I can hardly believe that we're here again – me, giving you a complete list of what I'm growing in my vegetable garden – you, enthusiastically dreaming of your very own vegetable garden and what you'll incorporate in this coming season. Maybe you love some of my choices. Maybe you hate them. But here in zone 7b of Washington state, these are varieties that I've found to do well with our high-desert climate.
The ‘complete list of what I'm growing in my vegetable garden' post from last year was a very helpful resource for a lot of readers (if emails are any indication), so what the heck. I've got nothing better to do. There's no cow to milk. Or kids to feed. Or stale laundry from three days ago in the washing machine that needs to be rewashed. Let's do this!
First up, let it be known: I'm a grown-up. I ordered my seeds already. I organized my seeds already. Can you believe it? I still can't. Procrastination usually gets the better of me. NOT THIS YEAR! Oh no.
Disclaimer: I more than likely forgot a thing or two. I'll also likely just grab a packet of who-knows-what at the nursery when I'm there grabbing pots of lavender and sweet woodruf. But still. These are the bones. (Scroll down for a few gardening tips as well).
If you'd like to watch a video about how I organized my seeds to prevent mold and disorder like an actual adult, you can do that right here:
Now onto the seeds! (Just like last year, this complete list of what I'm growing in my vegetable garden doesn't include herbs or flowers… so I guess it's not complete… just a list then… go me.)
Arugula:
Arugula OG
Artichoke:
Colorado Star
Tavor OG
Bean:
Rocdor (yellow-wax)
Northeaster (flat green)
Capitano (flat yellow)
Dulcina (round green)
Borlotti (dry)
Beet:
Avalanche
Touchstone Gold
Cylindra
Broccoli:
Burgundy
BC1611
Arcadia F1
Brussel Sprouts:
Churchill
Diablo
Dagan
Cabbage:
Storage No. 4 (green)
Ruby Perfection (purple)
Alcosa F1
Deadon F1
Carrot:
Bolero
Cauliflower:
Amazing
Celery:
Cutting Celery
Chard:
Bright Lights
Collard:
Champion
Corn:
Colored Upright (broom)
Anthem XR (sweet)
Cucumber:
Striped Armenian
H-19 Little Leaf (pickling)
Adam Gherkin
Eggplant:
Dancer F1
Galine F1
Fennel:
Grosfruchtiger
Lettuce:
Vit
Premium Greens Mix
Newham
Cegolaine
Rosaine
Kale:
Redbor
Red Russian
Leek:
Tadorna
Okra:
Jambalya
Onion:
Patterson (yellow storage)
Nabechan (green)
Purplette (purple, fresh)
Redwing (purple, storage)
Parsnip:
Albion
Pea:
PLS 595
Avalanche
Sugar Ann
Pepper:
Biquinho Yellow
Escamillo
Carmen
Mad Hatter
Round of Hungary
Red Flame
Radish:
Easter Egg II
French Breakfast
Crunchy King
Spinach:
Seaside
Bloomsdale
Red Tabby
Squash:
Butterscotch PMR
Goldmine
Ornamental Gourds (mixed)
Winter Luxury
Long Island Cheese
Tomatoes:
Sun Gold
Cherry Bomb
Striped German
Cherokee Purple
Amish Paste
Brandywine
Tiren
Tomatillo:
Super Verde
Turnips:
Hakurei
Watermelon:
Ocelot
I want to make myself a few notes on this year's garden as well, as I all too often (like many overzealous gardeners) rush off the starting line only to find myself not finishing the race well. Gardening is certainly not a race. It's also not a destination. Thus, I'd like to remind myself (and all who may find it helpful):
- We musn't start before we should. Last year I had a major pepper disaster because I insisted on starting them indoors 12 weeks before the last frost instead of the 6-8 the seed company suggested. The result was peppers that were starved for heat, food, and sunshine long before it was safe to put them out into the still-cold soil. The harvest suffered and I'm forever ashamed.
- Only bite off what you can chew. While I, like many gardeners, enjoy the thrill of the harvest, all too often I find myself so overwhelmed with the weeding and work to be done that crops sit in the ground too long, space isn't rotated or utilized to it's potential, and ultimately – things get wasted. The gardeners heart, also, is often so burdened with everything that needs to be done that the fun is sucked out of the entire experience. Overwhelm is a fun sucker.
- Focus on small improvements. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will your dream garden. The gardens I aspire to – those of Monty Don and Tasha Tudor, for example – have been being formed for decades. The result is a garden that is comfortable in its skin and confident in who it is. That's the garden that I hope for but getting to that point takes time. In regards to the vegetable garden, this often means choosing just a crop or two to focus on improving each year.
- I've said it before, but I'll say it again. Only grow what you really love to eat. There is simply no point to waste time or valuable garden space on vegetables that don't make your skirt fly up. Life is too short to grow rutabaga.
