it helps to revive their interest in eating. Also, try to stay away from serving the same meals all the time. "Variety is the spice of life".

[@FubarKen]

@@j.l.emerson592 cow peas in general helped people survive in the south for a long way back. Okra is just a personal favorite. Dark leafy greens are high in vitamins. Collards are usually passed over for mustard or spinach but are much easier to grow large crops in some climates. Wasn't disrespecting your list just a thought on some staple crops from a different region.

[@j.l.emerson592]

@ken cannon: I didn't think you were disrespecting my list at all. To each their own, everyone has individual tastes. However, if you look at my list again, you'll see the legumes that you listed are also on my list. Butter beans are my 2nd favorite bean, just behind pinto beans! There are so many southern favorites that I could have listed... But the spirit of the list, *in my case*, is foods that can be grown & stored for consumption at a later date.

[@msassi]

Arugula, gem lettuce, radishes, tender herbs like basil, parsley, dill, whatever makes you look like a hero!

[@kirstinmckeown3581]

So, I'm in zone 5a up in Canada, and working on two balconies, so I have space limitations, and the growing season restrictions that Chris mentioned are exacerbated, to put it mildly. Full sun, I always do peas in spring, cherry tomatoes and basil in summer, beans, and leave some space for experiments. My go-to cherry tomato is Sweet Million, from Vesey's, but I'm trying a few others this year (and a currant). I don't stick to determinates because I support the plants up to 5' or so, but then let any excess trail over the edge of the railing. The shade balcony I am still playing with, but I have chives that overwinter in the windowboxes, and I can usually grow enough greens for weekly salads, and sautéed bok choi.

[@matthawkins4579]

I would have to add pickling cucumbers. Love homemade fermented pickles. Oh, and peas...shelling, snap or snow, so sweet and so expensive at the store but a few plants will bear a ton of pods.

[@yvonnesnyder4180]

My "homemade pickle" cucs rocked last year as did the fermented pickles I made. I LOVe my Oregon sugar pods! Exploring pole peas this year.

[@freakinfrugal5268]

I second that emotion! I just learned how to can and made pickles for the first time the other day - I am prouder than the day I got my first masters degree, or the second. Or anything I ever accomplished, which overall is not much. Birthing children and having twins at 47 was maybe a bigger accomplishment that pickles, but after the kids, I am all about those pickles and I am hoping my little baby cucumber plants are gonna come through for mamma this year!

[@mareeploetz5194]

You got a recipe to share?

[@bookmagicroe9553]

I like to grow cucumbers for pickling. Last summer was mostly overcast, drizzly, and the cucumber plants were a bust. Hopefully this summer will be better.

[@lesliehughes9382]

Love the quick-paced mash-up format, hearing from all three Epic Gardeners! Fun vibe in this one! (Also love the long-form informational ones.) ❤️ 🌱 ☀️

[@Jelisson_Gregorov]

Here in Brazil we can plant throughout the year. All those plants you show in the video we plant here, but the most calorically dense are sweet potato and mandioca (cassava).

[@cantnv1]

You did nail it with most of this, except...for me, I'd definitely say CUCUMBERS, and I also have to have BASIL, it's just so easy to grow and nice to smell all the time 😊

[@MsBrown136]

I totally agree with everything you said! Cucumbers and basil were the only plants I was able to fully grow from seed this year. They are so easy to grow and they can harvest early in the season. I'll always grow them.

[@jeremiewampler]

Pumpkins and luffa, always trying to get the big one for the pumpkins and can’t go wrong growing your own sponges

[@joedurkin8953]

We eat 7 to 10 squash as well as zucchini every week all year around. Roasted with garlic and onion. Roasted tomatoes are a must in my home.

[@Doc1855]

WOW, that’s a LOT of squash to eat every week.

[@justme727]

Carrots tomatoes and cucumbers are my favorite plants to grow 🌱☀️

[@kirkgoingham6095]

I planted 1 pack of green onions in my raised bed and now I never have to buy a pack of them again. Definitely throw some in your garden!

