A pile of white stalks with long green leaves and white roots, on top of a straw surface with two leaves on the left side

Growing Guide: Leeks

Leeks have been used as a culinary crop for at least 4,000 years. Enjoy this historic allium in your garden and try your hand at biennial seed saving.

A round green vegetable with green stems protruding from its sides and top, over a straw surface

Growing Guides

Growing Guide: Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi, sometimes called German turnip or turnip cabbage, was developed by selection for an enlarged edible stem.

A group of dark yellow ground cherries with tan papery husks on a rock surface

Growing Guides

Growing Guide: Ground Cherry

Commonly known as ground cherry, dwarf cape gooseberry, and strawberry tomato, this plant produces a small, yellow, edible berry surrounded by a papery husk.

White garlic bulbs with red-purple stripes.

Growing Guides

Growing Guide: Garlic

This culinary staple is rarely propagated from seeds. Instead a few aromatic bulbs of garlic are saved from the harvest and replanted year after year.

A pile of purple vegetables with green stems and leaves

Growing Guides

Growing Guide: Eggplant

Eggplant can be a beautiful addition to your garden. Eggplant enjoy a long growing season, but you can extend your season by starting plants indoors.

A small group of brown and white speckled beans over a dark gray wood surface

Growing Guides

Growing Guide: Cowpeas

Although cowpea is a well known garden plant in the South, this crop deserves more attention across the country. Its long, slender pods are filled with a prolific number of seeds.

A pile of whole green cucumbers with short green stems, and a few round cucumber slices

Growing Guides

Growing Guide: Cucumber

Cucumbers grow well in many regions of the United States, producing prolific quantities of fruit that can be enjoyed fresh or preserved as pickles.

A pile of leafy greens on a dirt surface

Growing Guides

Growing Guide: Collards

While collard greens have traditionally been enjoyed in the American South, this hearty Brassica oleracea plant grows well in many regions around the United States.

A group of orange carrots with green stems and some dirt

Growing Guides

Growing Guide: Carrot

When planting carrots, be aware that they can be finicky in the early part of the season. Carrots are biennials, producing seed after two years of growth, but the reward is well worth the effort.

A pile of multi-colored potatoes ranging from small to large and from light yellow to deep red

Growing Guides

Growing Guide: Potatoes

This versatile crop originated in South America centuries ago and today ranks as the most popular vegetable in the United States. Cool-season vegetables, potatoes come in a great range of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures and are grown from small tubers known as “seed potatoes”.