Warning: this is the complete list of vegetable varieties I'm growing this year! This does not include flower varieties. That's another post for another day. (Probably tomorrow because I'm so giddy for this next growing season I almost can't take it.)
But back to the topic at hand. Vegetables.
I'm often asked: “Shaye, do you only grow heirlooms?”
The answer is no. I grow heirlooms and hybrids both. Taste is always first for me and if I can accomplish that and good yields (even if it's with a hybrid vegetable) I'm happy to do so.
I'm also often asked: “Shaye, where do you buy your seeds from?”
The answer is mostly Johnny's. I've used them a ton. They're very reliable. Through the years, I've had great experience with their quality, shipping, germination, and varieties. Not to say there aren't other great seed companies out there, because there are. There. I covered my bases.
Last year, through an unfortunate greenhouse leak in my beautiful greenhouse, my entire container of leftover seeds got drenched. They sprouted before I even found them! It was a stinky mess. Needless to say, I wrote myself a note in my gardening journal that read “ORDER ALL NEW SEEDS IN 2020 YOU FOOL.” So I listened to myself and I did! Sometimes I'm so awesome.
Truth be told, I ordered my seeds really late last year and missed out on a lot of great varieties that had sold out. Noooo. Sometimes I'm really not awesome. If you're looking to stock up, now is a great time to do so. You'll still get the pick of the litter! Go you! Sometimes you're so awesome.
Enough jibber-jabber. Let's get to work on 2020's garden!
Complete List of Vegetables I'm Growing in 2020
Does not include herbs or flowers. Over and out.
Artichoke:
Colorado Star
Bean:
Rocdor (yellow-wax)
Northeaster (flat green)
Capitano (flat yellow)
Dulcina (round green)
Beet:
Moneta
Zeppo
Broccoli:
Burgundy
BC1611
Brussel Sprouts:
Churchill
Cabbage:
Storage No. 4 (green)
Ruby Perfection (purple)
Deadon (savoy)
Carrot:
Bolero
Sugarsnax54
Cauliflower:
Snow Crown
Collard:
Champion
Corn:
Colored Upright (broom)
Anthem XR (sweet)
Cucumber:
Suyo Long
Cool Customer
Adam Gherkin
Eggplant:
Orient Express
Lettuce:
Vit
Premium Greens Mix
Newham
Cegolaine
Rosaine
Kale:
Redbor
Red Russian
Leek:
Takrima
Okra:
Carmine Splendor
Onion:
Patterson (yellow storage)
Nabechan (green)
Purplette (purple, fresh)
Redwing (purple, storage)
Parsnip:
Albion
Pea:
PLS 595
Avalanche
Sugar Ann
Pepper:
Escamillo Corno di Toro
Carmen Corno di Toro
Round of Hungary
Kilian
Radish:
Easter Egg II
Spinach:
Seaside
Bloomsdale
Squash:
Butterscotch PMR
Goldmine
Ornamental Gourds (mixed)
Swiss Chard:
Bright Lights
Tomatoes:
Sun Gold
Edox
Striped German
Cherokee Purple
Amish Paste
Brandywine
Turnips:
Hakurei
Watermelon:
Ocelot
I hope this complete list of vegetable varieties I'm growing is helpful to you as your plan your upcoming garden – I know it can be a bit intimidating to know where to even start.
The seeds and seed trays are ordered. The grow lights are plugged in (premature by about six weeks? yes, but… ). The gardener is charging up during this beautiful winter. It's fixin' to be a productive spring (in about four months when the snow melts).
PS: What are some of your favorite varieties to grow?
PPS: Consider this your beautiful reminder that… “You don't have to garden to garden; gardening in the mind is a gentle vice with an impetus of its own; it may not be as potent as actually making one, but there is a whole different threshold where gardening in the head can fill our winter tranquility with unrest. What gardener can condemn this as a time of stagnation?” – Mirabel Osler, A Gentle Plea for Chaos
Kendall Dietterich
So… is it really worth starting in the trays? I always get so discouraged if I can’t direct sow my fruit and veggies. They often die when I go to transplant. And doesn’t it take a lot of patience to transplant them all, Shaye?! Willing to give it another shot this year 😉
Kendall Dietterich
I did it anyway! Johnny seed order submitted. 😀Hopefully I’ll have greater success this year. It makes me feel giddy planning and ordering for the summer garden.
Shaye Elliott
YES! It’s worth it. Where we are, it would be hard to get a harvest out of some crops without doing trays. You’ll learn to fall in love with it as you go along and Johnny’s orders come with REALLY great growing instructions on where it should be started indoors or direct sown.
Idalia
This question is not about gardening, but am hoping to get a reply since this is your latest post. I would love to know where or which of your books has the recipe for the Einkorn donuts you made outdoors in last year’s video. The dough looked so silky soft and buttery! I am a new subscriber and have been enjoying all your videos! Wonderful inspiring content!
Providence Grove
Hi Idalia! I don’t believe the recipe is on the blog. It is however a recipe within the Cooking Community. Have a wonderful day and a blessed and joyful new year.
