Home Gardening
Homeowners have discovered that homegrown food fit almost any lifestyle. They also bring fresh flavors to your meals, better than anything you can buy at the grocery store. Growing your own food is a good way to save money that you would be spending on groceries. Not only does growing your own food save on money costs, it also helps you know that the food you are eating is as healthy as possible.
Here is a selection of herbs, fruits, and vegetables for healthy gardening and landscaping. These less demanding plants can be incorporated into a garden setting, grown in raised beds or simply placed in containers just outside the kitchen door.
The list below gives the names of herbs, fruits, and veggies with a brief description of each plant. All plants listed below may not be available as a starter plant or as seeds.
Vegetables | Peppers | Hybrid Tomatoes | Heirloom Tomatoes
Herbs
Basil Genovese ‘Nufar’ - The first Genovese type basil resistant to fusarium wilt, height 18-24”. Same sweet basil taste; plant in full sun.
Catnip - A member of the mint family that makes an excellent companion plant due to its strong aroma that repels pests. Cats love it too, and people use it as a soothing tea. Hardy in zones 3-9.
Chamomile Roman - Feathery foliage with tiny daisy-like flowers. Known for it’s culinary and medicinal uses. Plant in full sun to part shade. Will spread up to 12”. Hardy in zones 4-9.
Chervil - A half hardy annual that grows best in light shade. Chervil looks much like parsley but has a mild anise-like flavor.
Chives ’Common’ - Use in herb butters, on baked potato & in sauces. Makes a nice edging plant for your herb garden. Plant in full sun. They will go dormant in the winter, but are hardy to zone 3!
Chives ’Garlic’ - As you would expect, these chives have a distinct garlic taste. Use as you would common chives. They are hardy to zone 3.
Cilantro - Use this leafy green herb in southwestern and Asian cuisine. Looks a lot like parsley. The seeds of Cilantro are known as Coriander which can add flavor to a wide range of foods such as sausage and marinades.
Curry - Silver needle-like foliage and mustard yellow button-like flowers are an asset in mid-summer, height 2’. Best uses - to add curry ‘flavor’ to rice/vegetable dishes, chicken or egg salad; plant in full sun.
Dill 'Bouquet' - An early maturing dill variety with dark feathered green leaves that produces an intoxicating, tangy aroma. It is easy to grow and is popular for its flavor and uniform foliage. It can be used to enhance salads, soups and more.
Lavender 'English' - Silvery foliage w/ lavender-blue bloom, height 3’. Is used for scenting potpourri/sachet mixtures, and also can be used in a culinary fashion in beverages as well as for pork, fish and chicken dishes. Blooms all season. Hardy in zones 5-9; plant in full sun.
Lemon Balm - Easy to grow and use. Great in iced tea, soups and sauces. Prefers afternoon shade. Hardy in zones 4-9.
Lemon Grass - In Thai cooking use the thick base of the grass. Tea drinkers can steep a few of the long leaves in hot water. Plant in full sun or part shade.
Lemon Verbena - Intense lemon scented herb. Dried or fresh, makes a delicious tea. Also add to stuffing, salads & potpourri. Plant in full sun. Height 3 ft.
Marjoram - Can be used to treat mild coughs and sore throats. It is commonly found in many Greek and Italian cuisines, imparting a warm, aromatic, slightly sharp, and bitterish flavor. Hardy in zones 4-8.
Mint ‘Chocolate’ - Use as you would other mints, but great in iced coffee! Vigorous grower, height 2-3’. Benefits from frequent trimmings. Zones 4-9; plant in full sun to part shade.
Mint ‘Mojito’ - Great mint for sauces & jellies or any recipe calling for Spearmint. Perhaps it’s best use is for making Mint Juleps and Mojito’s!! Hardy in zones 5-11.
Mint ‘Peppermint’ - Best used in teas, iced drinks or as an essential ingredient for the Mediterranean salad “tabouli”. Height 2-3’. Vigorous grower. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4-9.
Mint ‘Pineapple’ - Green & cream variegated foliage. Provides pineapple flavor to teas, jellies and sauces. Full sun to part shade. Height 2-3’. Hardy to zones 4-9.
Mint ‘Spearmint’ - Used in teas, iced drinks or lamb dishes. A vigorous grower, but cutting is encouraged as it will produce flavorful new growth. Height 2-3’. Zones 4-9; plant in full sun to part shade.
Nasturtium ‘Tip Top Alaska Mix’ - Cream & green variegated foliage with gold, red or orange booms. Flowers & distinct foliage make a great garnish. Plant in full sun. Height 12”.