[@charleyme]

Here in Newfoundland, Summer Savoury is the signature flavour of roast chicken/turkey dinner (lunch in NL) and chicken /turkey vegetable soup. It's usually sprinkled on top of the bird and it isn't considered a real dressing/stuffing unless it is generously seasoned with savoury. We top dry dressing (essentially breadcrumbs and savoury) and gravy on fries in a classic NL fast food aptly named, Fries, Dressing and Gravy. I tried growing it once with little success but we do have a successful farm on the island, Mt. Scio Farms, that keeps the whole province supplied. Interesting that it is just as popular in Bulgaria.

[@kalamity273]

Cucumbers are a must. We LOOOOVE pickles! Absolutely to the rest you've suggested!

[@Pollypole]

I came for the garden tips, but stayed for the creative pop outs in the beginning of all of these! XD

[@DaZebraffe]

Grains. Not as calorically dense as potatoes, but it's still pretty dang good, and between baked goods, porridge/other hot cereal, and pasta, they're just *ridiculously* versatile. Plus, there are so many types of grains out there that allergies are easy to navigate around. Plenty types of grains that contain no gluten at all, for example.

[@DaZebraffe]

Bonus: The straw that the grain's stalk becomes has numerous uses. In a garden, it makes excellent mulch, or can be used as a great material for building up a potato tower with.

[@got2kittys]

Also, storage can be years for grains. A huge advantage.

[@cristiewentz8586]

I wish I had room. I can cheat some and grow Milo, or foxtail millet as an ornamental in the flower beds...but not much. Dang it.

[@maceyvaughan3498]

I really enjoyed the video format this week. Cycling back and forth between all three of you provided a catchy cadence.

[@melodyhogan9684]

I am in the south- for us it’s okra! The kids love it. It’s plant it and water it occasionally , harvest harvest harvest seed save and do it again! I don’t have to even think about it.

[@joshuaworth243]

love the humor in this video! the potato explosions are the best, and the beginning is so relatable lol!

[@frankendoll1455]

Same!!!!! I've grown Cherokee tomatoes for years!!! My over all absolute favorite tomato 🍅!!!!😋

[@epicgardening]

Can't beat it

[@simongloutnez589]

I'd say if you live in a northern climate a no brainer would be a few varieties of onions since they dont mind the cold (2 years ago we actually had 2 FEET of snow that started september 15th and lasted for 3 days before it melted, and those onions were doing just fine under that snow haha). In fact we even overwintered half of our leeks (the biger ones ) and collected them in april. Plus onions are somewhat pest free, give them water and your good to go.

[@erikabailey7397]

I was exceedingly jealous of the sharpness of your tool when handling the garlic.

[@ZeroLovesCiel]

I cackled when you came crawling out of the squash!! I'm going to keep a close eye to see where you pop out of next XD

[@ffs6158]

I had great success planting elephant garlic I bought at the store last year, I live in a dry 9b climate and it outperformed the regular garlic 100%. Between winds, gophers and a bit of neglect on my behalf, I got nice full bulbs last month. I can't believe okra is not on your list! It is one of the most productive, hardy crops I've ever grown.

[@magesalmanac6424]

I’m trying to do the same. How often do you water? My garlic never makes it 😭

[@Relax4TheEnvironment]

Agreed, Okra is great. It is great for beginners, because it grows a lot, and is very hardy.

[@ffs6158]

@@magesalmanac6424 I planted near the end of October and I watered every week or so, we got more rain than normal so that helped a little. When it warmed up in the spring though I was pretty neglectful watering, I thought they were dead because winds knocked them over and gopher activity and ignored it for a while. Then I noticed it was still green and went back to watering weekly. The regular garlic I planted with it gave very small bulbs (although I didn't let them go the full 9 months so that could be it), but the elephant did excellent, with really deep roots. So my advice would be maybe give them some support for wind, and just give them a good deep soaking once a week, just make sure its not soggy, they seemed to like the good drainage of the compost I had on top and the clay thats about 4 inches down. Good luck!!!

[@Doc1855]

When planting Garlic, wrap then with chicken wire or a small holed wire so the gophers can’t eat them.