ANNA
What kind of garlic to you use?
Alicia
Hmmm…I think I’ll save myself some research and use your list as a reference. You only live a few hours away from me, so the items you picked will likely work for me too.
Getting back to gardening this year after several years of feeling too overwhelmed to take it on.
Sarah Brook Bennett
I’m also around the same are area and new. So glad I found Shayee to help this southern girl out with her new garden in a new community. Good luck and happy gardening.
Shaye Elliott
Get it girl! Best of luck!
Hannah
I grew Adam Gherkin cucumbers last year, for the first time….they are AMAZING!!!!! Way tastier, crunchier, sweeter than any other variety. Even slicers and lemons. And cuter, too!
Sandra
I’m in south central Texas, so still have my kale, turnips, broccoli, carrots etc growing from late fall planting. Starting seeds under lights this year to get a jumpstart on my spring/summer planting. Most of the varieties I chose are different from yours, Shae – coz our Texas summers are brutal and I need super-tough babies here LOL. (I plant okra, yellow pear tomatoes and chili peppers for that). But I am trying some ‘new’ stuff this year just to challenge myself … and to see what I may have been missing out on!
Shaye Elliott
Isn’t it amazing how gardening around our country is SO different. Even in Washington, I feel like we have practically every zone! Ha.
Tami Gandt
I’m in North Texas and I hear you! I so want to be able to grow tomatoes to can but I have about given up. It goes from 60’s to 90 in a heart beat and then the bugs which I try to keep from using poison but using NEEM out there seems like I have to be spraying 3 or more times a day! Have you seen this book : The Vegetable Book, A Texan’s guide to gardening by Dr. Sam Cotner I’m not sure if its still in print but probably could find it at used book stores. My son got it for me for my birthday.
Deborah wilson
You are all so impressive to me I’m in Cincinnati have plenty of room but only sun on one side where not much space I do flowers herbs in pots I have in pass did cucumbers beans tomatoes maybe will give another try I do love it thanks Shay and Steward
Nicole Sosebee
Where in south Texas are you? Maybe we’re close! We’re super avid gardeners year around.
Bethann M Palmer
Does anyone happen to have a link for a great grow light? We are growing a TON this year and my seedlings will need some extra help! 🙂
Ashley Pullen
This is so exciting!! I’m just hoping to get the basics growing this year. We moved into a (rented) farmhouse in September, and I’ve been dreaming of a large garden in the yard and chickens in the coop!
Shaye Elliott
I learned to garden at rentals! 🙂
Erica
Just reading this article gives me a twinkling in my toes and such hope for the turn of the year when we welcome Spring in all its loveliness! No snow here, only wind and rain and a poly tunnel that has been torn to shreds! Hello from Ireland.
Rhandi
So exciting! I can’t wait to see your garden grow. Living in Arizona I started our leafy greens and root veggies in the fall and so far so good! I cannot wait to plant the tomatoes! Planning on loads of those this year. Instead of trying to do so many different kinds of veggies I’m just going to stick to what we will actually eat a lot of: greens tomatoes onions peas and cucumbers 🤞🏻🌱
Kate
Your list is awesome! Seems like you will definitely have some good eats..
I have small yard so do container gardening here in Florida. Grow tomatoes and peppers, lots of herbs, and potatoes.
Here is to a bountiful harvest🙂
Rebecca
Mid Missouri here, and we still have beets, lettuce and kale in a low tunnel. We spent the last two days building the greenhouse over two large raised beds that currently have our greens in them. We sow most of our seed directly in the ground. We follow the volunteers that come up so when we see the first tomato plants sprouting,ours seeds go in the ground. We have had great success with that. We still start a lot of things inside also. We do bush style cucumbers and some vine crops. Others climb the fence made from cattle panels that keeps the chickens out. I’m determined to learn to grow celery. That’s my new item for this year. I use Johnny’s and I buy from Greenhouse Supercenter. They have decent prices on everything I need, from greenhouse plastic to plastic plant markers. I wish I knew how to make my flower gardens look as natural as yours. I mainly use native plants like morning glory, black eyed susans, daisy’s, hollyhock.I love things that reseed themselves. That or perennials. Your place always looks great.
Tajana
Quite different than European sorts.
But still interesting.
We adore tomatoes in so many shapes and colours. Or is it just Balkan 🤷🏼♀️
In Croatia there are fields Full of wheat,corn,Oat in all kinds of sorts (the “old” sorts to the hybrid sorts)- unfortunatelly I dont Grow this,yet 👩🏼🌾
I love kale (sort Winter King),tomato (“Volovsko srce”),Peppers (“Roga crvena”), Cucumbers (“Kornišon”,”Marketar”),Potato (Desiree) etc…
This winter I have brought my first bigger Greenhouse yay
When I finally “nest” I will invest more 💪🏻
You Are a Real inspiration!