As we build out our brand new market garden this year, I look forward to sharing the process with all of you! This is going to be year of the garden!
I proclaimed that myself.
And Amen.
What a list! Do you get your seeds from johnny’s?
Yes, I do primarily get all mine from them.
I love in a zone 2. Kind of jealous for the longer growing season and the variety’s you can grow!
Where can I find pelleted seeds?! That’s an amazing idea !
I get mine from Johnny’s Seeds.
Just finished your video and now this post. I can’t wait to organize my seeds and plan our own garden for the year! It’s our first full year on the new property (5 acres zone 9b in California) 💗 and your videos have inspired me greatly. Can’t wait to see the new garden!
I’m in zone 7b too! All the way in New Jersey. I ordered my seeds from johnnys and baker creek and I think I ordered a few that you recommend – they haven’t arrived yet. I think planning the garden is just as fun as the harvest. Thanks for sharing 💗 I can’t wait to see all your garden pics and videos.
This is super helpful! I’m in Reno, NV and we are zone 7a which is similar to your climate (also high desert as well). I’ve done squash, tomatoes, greens and herbs in my garden successfully but this is the first year I’m going to try a bigger variety. Wish me luck!
Happy Gardening.
I hope to have a garden this year. Pray for me! Lol I’m in my 50s and doing 4 raised beds and I’m in zone 7 b..right on the edge of 7 a.
Thank you for sharing your story
Enjoy your gardening postings.
‘Life is too short to grow rutabaga’. LOL! That would make a wonderful gardening book title.
Thank you for sharing your list, this year I want to try and start a small vegetable bed in my small backyard. That’s how inspiring you are.
I noticed that you didn’t list any potatoes. I realize that they aren’t grown from seed. But I’d be curious what varieties you grow, if you grow them, and how you store them. BTW, the photos are stunning!
Oh! Good catch! I did forget those. I grow Yukon Gold and Russet as my storage crops and just a few fun fingerling and fresh eating varieties as well.
Hello. I’m the editor of a small newsletter-20 or so copies- for the Adams County Master Gardeners in Adams WI. IM Wondering if I could have your permission to use the last four paragraphs in this article in our March/April issue. You would be credited at the end of the article. Lmk. Thanks. Cindy Wagner
Hi Cindy! Sure. Thank you for asking!
i can’t believe you don’t LOVE rutabaga fries with white truffle oil ! YOU MUST TRY ! delish !!!
I would love to see the flower and herb seed list!
I’m on it!
Yay! I’m looking forward to seeing which herbs you plant! I’m also curious what you intend to use each one for?
Yes herb and flower list!!
I’d love to see a list of what herbs and flowers you grow as well. Also what trees do you purchase and what kind of lemon tree do you have and does it produce lots? I’m addicted to lemon any way and mine produces small quantities and are not very tart.
What about an olive tree and what grapes do you grow. I’m in Texas and would love to grow grapes.
Do you grow raspberries, blackberries, blueberries?
I love to watch your videos
Please tell us where your trees came from. If it’s in the video, I missed it twice! thanks so much, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Fast Growing Trees!
Hi Shaye! I can’t thank you enough for what you do. I just found your blog and have been watching your YouTube videos and am so inspired. I just made a plan for my first garden and it is all because of you and how inspired I am by your lifestyle. I had a question—- where do you buy your seeds? As a newbie I want to start in the right place. I understand you are busy and will read through your posts to see if you mention where you buy your seeds 🙂 i want to read them all anyway! Thank you again for inspiring joy and possibility in my heart and the heart of so many I am sure
Oh my! These photos are exquisite. I feel like I’m in your garden. Just beautiful. <3
Shaye, you are ever a leader and an inspiration.
Thanks for your warning about Johnny’s seed supply dwindling as I was able to order the seeds for our market garden from them before it was too late (phew!). I even copied a couple of your seed variety choices 🙂
Here’s to a successful growing season!
You mentioned that you opt for the “fresh eating variety” over the storage type cabbage for your kraut making. How come?
I’ve seen you use these wide plastic stacking bins several times, looks like they are meant for stacking. I’m wondering where you got them, and if they would work well in a root cellar type setting for storing shallow bunches of potatoes or carrots.
I’d love to see a list of what herbs and flowers you grow as well. Also what trees do you purchase and what kind of lemon tree do you have and does it produce lots? I’m addicted to lemon any way and mine produces small quantities and are not very tart.
What about an olive tree and what grapes do you grow. I’m in Texas and would love to grow grapes.
Do you grow raspberries, blackberries, blueberries?
I love to watch your videos
I’ve watched your videos and read your blogs for a couple of years now. It never ceases to amaze me how amazing your garden turns out. It’s very inspiring and humble to see it. Happy gardening and good luck with your garden this year!
I live in a zone 2. I have a garden every year. But I sure am jealous of your longer growing season and more veggie varieties you can grow!
Beautiful photos. Can you please share what camera you use?