Oregano ‘Golden’ - Mat forming hardy perennial will offer brilliant year-round color; Lime green in shade to bright yellow in full sun. Great for herbal uses, but just as valuable for its colorful foliage. Height 6-8”;
Oregano ’Greek’ - A superior culinary oregano used in Italian, Greek or Mexican cuisine. As an added bonus the white to purple flowers are also edible. Height 15-20”;
Oregano ‘Italian’ - Use it’s leaves fresh or dried to enhance foods, especially Italian dishes. Plant in full sun.
Parsley ‘Curled’ - Not only for the herb garden, curled parsley can add interesting texture to your flower garden as well. Most well known for it’s use as a garnish, but don’t forget it’s flavorful attributes to many dishes. Height 8-10”. Does best in full sun.
Parsley ‘Italian Flat Leaf’ - Bolder flavor than Curled Parsley and a much taller grower at 18-24”. Plant in full sun.
Rosemary officinalis ‘Upright’ - Blueish-green needle-like foliage adds distinct flavor to a variety of foods. Also used for medicinal purposes. It’s upright habit makes it a perfect candidate for topiary or other “formal” pruning techniques. Loves full sun.
Rosemary ‘Tuscan Blue’ - Vigorous upright growth habit. Ideal for use as a fragrant hedge or topiary, can reach 4-6’ in height. A great rosemary for seasoning meats, breads and herbal butter.
Sage ‘Common Garden’ - Add the uniquely flavored leaves to sauces, stuffings, poultry, pork, and sausage. It provides a lovely fragrance and flavor to a dish. Grows well in the heat of summer. Plant in full sun. Hardy in zones 5-9.
Sage ‘Purple’ - Same great sage flavor, but dramatic purple foliage. Good in stews and soup, and leaves can be fried and used as a garnish. Plant in full sun.
Stevia - Incredibly sweet leaves are an herbal alternative to sugar. Bushy, high-yielding plants will grow 36” tall. Use leaves fresh or dried. Does best in full sun.
Tarragon - Its anise-like flavor has been used to treat indigestion and stress, and has the potential to reduce blood sugar, inflammation and pain, while improving sleep, appetite and heart health. It goes well with salmon, chicken, veal, rabbit, eggs and baby vegetables. Hardy in zones 4-9
Thyme ‘Common’ - Best thyme for culinary use. Great in cooked dishes as well as for use in herb vinegar & butters. Height 4-5”; Full sun.
Thyme ‘Golden Lemon’ - Bright golden edged foliage provides ornamental value to the garden in addition to it’s lemon flavor. Height 8-10”; Zones 5-9. Plant in full sun.
Valerian - Its leaves and have a sedative effect when used in tea. Hardy in zones 4-9.
Beans - There are many varieties of beans and they are typically a long and slender vegetable with green pods, and can be eaten raw or cooked to different degrees of tenderness and added to a variety of food dishes such as salads, soups, stews, and casseroles.
Broccoli - A fast-growing plant that grows 24–35" tall. Its dense green clusters of flower buds can be enjoyed both raw and cooked.
Cantaloupe - A soft peach-colored flesh that has a distinctive aroma and sweet smooth musky flavor. They are smaller than watermelons and have a coarsely netted skin.
Eggplant ‘Black Beauty’ - Bushy spreading 24-28” plant with 4-6” oval purple skinned fruits. High quality with fine flavor.
Eggplant ‘Patio Baby’ - High-yielding, compact variety with 2-3” purple skinned fruits. Early producing with a wide harvest window. Thornless plants make for easy harvest. Well suited for containers as well as the traditional garden.
Kale ‘Redbor’ - Finely curled deep red leaves makes a beautiful ornamental or edible plant. 14-18” tall.
Kale lacinato ‘Dinosaur’ - Crinkly blue-green strap-like leaves. For culinary & ornamental use. Winter hardy!!
Swiss Chard Bright Lights - Uniquely colored variety with stems of yellow, gold, orange, pink and violet. Mild in flavor. For edible and ornamental use.
Watermelon - Watermelon has smooth, green skin, and dark-pink juicy flesh with dark brown to black, flat glossy seeds. Seedless varieties are available. Skin color varies with variety; some varieties have pale green skins and/or stripes.
Pepper ‘Basket of Fire’ - Well-rounded cascading plants are covered with plenty of spicy hot peppers. Great for container growing or hanging baskets! 80,000 Scoville Heat Units.