Greetings from central Croatia, Sisak
Shannon
Your list is outstanding! Can’t wait to check some of them out. Some of our favorite varieties to grow are: Jade Green Beans, Detroit Red Beets, Purple Carrots, Rocky Top & European Mesclun Lettuce Blends, Lincoln Peas, Saxa Radish, Bloomsdale Spinach and for the Tomatoes = Super San Marzano, Health Kick, Early Girl, Jet Setter, Cherokee Purple. Everything else has been pretty standard varieties picked up at our local family owned Greenhouse. This last year was the first year I started some of these from seed in the house and I completely enjoyed every minute….. which included some success and some failures. Yet it was successful enough we purchased a small portable cold greenhouse this fall and put it up in anticipation of starting more of my own seeds with hopefully more success this spring. Thank you for sharing your list/likes with us Shaye! YOU, over the years, through your books, your blog, your YouTube channel, your Instagram and your cooking community have encouraged a vegetable garden to grow here again, fruit tree/bush/vine additions to grow here and healthy, whole foods and products to fill our kitchen and our latest addition of honey bees to reside here on about 1/2 acre in the Midwest. Thank you for the time you spend sharing yourself, your life, your home, your family, etc. with us in an effort to educate, inspire, encourage, support, etc. us!
Michelle
I love this list! Thank you for sharing. Did you purchase your grow lights/trays/set up from Johnny’s as well?
Courtney Rasbach
I saw Okra on your list! Can you do some okra recipes this year in the cooking community?! 🙂
Vangie Alvarado
Dear Shaye,
Im an avid fan or an advocate of homesteading…although it’s an alien thing in my home country, i don’t know how to explain but I’ve been dreaming this kind of life since i was a kid..i was born and raised in Manila, Philippines, spent half of my life in the Middle East for work and now reaching retiring age soon and dreaming to do homestead in our country…would you accept “workaway” type or apprenticeship? I would love to come and learn.
Leah
I love this list!! The seed catalogs have me excited to order my seeds soon too! I have a question that’s not really related to the list- how do you keep the gravel pathways free of weeds? I’ve been going through some old posts and haven’t found it yet, although I’m sure you’ve shown this before.
Idalia
I don’t know if my previous post went through. I was asking about where I can find your recipe for the einkorn donuts you made outdoors in 2019. Is it in one of your books? The dough looks amazing! I just purchased some einkorn flour from Jovial Foods, and their cookbook, but alas no recipe there for donuts. Thank you for sharing such beautiful content on your sites.
Hannah
Love the list! I added johnnies to my seed catalog this year 🤣 I think this year I’m going to really concentrate and variety and also on killing all of the squash vine borers and squash bugs 🐛! That way I can grow my beautiful Galeux D’Eysines pumpkin ❤️
Janine
I grew up in your area and my grandfather would grow some of the most delicious cantaloupe, honeydew and musk melon. Highly recommend you try some!
L.Be
I love this! I’ve been such a fiend for every new variety I can get my hands on, but I’m working towards some “tried and true” goals, too. What zone are you in? I’m wondering if these varieties may be some good ones for me to try, too.
Alicia
I just finished my vegetable seed shopping and your list was a great reference. Do you have a list of what culinary and medicinal herbs that you grow?
Susanne
I live in the southern Appalachians where we have late frosts but hot summers. I always start my tomato and pepper seeds inside, but direct sow cukes and squashes. I teach Prek so I save milk cartons from school and start all of my seeds in them. Works great!
Jennifer
I was interested to compare what your growing to what I am, I’m in Winnipeg,MB up in the heart of Canada which means we have very different zones and seasons. Turns out we have a few common plants; the easter egg radish, storage cabbage, amish paste tomato and thats about it!
I was intriguingly surprised to see you focus on just 2 types of carrots, I get it. Stick to the tried and true. I’ve had a heck of a time growing a good carrot that will stand the test of time in storage, grow longer than 4 inches and sturdy enough to withstand the pull from our clay soil. I’m glad to say after searching long and hard I found that exact carrot. Actually 2 to be precise. Atomic Red and Solar Yellow are now my must haves! They’re also both heirloom. I’m adding a purple carrot into the mix this year as well because why not, the more the merrier and this is the year to shine. This year down time has been an abundance and what better way to spend that time then playing in some dirt. Happy gardening my friend!
Roberta R Devers
Shaye,
Sorry if you answered this already but are these seeds heirlooms? I want to start to save seeds!!!!
Madison
Love your blog an channel ❤️ Thank you for all the great info! I want to add a grape vine to my homestead and my daw you had some beautiful ones planted. What kind have you planted and what do you suggest planting?
Sue Molack
Hey,
Love the list! Thanks for sharing. I was wondering of you could at the end of your growing season critic what you grew, let us know… good harvest, poor year for which vegetable. “blew you out of the water” winner veggie of the year best for canning or storage even though you have mentioned some already. which you love to eat fresh, etc. I also understand you are in a different climate than mind but still find it helpful. I also just would like to say your you tube videos this year have elevated me to become a better gardener when it comes time to store, can ferment etc. Growing and sharing is only part of being the best gardener possible. This year lots of home made garden Christmas giving and I thank you. You will have touched many families here in the eastern coast…Love to all