Tomatograph

Plants library

Every plant and lawn type Tomatograph supports

Sun and water needs, frost tolerance, spacing, soil pH, companion planting, and pests — sourced from Kew's WCVP, USDA Plants, GBIF, and OpenFarm.

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67 plants

Artichoke

Artichoke

Globe Artichoke, French Artichoke

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 85–100 days
  • pH: 7.5–8
  • Companions: Sunflower, Tarragon, Peas
  • Watch for: Aphids, Slugs
  • Perennial in zones 7–11; grown as annual elsewhere. Needs winter cold (vernalization) to trigger bud formation — start indoors 8–10 weeks be…
Arugula

Arugula

Rocket, Rucola

  • Light: Partial sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 25–45 days
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Lettuce, Radish, Spinach
  • Watch for: Flea Beetle, Aphids
  • One of the fastest salad greens — harvest as baby leaves in 25 days or mature leaves in 40 days. Spicy peppery flavor intensifies in heat. B…
Asparagus

Asparagus

Garden Asparagus, Sparrow Grass

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 730–1095 days
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Tomato, Parsley, Basil
  • Watch for: Asparagus Beetle, Aphids
  • Long-term investment — plant crowns (1-year-old roots) in spring, 8" deep in trenches. Do not harvest at all in year 1; harvest sparingly in…
Basil

Basil

Sweet Basil, Thai Basil

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 25–35 days
  • Spacing: 30 cm
  • pH: 6.5–7
  • Companions: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce
  • Watch for: Aphids, Japanese Beetle
  • Extremely frost-sensitive; don't plant until night temps stay above 50°F. Pinch flower heads as soon as they appear to maintain leaf product…
Bay Laurel

Bay Laurel

Bay Leaf, Sweet Bay

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 365–730 days
  • pH: 5.5–6.5
  • Companions: Rosemary, Sage, Thyme
  • Watch for: Scale Insect, Aphids
  • Slow-growing evergreen tree/shrub, hardy in zones 8–10. In colder zones, grow in a large pot and bring indoors when frost threatens. Leaves…
Beet

Beet

Beetroot, Red Beet

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 50–70 days
  • Spacing: 10 cm
  • pH: 7.5–8
  • Companions: Garlic, Onion, Lettuce
  • Watch for: Leafminer, Aphids
  • Direct sow 4–6 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost once established. Each 'seed' is actually a cluster of 2–4 seeds — thin to 3–4…
Bell Pepper

Bell Pepper

Sweet Pepper, Capsicum

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 70–90 days
  • Spacing: 45 cm
  • Companions: Basil, Carrot, Tomato
  • Watch for: Aphids, Thrips
  • Needs warm soil (65°F+) at transplant. Requires consistent moisture but excellent drainage. Stake in windy sites. Slow to start — patience p…
Blackberry

Blackberry

Thorny Blackberry, Thornless Blackberry

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 365–730 days
  • Companions: Garlic, Marigold, Chives
  • Watch for: Raspberry Beetle, Aphids
  • Vigorous canes need a sturdy trellis system. Like raspberries, blackberries fruit on second-year canes — cut out canes that have fruited aft…
Blueberry

Blueberry

Highbush Blueberry, Lowbush Blueberry

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 730–1460 days
  • pH: 4.7–7.5
  • Companions: Strawberry, Rhododendron, Azalea
  • Watch for: Blueberry Maggot, Aphids
  • Requires very acidic soil (pH 4.5–5.5) — test and amend with sulfur before planting. Plant two or more varieties for cross-pollination and l…
Bok Choy

Bok Choy

Pak Choi, Chinese Cabbage

  • Light: Partial sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 45–60 days
  • pH: 5–8
  • Companions: Lettuce, Spinach, Carrot
  • Watch for: Flea Beetle, Aphids
  • Fast-growing cool-season brassica. Direct sow or transplant in early spring or late summer/fall. Bolts rapidly in heat or long days — spring…
Borage

Borage

Starflower, Bee Bush

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 50–70 days
  • pH: 6.5–7
  • Companions: Tomato, Strawberry, Squash
  • Watch for: Aphids, Slug
  • Annual herb with stunning blue star-shaped edible flowers. Excellent companion plant — deters tomato hornworm and cabbage worms, attracts po…
Broccoli

Broccoli

Calabrese, Sprouting Broccoli

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 60–100 days
  • Spacing: 45 cm
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Onion, Garlic, Lettuce
  • Watch for: Cabbage Worm, Aphids
  • Cool-season crop — matures best in fall (transplant late summer) or early spring. Head quality degrades rapidly in heat (turns yellow). Harv…
Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprout, Baby Cabbage

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: High water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 90–130 days
  • Spacing: 60 cm
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Onion, Garlic, Lettuce
  • Watch for: Cabbage Worm, Aphids
  • Longest-season brassica — start transplants in early summer for fall harvest. Flavor intensifies dramatically after frost. To promote larger…
Cabbage

Cabbage

Green Cabbage, Red Cabbage

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: High water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 70–120 days
  • Spacing: 45 cm
  • Companions: Onion, Garlic, Dill
  • Watch for: Cabbage Worm, Aphids
  • Direct-seed or transplant 6–8 weeks before last frost. Firm heads by withholding water near maturity — but avoid stress after heading starts…
Carrot

Carrot

Nantes Carrot, Chantenay Carrot

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 65–85 days
  • Spacing: 5 cm
  • pH: 6.5–7
  • Companions: Onion, Leek, Lettuce
  • Watch for: Carrot Fly, Aphids
  • Requires loose, deep, rock-free soil — compaction causes forking. Sow directly 2–4 weeks before last frost; don't transplant. Thin to 2–3" —…
Cauliflower

Cauliflower

White Cauliflower, Purple Cauliflower

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: High water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 65–100 days
  • Spacing: 45 cm
  • Companions: Onion, Garlic, Lettuce
  • Watch for: Cabbage Worm, Aphids
  • Most demanding brassica — needs consistent water, fertility, and cool temperatures. Blanch white varieties by tying outer leaves over the he…
Celeriac

Celeriac

Celery Root, Turnip-Rooted Celery

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: High water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 110–140 days
  • pH: 6.5–7
  • Companions: Leek, Onion, Pea
  • Watch for: Celery Fly, Slug
  • Requires a very long season — start indoors 10–12 weeks before last frost. Grows the swollen root base, not celery stalks. Remove lateral ro…
Celery

Celery

Pascal Celery, Leaf Celery

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: High water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 100–130 days
  • pH: 6.5–7
  • Companions: Leek, Tomato, Cabbage
  • Watch for: Celery Fly, Aphids
  • One of the most demanding vegetables — needs rich soil, consistent moisture, and cool temperatures. Start indoors 10–12 weeks before last fr…
Chives

Chives

Common Chives, Onion Chives

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 60–90 days
  • pH: 7.5–8
  • Companions: Carrot, Tomato, Apple
  • Watch for: Aphids, Thrips
  • Hardy perennial for zones 3–9. One of the easiest herbs to grow. Harvest by cutting leaves to 2" above soil; regrows within 2–3 weeks. Edibl…
Cilantro

Cilantro

Coriander, Chinese Parsley

  • Light: Partial sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 45–70 days
  • Spacing: 15 cm
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Lettuce, Pea, Spinach
  • Watch for: Aphids, Spider Mite
  • Direct sow — doesn't transplant well. Bolts (flowers) rapidly in heat or long days; choose slow-bolt varieties for summer. Sow every 3–4 wee…
Cucumber

Cucumber

Slicing Cucumber, Pickling Cucumber

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: High water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 50–70 days
  • Spacing: 30 cm
  • Companions: Dill, Lettuce, Pea
  • Watch for: Cucumber Beetle, Aphids
  • Direct sow after last frost or start 3–4 weeks early. Provide trellis for vining types. Water consistently at soil level — wet foliage cause…
Dill

Dill

Dill Weed, Garden Dill

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 40–60 days
  • Spacing: 15 cm
  • Companions: Cucumber, Lettuce, Onion
  • Watch for: Aphids, Tomato Hornworm
  • Direct sow — doesn't transplant well. Attracts beneficial insects (lacewings, parasitic wasps). Bolts quickly in heat; stagger sowings every…
Eggplant

Eggplant

Aubergine, Brinjal

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 65–85 days
  • Spacing: 60 cm
  • Companions: Basil, Pepper, Tomato
  • Watch for: Flea Beetle, Aphids
  • Needs the warmest spot in the garden — soil above 65°F. Very frost-sensitive; transplant 2–3 weeks after last frost. Row covers help young p…
Endive

Endive

Curly Endive, Escarole

  • Light: Partial sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 70–95 days
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Lettuce, Carrot, Radish
  • Watch for: Aphids, Slug
  • Bitter salad green related to chicory. Best grown for fall harvest from late summer transplants — heat causes excessive bitterness. Blanch p…
Fennel

Fennel

Sweet Fennel, Common Fennel

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 65–90 days
  • pH: 7.5–8
  • Companions: Dill
  • Watch for: Aphids, Swallowtail Caterpillar
  • Perennial in mild climates; grown as annual in cold zones. Allelopathic — inhibits growth of many vegetables, especially tomatoes and beans.…
Florence Fennel

Florence Fennel

Finocchio, Bulb Fennel

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 65–90 days
  • Companions: Dill
  • Watch for: Aphids, Swallowtail Caterpillar
  • Grown for its swollen, anise-flavored bulb. Direct sow in early spring (bolts in heat) or late summer for fall harvest. Keep away from tomat…
Garlic

Garlic

Hardneck Garlic, Softneck Garlic

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 240–270 days
  • Spacing: 10 cm
  • pH: 7.5–8
  • Companions: Tomato, Carrot, Lettuce
  • Watch for: Thrips, Onion Fly
  • Plant individual cloves in fall (4–6 weeks before ground freezes) for summer harvest. Needs vernalization (cold period) to develop bulbs. Re…
Gooseberry

Gooseberry

European Gooseberry, American Gooseberry

  • Light: Partial sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 730–1095 days
  • pH: 5.5–6.5
  • Companions: Tomato, Garlic, Chives
  • Watch for: Gooseberry Sawfly, Aphids
  • Hardy bush for zones 3–8. Prefers cool summers — struggles in hot, humid climates. Plant bare-root bushes in late winter. Prune to an open g…
Green Bean

Green Bean

Snap Bean, String Bean

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 50–70 days
  • Spacing: 15 cm
  • pH: 6.5–7
  • Companions: Carrot, Corn, Cucumber
  • Watch for: Bean Beetle, Aphids
  • Direct sow after last frost — beans resent transplanting. Bush types produce all at once (good for preserving); pole types produce continuou…
Hot Pepper

Hot Pepper

Chili Pepper, Cayenne

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 70–100 days
  • Spacing: 45 cm
  • Companions: Basil, Carrot, Tomato
  • Watch for: Aphids, Thrips
  • More heat-tolerant than bell peppers; actually produces more capsaicin under moderate drought stress. Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before…
Kale

Kale

Curly Kale, Lacinato Kale

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 50–80 days
  • Spacing: 45 cm
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Onion, Garlic, Carrot
  • Watch for: Cabbage Worm, Aphids
  • One of the most cold-hardy vegetables — flavor improves after frost. Harvest outer leaves from bottom up; plant produces for months. Start t…
Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi

German Turnip, Turnip Cabbage

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 45–65 days
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Onion, Lettuce, Beet
  • Watch for: Cabbage Worm, Aphids
  • Direct sow or transplant 4–6 weeks before last frost. The edible part is the swollen stem, not a root. Harvest when bulb is 2–3" in diameter…
Leek

Leek

Autumn Leek, Summer Leek

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 100–150 days
  • Spacing: 15 cm
  • Companions: Carrot, Celery, Onion
  • Watch for: Thrips, Onion Fly
  • Start indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost. Transplant into 6" deep trenches; gradually fill in soil (hilling) as plants grow to blanch and…
Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm

Balm, Melissa

  • Light: Partial sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 60–80 days
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Tomato, Squash, Vegetables
  • Watch for: Aphids, Spider Mite
  • Hardy perennial for zones 3–9 that self-seeds prolifically — deadhead flowers to prevent spreading. Thrives in partial shade; tolerates poor…
Lettuce

Lettuce

Head Lettuce, Loose Leaf Lettuce

  • Light: Partial sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 40–75 days
  • Spacing: 30 cm
  • Companions: Carrot, Radish, Pea
  • Watch for: Aphids, Slug
  • Cool-season crop tolerating light frost. Shade in afternoon heat prevents bolting. Sow every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest (cut-and-come-…
Marigold

Marigold

French Marigold, African Marigold

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 45–60 days
  • Companions: Tomato, Pepper, Cucumber
  • Watch for: Spider Mite, Aphids
  • One of the best companion plants in the garden — French marigolds (Tagetes patula) excrete thiophene compounds from roots that deter nematod…
Marjoram

Marjoram

Sweet Marjoram, Knotted Marjoram

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 60–90 days
  • pH: 7.5–8
  • Companions: Oregano, Basil, Sage
  • Watch for: Aphids, Spider Mite
  • Perennial in zones 9–10; grown as annual elsewhere. Related to oregano but with a sweeter, more delicate flavor. Needs well-drained soil and…
Mint

Mint

Spearmint, Peppermint

  • Light: Partial sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 60–90 days
  • pH: 6.5–7
  • Companions: Tomato, Cabbage, Pea
  • Watch for: Aphids, Spider Mite
  • Plant in containers or use root barriers — mint spreads aggressively by underground runners and will take over beds. Thrives in partial shad…
Nasturtium

Nasturtium

Garden Nasturtium, Tropaeolum

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 35–55 days
  • Companions: Cucumber, Squash, Beans
  • Watch for: Aphids, Caterpillar
  • Edible ornamental — flowers, leaves, and seed pods are all edible with a peppery flavor. Excellent trap crop for aphids; plant near brassica…
Okra

Okra

Lady's Finger, Gumbo

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 50–65 days
  • Companions: Basil, Pepper, Marigold
  • Watch for: Aphids, Whitefly
  • Thrives in heat — plant only after soil reaches 65°F. Soak seeds overnight to improve germination. Harvest pods at 3–4" every 2 days — pods…
Onion

Onion

Yellow Onion, Red Onion

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 90–150 days
  • Spacing: 10 cm
  • Companions: Carrot, Beet, Lettuce
  • Watch for: Thrips, Onion Fly
  • Long-day varieties for latitudes above 36°N; short-day for southern regions. Start from transplants or sets for earlier bulbing. Bulbing is…
Oregano

Oregano

Common Oregano, Greek Oregano

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 70–90 days
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Tomato, Pepper, Basil
  • Watch for: Aphids, Spider Mite
  • Vigorous perennial herb hardy in zones 4–10. Flavor is most intense in hot, dry conditions with lean soil — rich soil and excess water produ…
Parsley

Parsley

Curly Parsley, Flat-Leaf Parsley

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 75–90 days
  • Spacing: 20 cm
  • pH: 5.5–6.5
  • Companions: Tomato, Carrot, Asparagus
  • Watch for: Aphids, Carrot Fly
  • Biennial grown as annual. Slow to germinate (14–28 days) — soak seeds overnight. Start indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost or direct sow 4–…
Pea

Pea

Garden Pea, English Pea

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 55–80 days
  • Spacing: 5 cm
  • pH: 6.5–7
  • Companions: Carrot, Cucumber, Lettuce
  • Watch for: Aphids, Pea Moth
  • Cool-season crop — sow 6–8 weeks before last frost (soil 45°F). Provide trellis for climbing types. Peas fix nitrogen; don't overfeed nitrog…
Potato

Potato

White Potato, Russet Potato

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 60–120 days
  • pH: 7.5–8
  • Companions: Horseradish, Beans, Corn
  • Watch for: Colorado Potato Beetle, Aphids
  • Plant certified seed potatoes 4–6 weeks before last frost. Hill soil around stems as they grow, keeping tubers covered (light exposure turns…
Pumpkin

Pumpkin

Carving Pumpkin, Pie Pumpkin

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: High water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 90–120 days
  • Spacing: 90 cm
  • Companions: Corn, Green Bean, Nasturtium
  • Watch for: Squash Vine Borer, Squash Bug
  • Plant in hills (3–4 seeds per hill) after last frost with 6–8 ft between hills. Needs 90–120 frost-free days. Water at base to avoid mildew…
Radish

Radish

French Breakfast Radish, Cherry Belle

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 22–35 days
  • Spacing: 5 cm
  • pH: 5–5.5
  • Companions: Carrot, Cucumber, Lettuce
  • Watch for: Flea Beetle, Aphids
  • Fastest-maturing vegetable — excellent for impatient gardeners and interplanting. Sow directly every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest. Bolts…
Raspberry

Raspberry

Summer Raspberry, Autumn Raspberry

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 365–730 days
  • pH: 5–7.5
  • Companions: Garlic, Chives, Marigold
  • Watch for: Raspberry Beetle, Aphids
  • Plant bare-root canes in early spring. Tie to wire trellis; summer raspberries fruit on second-year canes (primocanes). After harvest, cut a…
Rhubarb

Rhubarb

Garden Rhubarb, Pie Plant

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 365–730 days
  • Companions: Strawberry, Onion, Garlic
  • Watch for: Slug, Aphids
  • Hardy perennial for zones 3–8. Do not harvest stalks at all in year 1; harvest lightly in year 2. From year 3, harvest by pulling/twisting s…
Rosemary

Rosemary

Common Rosemary, Upright Rosemary

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 80–100 days
  • pH: 5–7.5
  • Companions: Sage, Thyme, Cabbage
  • Watch for: Aphids, Spider Mite
  • Mediterranean herb thriving in hot, dry conditions with excellent drainage. Hardy to zone 7 outdoors; bring indoors in colder zones. Prefers…
Sage

Sage

Common Sage, Garden Sage

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 75–90 days
  • pH: 7.5–8
  • Companions: Rosemary, Tomato, Cabbage
  • Watch for: Spider Mite, Aphids
  • Hardy perennial in zones 4–8. Prefers well-drained soil and full sun — excellent drought tolerance once established. Prune back by one-third…
Shallot

Shallot

French Shallot, Banana Shallot

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 90–120 days
  • Companions: Carrot, Tomato, Beet
  • Watch for: Thrips, Onion Fly
  • Plant sets (small bulbs) in early spring or fall. Each set multiplies into a cluster of 4–8 bulbs. Milder and sweeter than onions with a mor…
Spinach

Spinach

Baby Spinach, Savoy Spinach

  • Light: Partial sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 40–60 days
  • Spacing: 15 cm
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Pea, Radish, Lettuce
  • Watch for: Aphids, Leafminer
  • Most cold-hardy leafy green — tolerates hard freezes with row cover. Bolts rapidly in heat/long days. Sow 6 weeks before last frost and agai…
Spring Onion

Spring Onion

Green Onion, Scallion

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 60–80 days
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Carrot, Beet, Tomato
  • Watch for: Thrips, Onion Fly
  • Direct sow in early spring, 4–6 weeks before last frost. Can also be planted in late summer for fall harvest. Succession sow every 3 weeks f…
Strawberry

Strawberry

Garden Strawberry, June-Bearing Strawberry

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 60–90 days
  • pH: 5.5–6.5
  • Companions: Borage, Thyme, Lettuce
  • Watch for: Slug, Aphids
  • Plant in raised beds or matted rows in rich, well-drained soil. Pinch off flowers in year 1 to build plant vigor for year 2. Mulch with stra…
Sunflower

Sunflower

Common Sunflower, Giant Sunflower

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 60–100 days
  • pH: 5.5–7.8
  • Companions: Cucumber, Squash, Corn
  • Watch for: Aphids, Birds
  • Direct sow after last frost in full sun — transplanting disturbs the taproot. Excellent windbreak and shade provider for heat-sensitive crop…
Sweet Corn