Pepper ‘California Wonder’ - 4-lobed, smooth, blocky fruit. Ripens from green to red. Sweet tasting.
Pepper ’Cayenne Long Slim’ - Wrinkled and thin walled, green to red fruits. Excellent for processing. Hot with slight sweet flavor. Pungency rating 3,500-5,000 Scoville Heat Units.
Pepper ‘ Cute Stuff Red’ - Apple shaped mini bell variety. High yielding. Great for eating fresh or for stuffing.
Pepper ‘Habanero Orange’ - Thin walled fruit wrinkles at maturity. 150,000-325,000 Scoville Heat Units.
Pepper ‘ Habanero Red’ - Short wrinkled green fruits on 14-18” plants. Fruits turn red at maturity and pack a searing heat!! 350,000-575,000 Scoville Heat Units.
Pepper ‘Hungarian Sweet’ - Sweet Banana Pepper. Tapered yellow fruit with thin wall. Used mostly for pickling.
Pepper Hungarian Hot - Light yellow to dark red tapered 5-1/2” long fruits. Pungency rating 2,000-4,000 Scoville Heat Units.
Pepper ‘Jalapeno’ - Deep green, maturing to red. Tapered fruit has thick flesh and are very hot. 2500-6000 Scoville Units.
Pepper ‘Marconi Red’ - Italian heirloom variety. Large sweet red fruits. These 12” long peppers are excellent eating, fresh or dried.
Pepper Poblano - Large chili type, Dark green to brown 5” long fruits. Great for stuffing. Pungency rating 600-1800 Scoville Heat Units.
INTERESTING NOTE In 1912, Wilbur Scoville, a pharmacist, devised the first modern technique for measuring a pepper’s bite. The measure is still used today by spice companies and sauce manufacturers everywhere. To understand the scope of this rating system; Bell peppers are the least “hot” at “0” Scoville Units (SHU)and Mexican Habanero peppers are rated at 350,000 units. Habanero peppers were previously ranked as the hottest pepper in the world. But, in November of 2013 the ‘Carolina Reaper’ Pepper measuring 2,200,000 SHU has surpassed the Habanero as well as the previous title holder the ‘Trinidad Moruga Scorpion’ and is now considered the “Hottest Pepper” in the world!!
Tomatoes
Big Beef - Large 10-12 oz. fruit. Beefsteak type tomato, great for slicing.
Big Boy - Large 8-9 oz. fruit with thick walls & smooth skin; good yields. Great juicy flavor.
Celebrity - Large, glossy 8 oz fruits.
Early Girl - One of the earliest slicing varieties, produces 8 oz. fruits all summer long.
Homeslice - Round red slicer has true tomato flavor. Early, very productive variety. Small plants are suitable for containers and small gardens.
Husky Red - Early maturity, good yields of 7-8 oz. vibrant red fruit. Excellent flavor. Fruits all season until frost.
Husky Cherry Red - Good yields of sweet flavorful fruit in large clusters. 1” diameter; 3-5 oz. fruit.
La Roma - 5-8 oz fruits. Great for eating fresh or for making sauces.
Rapunzel - Unique, long cascading trusses hold up to 40 very sweet, bright red cherry tomatoes per truss!!
Red Robin - Dwarf variety, 8-12” tall. Thrives in small pots or hanging baskets. Produces masses of 1-1/4” sweet cherry type tomatoes.
Sun Gold - Beautiful golden orange fruits, borne in large clusters, ½ oz. fruits.
Sweet 100 - Bears abundant 1 inch fruits in clusters on long branches.
Tidy Treats - Tons of fruit on compact plants! Good for small spaces and containers. Produces red cherry tomatoes all season long!
Tomatoberry - Garden Strawberry shaped fruits have a superior sweet taste & aroma. Produces high yields of bite-size fruits.
Brandywine Red - Deep pink skinned fruit with red flesh. Distinctive “spicy” taste. Fruit can weigh up to 2 pounds.
Cherokee Purple - Purplish-pink 6-12 oz. Fruit, sweet in flavor.
Tomato nutrition facts: Tomato, a nutritious fruit commonly used as a vegetable, is another wonderful gift of Mayans. The humble vegetable has grabbed the attention of millions of health seekers for its incredible phytochemical properties. Interestingly, it has more health-benefiting properties than that in an apple! Tomatoes are one of the low-calorie vegetables containing just 18 calories per 100 g and just 5 mg of sodium. They are also very low in any fat contents and have zero cholesterol levels. Nonetheless, they are excellent sources of antioxidants, dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins.