Crop Encyclopedia

How to Grow Everything

Detailed growing guides with planting dates by zone, spacing, harvest timelines, and companion planting charts.

πŸ₯¬ Vegetables

Popular vegetables with full planting guides for every U.S. zone.

πŸ…

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

America's most popular garden crop, producing juicy fruits in a wide range of sizes, colors, and flavors.

60–85 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
πŸ«‘

Bell Pepper

Capsicum annuum

Sweet, crunchy peppers that ripen from green to red, yellow, or orange and thrive in warm summer heat.

60–90 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
🌢️

Hot Pepper

Capsicum annuum

Fiery peppers ranging from mildly warm jalapeΓ±os to scorching habaneros, loving long hot summers.

60–120 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
πŸ₯’

Cucumber

Cucumis sativus

Fast-growing vine producing crisp, refreshing fruits perfect for salads and pickling.

50–70 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
πŸ₯’

Zucchini

Cucurbita pepo

Incredibly prolific summer squash that produces abundantly from just a few plants all season long.

45–65 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
πŸŽƒ

Butternut Squash

Cucurbita moschata

A sweet, nutty winter squash that stores for months and is one of the easiest squash to grow.

85–110 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
🫘

Green Beans

Phaseolus vulgaris

Easy-to-grow warm-season crop available in bush and pole varieties, producing tender snap beans.

50–65 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
πŸ₯¬

Lettuce

Lactuca sativa

Fast-growing cool-season salad green available in leaf, romaine, and head types that bolts in heat.

30–60 daysβ›… Partial⚠️ Bolt Risk
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
πŸ₯¬

Kale

Brassica oleracea var. sabellica

Hardy cool-season green that actually sweetens after frost and can produce well into winter.

50–65 daysβ›… Partial
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
πŸ₯•

Carrot

Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Sweet, crunchy root vegetable that grows best in loose, sandy soil and sweetens after light frost.

60–80 daysβ›… Partial
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
🍠

Sweet Potato

Ipomoea batatas

Heat-loving tropical root crop that produces abundantly in hot summers with minimal care.

90–120 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
🟒

Okra

Abelmoschus esculentus

Southern staple that thrives in extreme heat where other crops struggle, producing tender edible pods.

50–65 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
πŸ†

Eggplant

Solanum melongena

Heat-loving crop producing glossy purple fruits that need long warm seasons and rich soil.

65–85 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

🌿 Herbs

Essential herbs for every kitchen garden.

🌿

Basil

Ocimum basilicum

Essential warm-season herb and the perfect tomato companion, producing fragrant leaves all summer.

50–75 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
🌿

Cilantro

Coriandrum sativum

Fast-growing cool-season herb that bolts quickly in heat; succession sow for continuous harvest.

30–50 daysβ›… Partial⚠️ Bolt Risk
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
🌿

Parsley

Petroselinum crispum

Biennial herb with flat or curly leaves, slow to germinate but productive once established.

70–90 daysβ›… Partial
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
🌿

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

Woody Mediterranean perennial herb with fragrant needle-like leaves, thriving in well-drained soil.

80–120 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
🌿

Mint

Mentha spp.

Vigorous spreading perennial herb best grown in containers to prevent it from taking over the garden.

60–90 daysβ›… Partial
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
🌿

Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

Low-growing Mediterranean perennial herb that loves sun and well-drained soil, excellent in borders.

80–100 daysβ˜€οΈ Full Sun
Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

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