Sweet Corn

Corn, Maize

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: High water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 65–90 days
  • Spacing: 30 cm
  • pH: 5.5–7.5
  • Companions: Green Bean, Squash, Cucumber
  • Watch for: Corn Earworm, Aphids
  • Plant in blocks (4+ rows) not single rows for proper wind pollination. Direct sow after last frost 1" deep, 9–12" apart. Needs consistent mo…
Sweet Potato

Sweet Potato

Yam, Kumara

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 90–120 days
  • Companions: Thyme, Parsnip, Dill
  • Watch for: Sweet Potato Weevil, Whitefly
  • Tropical plant requiring long, hot summers — plant slips (rooted cuttings) 2–3 weeks after last frost in warm soil. Black plastic mulch is h…
Swiss Chard

Swiss Chard

Rainbow Chard, Red Chard

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 55–70 days
  • Spacing: 30 cm
  • pH: 7.5–8
  • Companions: Onion, Lettuce, Beet
  • Watch for: Leafminer, Aphids
  • Heat and cold tolerant — one of the most versatile greens. Harvest outer leaves; plant regrows for months. Direct sow 2–4 weeks before last…
Tarragon

Tarragon

French Tarragon, Dragon Herb

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 60–90 days
  • Companions: Basil, Dill, Eggplant
  • Watch for: Aphids, Spider Mite
  • French tarragon (the culinary type) must be propagated from cuttings or division — it rarely sets viable seed. Russian tarragon is seed-grow…
Thyme

Thyme

Common Thyme, Garden Thyme

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Low water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 70–90 days
  • pH: 7.5–8
  • Companions: Rosemary, Sage, Cabbage
  • Watch for: Aphids, Spider Mite
  • Tough, drought-tolerant perennial for zones 4–9. Excellent drainage is essential — overwatering is the main killer. Trim after flowering to…
Tomatillo

Tomatillo

Husk Tomato, Mexican Groundcherry

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 75–100 days
  • Companions: Basil, Carrot, Pepper
  • Watch for: Aphids, Flea Beetle
  • Plant at least two plants for cross-pollination — a single plant will produce very little fruit. Treat like tomatoes: plant after last frost…
Tomato

Tomato

Garden Tomato, Slicing Tomato

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: High water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 60–90 days
  • Spacing: 60 cm
  • pH: 7–7.5
  • Companions: Basil, Carrot, Parsley
  • Watch for: Aphids, Hornworm
  • Plant after last frost when soil reaches 60°F. Stake or cage indeterminate varieties; prune suckers for better airflow. Water deeply and con…
Turnip

Turnip

White Turnip, Purple-Top Turnip

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-hardy
  • Maturity: 35–60 days
  • pH: 5–8
  • Companions: Pea, Lettuce, Garlic
  • Watch for: Flea Beetle, Aphids
  • Cool-season root vegetable sown directly. Spring crop has a narrow window before heat causes bitterness; fall crop is often superior. Harves…
Watermelon

Watermelon

Citrullus, Sugar Baby

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: High water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 75–100 days
  • Spacing: 90 cm
  • Companions: Corn, Nasturtium, Radish
  • Watch for: Cucumber Beetle, Aphids
  • Needs the most heat of any common vegetable — soil must be 70°F+. Start 4 weeks early in short-season climates. Use black plastic mulch to w…
Winter Squash

Winter Squash

Butternut Squash, Acorn Squash

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Medium water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 75–110 days
  • Spacing: 90 cm
  • Companions: Corn, Pea, Nasturtium
  • Watch for: Squash Vine Borer, Squash Bug
  • Needs a long season — start 3–4 weeks early indoors in short-season climates. Vines can spread 6–10 ft; allow space or train onto trellis. C…
Zucchini

Zucchini

Courgette, Summer Squash

  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: High water
  • Frost: Frost-sensitive
  • Maturity: 45–65 days
  • Spacing: 90 cm
  • Companions: Corn, Pea, Nasturtium
  • Watch for: Squash Vine Borer, Squash Bug
  • One of the fastest-producing vegetables. Direct sow 1" deep after last frost. Give each plant 4–6 ft of space. Hand-pollinate if bees are sc…