[@cindycollins4040]

Tried it many times, a total failure, from BC Canada

[@lydia5385]

Great video, I like that you had 3 different persectives. I think one major one missing was onions. Since I started growing them I won't ever not grow them. That is if you have space. Because they need it. Like garlic, onions go with everything. I've got 4 different varieties this year. Also, strawberries the everbearing kind. They are always expensive in the store and part of the dirty dozen when it comes to pestiside use on them. my 9- potatoes, onions, garlic, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, strawberries, herbs( ha more than one here) and peppers, oh darned lettuce. so 10 ok I can't do 9. I could say more, but those really are my must haves. I am starting to grow peas and beans this year, so they may be part of the list in the future. Grow what you eat! I am a new subscriber and have been enjoying your channel. Thank you for sharing your hard work in the garden.

[@mareeploetz5194]

Wondering what you experience is of different styles of onion growing. First year for me growing in higher altitude central Italy… ‘seed’ onion planted in November did poorly, later a bit better, nursery stock seedling outstanding red salad variety. Haven’t tried direct seedling though.

[@lydia5385]

@@mareeploetz5194 this year I have 4 different types. I started my onion seeds 12 weeks before the last frost date. I’m in Washington in the USA. We can have harsh winters here. In fact we are just now warming up and everything is so behind. Anyways, the seeds I started from where an early yellow and red variety. I got sets for a sweet and white variety. Almost all Of my sets either got knocked down prematurely or bolted. So I’m letting some got to seed to harvest. My beloved walla walla sweet onion I have a hard time finding seeds for. From this point on I will probably only start from seed because every time I start from some sort of set I lose most of those. Side note when I start from seed when the onion has two green shoots and reach six+ inches I trim them to two inches. This helps growth and development. This year after transplanting I have some of my seedlings another trim because they seemed to be “heavy”. Those ones are thriving. If that didn’t answer your question let me know!

[@teagan_p_999]

The dirty dozen is scaremongering but there's nothing like fresh berries.

[@anotherplottwist]

OMG Those Cherokee purple tomatoes are possible the best I've ever had, delicious.

[@mothanwrdz]

Cherokee purple tomatoes ARE LIFE! ❤️

[@barbarasimoes9463]

Cherry tomatoes: my neighbor was less than grateful when I brought a bunch over for her, so I said to myself, "Never again!" I got out the dehydrator, sliced them in half, and every day I would dry them. This reduced their bulk considerably; what would have been a five gallon pail reduced to a gallon Ziplock baggie. Sweet as candy. I'm so glad my neighbor couldn't be bothered to call out a thank you after I'd cleaned and delivered them! Basil and Parsley: I make pesto with these all through the summer, and then when winter rolls around, I have wonderful meals that are already mostly made. I freeze them in cup containers, which works perfectly with a package of pasta or thrown in with rice as it's cooking! I also mince up the parsley and use in potato dishes or anything calling for fresh parsley. Asparagus: I planted 50+ crowns two years ago. The work is done, and all I have to do is harvest. It is beautiful after it goes to fern, and adds a nice backdrop to the garden. I've interplanted it with strawberries to help with weeds, and I got myself a freeze dryer so that I can put a lot aside for winter. This upcoming spring will be the first year that I should be able enough to get my fill; I can't wait! Fruit: every kind that will grow in my zone 5 property: This year, I also treated myself to a steam juicer and was able to take advantage of the grapes I grow. I put aside about 15 quarts of juice, that I mix 1:1 with water. I have pear and apple trees that I make into sauce, and divided my one rhubarb into 14 more plants. 50 blueberries--what was I thinking? I'm looking forward to the kiwi, gooseberries, cherries, hazelnuts, lingonberries, mulberries, bush, tree and Cornell cherries, figs, peach, pawpaws, medlars, etc. to come into their own. I love things that are perennial; in the long run, they save money and effort and there is usually enough that I can give a bit away!

[@TheTinkerersWife]

That purple pole bean is my absolute favorite too! I started saving seed from it that first year because it was so good. It was beautiful and very productive. My beans were on an cattle panel arch which they climbed up and overtop of making a shady spot that was very welcoming in summer's heat. Rhubarb is a must, horseradish and the culinary herbs are a must too. Growing basil saves me a lot of money since I no longer have to buy it at the store and use it a lot. Culinary herbs like rosemary, sage, bay leaf (Laurus nobile), thyme, and oregano are very important too. They are food and medicine, as is garlic and onions. I forgot the Egyptian walking onions...another perennial veg. I'm over the limit with my herbs and didn't mention the edible flowers or tender greens...sigh. This is hard. .

[@Doc1855]

We grow and eat a Lot of yellow Wax beans. They have a natural buttery flavor.

[@1MSally1965]

I grow my cukes, beans on four arched cattle panels. I loooove them! So easy to grow and harvest from!! And I ALWAYS have walking onions! I with you, I probably grow 100 different garden plants, including tea camellia (sinensis), pears, grapes, figs, youpon holly (the only Native American plant containing caffeine), ground cherries, etc. once you start, you can’t stop!!!

[@clohejade2041]

I always have spring onions!! The farmers market near me often throw out spring onions that are damaged, I take them home for free and grow them until the bulb is almost as big as a regular onion!

[@janemyfoodandflowers7726]

I am in zone 6 so here is different. Berries (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, currants), cherry (hardy dwarf hybrid), peaches, apples, pears, persimmon, sea buckthorns and figs (cold hardy types) are very good crop. Others are cucumbers, beans, cherry tomatoes, kales, sweet potatoes (for leaves), potatoes, garlic, cabbages, zucchinis, squash, herbs (different kinds of kitchen herbs, prickly ash and Chinese Toon) and Daikon. I also tried many different edibles for experiments every year, although some experiments will take years to flower and fruit in our zone. :(

[@brianmorris364]

For me it's herbs and cooking spices like garlic, onion, rosemary, basil, oregano, and parsley. Add cherry tomatoes and thornless blackberries and that's my core crops. Herbs cost more than veggies do. I'm lso adding pumpkins, mini pumpkins, marigolds, and sunflowers. Potatoes for the heck of it too. Who doesn't like potatoes? Lol I also grow hot peppers and some carrots too. Just because they're so easy and don't take up a ton of room. Cucumbers and beans if I feel like canning that year.

[@1MSally1965]

A lot of us can’t eat potatoes….I’m diabetic. But I grow sweet potatoes for the leaves In my salad. Also, if you like hot peppers, you should try tobasco peppers, cherry peppers and pepperoncini peppers. I’m going to refrigerator pickle some of them this next summer and I make my own fermented hot sauce with the tobasco peppers. 😋

[@brianmorris364]

@@1MSally1965 I do the same. I grew the others but I'll have to try pepperoncinis I've never grown those and I love them. I eat potatoes in small portions and infrequently ( also diabetic) but I give a lot away. Lol they're always popular.

[@brianmorris364]

@@1MSally1965 never grown Tabasco either but I got a ton last year from a neighbor. I don't care for sweet potatoes but I've heard the greens are nice. Maybe I'll put in a few slips next year if I get any cuttings. I've been meaning to learn to grow those in case produce becomes harder to get and more expensive. Variety is the spice of life!

[@jamesguthrie5232]

I have to grow my onions, here in Texas we get them from Dixondale Farms. Never fail, even if I can't grow them real big, they have great flavor and are in everything I cook.

[@debravogt7139]

I was so excited that my garlic was thriving! It grew tall and started turning brown! I harvested grass! Lol! Back to the drawing board!

[@plumptoiletduck]

Biquinho peppers have such a beautiful sweet, subtle flavour. I grew them successfully in the UK on my balcony.

[@cboyd3469]

Calendula grows almost like a weed. You could plant those seeds in concrete. I love them so much. 🌼

[@mochamommyATX]

YES!

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

I wish...something, probably squirrels but maybe raccoons, eats every calendula bloom.

[@jadencraftgames]

Lol, this is already a cool video. I been growing mostly a ton of peppers.

[@georgeprout42]

I've got 16 varieties of peppers going here in the UK. Used my first jalapeño for tacos tonight (store bought kept me going over winter, was fantastic to have a fresh one) and have a couple of the biquinho variety mentioned in the video at flower stage. Fingers crossed we all get a good crop this year.

[@kchoi10]

Celery! You can use the leaves from the celery stalk in your salads.

[@mattjones2707]

HE CRAWLS OUT OF ANYTHING! 😆

[@renlleod]

Jerusalem artichokes are one of my favourites - just make sure to contain them in a certain area and use the ones that flowers- they can grow up to 4m tall for a nice shady place ☺️

[@feierhou3731]

I live in the Pacific Northwest, and I’d suggest carrots, radishes, and peas! I only have a balcony garden, but I have always been able to grow those!

[@pedromunoz4468]

awesome to see the squad , Yes Herbs , Herbs , Herbs

[@waianaegal744]

I totally wish for a channel for gardening in the high desert areas... I'm 6b but that has nothing to do with the next 4 months of almost total down time for gardening. I'll still watch your channel it's just so inviting.

[@dollybelledendrobium813]

Cherokee Purple are my favorites too!

[@KatesGarden]

We always grow cucumbers, carrots and peas(usually shelling peas). All great for snacking. The crop that I think has saved us the most money is butternut squash. I’m sure our recipe for butternut squash mac & cheese plays a part in that 😂

[@magesalmanac6424]

Butternut Mac and cheese 😳 I need that recipe!

[@KatesGarden]

@@magesalmanac6424 The quick gist of the recipe is cube the butternut and roast with oil, salt and pepper to make it golden brown. Make a home made Mac and cheese recipe in an oven proof skillet and mix in the butternut at the end (also add some kale) top with grated cheese and broil for a couple minutes to melt the cheese. Also, it’s quite kid friendly if you use broccoli instead of kale 😊

[@sutikansalewit]

Peas, carrots & green/wax beans are my top 3

[@alantrebon2290]

I As a gardener in the Pacific Northwest I agree with every sing.e one of these. Especially potatoes, I saved a few from last year and now I have another year of crops.

[@joebodsford1683]

Calendula!! One of my favorites. I've tried to grow it for years but this is the first time they've ever produced flowers. Even though right now they're super small, I'm hoping that they'll grow in size as more and more pop up.

[@Betty-qd8st]

That potato seen was hilarious 🤣

[@sarahseedtostem]

Spaghetti squash is a must for my garden! I LOVE spaghetti squash and watching them climb my trellis tunnel is amazing ❤️

[@danskdna8550]

I bought a bag of potatoes, brought them home, made a cut on them all, buried them about a foot deep, that is it. Works every time.

[@hillaryburdick9313]

Love this video!! This is my third summer gardening, and I have been growing 90% of these (I am planning on trying potatoes and garlic next year). I can attest to the fact that even in the short time I’ve been container gardening (I’m an apartment dweller) these veggies/ herbs are incredible and should be grown every year!

[@celesteisneat]

I think you have to start garlic this year to get it next year. This is my 1st year growing food & I planted a ton of garlic in spring. Turns out I started too early. I’ll plant more in August so that the tops are only about 4 inches tall before winter hits and then they’ll be ready next year. I don’t know what the heck will happen to all my ones I planted prematurely

[@kariec3197]

I'm impressed! I'd love someone to do small spaces gardening videos! They do this so well in Japan too. ;-)

[@wendycash54]

One crop I will always grow are onions. I start them from seed early in spring indoors, then transplant them earlier than most other crops. I usually do a raised bed with 100 or so. I do a sweet onion, and while they don't store well, they freeze beautifully, and I have chopped sweet onions to use in my stews and soups all winter long.

[@freakinfrugal5268]

Have you ever dehydrated them - to save on freezer space? Why don't they store well??

[@EtherealSunset]

Do you just freeze them chopped and raw, or do you blanch them?

[@lindalu8565]

Love these videos with all 3 of you. Why are peppers covered with cloth? Remember that lots of bolting flowers are edible too. Arugula flowers are delicious. Yes to the herbs!

[@lanecountybigfooters5716]

I have an apartment garden and I love growing garlic! Lots of herbs, too. Unfortunately, once upon a time, I also grew mint, Jerusalem artichokes and comfrey... now I have all three, forever! Mint is good for suntea, and the other two are good for compost (and eating the roots, not my fave), but geez! Don't plant things that will get away from you. Lesson learned. My favorite tomatoes are Stupice. They make great salsa fresca!

[@debihediger4760]

Love the Cherokee as well, Black Krim is good 👍🏼 too!

[@debihediger4760]

Love Juliet for flavor & for making salsa & sauce.

[@danfarkas5375]

Epic entrance!

[@carolinemariehecht]

Collard greens all the way! Their beautiful flat leaves make them easy to protect from aphids while other brassicas struggle. They are easy and prolific and super nutritious.

[@jenniferheale2485]

Squash is delightful but so prolific that I only do it every 2 years. Patty pans are my favourite.

[@harney1987]

I have to check out the garlic series. I had no idea it was able to store for that long. In Illinois, it would be so rewarding to have something to still eat from your garden in the winter months.

[@1MSally1965]

It’s so easy. You can even go to a good organic store and get some great types. Take ‘‘em home, break them apart, plant them about an inch deep in the fall. Next summer around July, pull them up and dry them. Then in Aug/Sept I plant them again for the next year. I will probably get about 30 bulbs this year. Nothing likes to eat them here in MD but US! 😂😂😂

[@thepieromancers7090]

I had those Brazilian peppers at a Portuguese restaurant, pickled and preserved in olive oil. So amazing. Just the right amount of heat and a unique lovely flavor. Curiously shaped peppers too.

[@chomama1628]

I call them birds head peppers!

[@RDubdo]

I eat lots of garlic; except for chives it is my favorite allium but I don't plant it anymore. I have so much of it that I always miss harvesting several plants and the following spring I have clusters of garlic coming up all over the garden in addition to the chives that always come back.

[@PorchGardeningWithPassion]

Awesome stuff! Peas, beans, and carrots are 100% must have vegetables for me. Strawberries up here in the PNW are my must grow fruit as well.

[@Relax4TheEnvironment]

I prefer the grape tomatoes, just easier to put in any meal, and very durable. Good selection thought.

[@leighannf.4730]

Do you have a preferred variety?

[@janking2762]

In zone 6b, Juliette is our favorite. A bit light on flavor eaten fresh, but excellent roasted. Highly productive, disease resistant. Fruits can fall onto the ground and still be good days later thanks to their thick skins.

[@Relax4TheEnvironment]

@@leighannf.4730 I like the variety listed. But tomatoes are at the top of my list.

[@Relax4TheEnvironment]

@@janking2762 Yes, those are the ones I grow

[@leighannf.4730]

@@janking2762 Thank you!

[@ranradd]

Thanks, another great list. Two unusual things I like to grow: Shungiku ( Glebionis coronaria - Crown Daisy) delicious, fast growing, long season, either pot or salad greens. Dang Shen (Codonopsis pilosula, perennial) Chinese herb used in TCM. Creates a wall of flowering vines on the back wall of my green house. Both are easy to grow.

[@unemilifleur]

I’m glad you added peppers. I have hot ones, like basket of fire and scorpion (💀) and they produce non stop all summer until fall (I’m from Canada)

[@AWickedLove]

You kill me with the entrances hahaha

[@joysong3900]

First time growing Dwarf Indeterminate tomatoes and loving them!!! Shorter with sturdy thick stems. Lots of purple varieties but my favorite is a striped called Adelaide Festival. Another first time favorite is Cherokee Purple Heart. Looks and tastes like Cherokee Purple but lovely heart-shaped fruits. (All from Victory Seed Co)

[@gsqualla2846]

I really liked the video format you used with this video! I love seeing all the different epic gardeners talk about their tried true and favorites. something we have that we just let grow is our blueberries, raspberries (thornless), and our strawberries it definitely makes the spring and early summer mornings that much better!

[@moirad6579]

SAVORY!!! My favourite herb! Winter savory especially...wonderful in stews and soups 😀😀😀

[@clarencesmith9882]

Based on @Jacques in the Garden's recommendation we are growing the Centercut Squash. We are now harvesting a bounty of deliciousness. We planted them in our raised bed with an olla pot and man they have grown like gangbusters!. They are growing over the top of our 8' trellis. We especially appreciate how problem free they have been for us. Thanks for the great recommendations!

[@sharonspopsandplants359]

Great plants to grow I’m growing tomato and watermelon this year but I hope to have a much bigger area next year to try a lot of different things