Deciding which varieties of seeds to plant isn’t easy. The options are almost limitless. I’m here to help. This post lists my favorite crop varieties; the vegetables, herbs, and flowers I grow that are standouts and perform well season after season.
As I look through the crops in this blog post, I feel I’m introducing you to some of my friends. I hope you like them as much as I do. Check this list each season; I’ll add to it as I include more crops on my must-grow list.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more information.
How to decide which varieties to grow
Crops are divided by category (vegetable, flower, and herb). The reasons I love to grow it are listed, along with a source (if available) for seeds.
Please let me know in the comments if you have any questions or some of your own must-grow crops that I should add to the list.
Vegetable varieties I love growing in my garden
Borlotti Beans
Painted Serpent Armenian Cucumber
Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean
Texas Early Grano Onion
- Large-sized, flavorful
- Favorite short-day onion variety
- Read more about how to grow onions
Pinkeye Purple Hull Cowpeas
Astia Container Zucchini
Utah Celery
Costata Romanesco Summer Squash
Japanese Cucumbers
Super Sugar Snap Peas
- AAS Winner, easy to grow
- Great flavor at any stage, edible pod
- Read about how to grow peas
Imperial Broccoli
Di Ciccio Broccoli
- Small initial head with abundant side shoots
- Grows well through Arizona winters
- Read about how to grow broccoli
Mini Jack Pumpkin
Sugar Snax Carrot
- Easy to grow (especially if you use pelleted seeds)
- Disease-resistant, good flavor, stores well
- Read about how to grow carrots
Hale’s Best Cantaloupe
Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe
California Wonder Peppers
- Reliable producer, prolific
- Large peppers can be harvested green or left to ripen to red
- Read about how to grow peppers
Yukon Gold Potatoes
Yellow Pear Tomatoes
- PLANTING GUIDE: Each month lists vegetables, fruit & herbs to plant outside & seeds to start indoors.
- HARVEST GUIDE: Photos show what may be ready to harvest that month.
- Planting dates are for the low desert of Arizona (zone 9b).
My favorite herb varieties
Emerald Towers Basil
- Excellent flavor and production
- Compact (grows up, not out)
- Read about how to grow basil
Bouquet Dill
Slow Bolt Cilantro
Visual planting guides for vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers & vines.
My favorite must-grow flowers
Sundancer Sunflower
Sweet Pea Perfume Delight
Cherokee Sunset Rudbeckia
- Beautiful blooms in sunset hues
- Easy to grow
- Long-lasting plants and flowers
Queeny Orange Lime Zinnia
- Stunning blooms on long stems
- 2018 All-America Selections winner
- Read about how to grow zinnias
Tecolote Ranunculus
Rainbow Bouquet Dwarf Strawflower
- Cold, heat & drought-tolerant
- Long-lasting blooms
- The compact size is perfect in beds and containers
- Read about how to grow strawflowers
Flowers to Plant Outside & Seeds to Start Indoors Each Month in the Low Desert of Arizona.
• PLANTING GUIDE: Each month lists annual flowers and bulbs to plant outside & seeds to start indoors.
• BLOOMING GUIDE: Photos show what may be in bloom that month.
If this post about my favorite crop varieties to grow was helpful, please share it:
