What Should You Plant? Choosing Varieties

Vegetable gardening can be a great way to save money, improve your health, and enjoy fresh, homegrown produce right in your own backyard. Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been gardening for years, it’s important to choose the right vegetables to grow. Here are a few tips on how to select vegetables that will thrive in your garden.

The first thing you should do when choosing vegetables is determine what type of climate you have and which plants will thrive there. If you live in a colder climate, you might want to stick with cool-weather vegetables like peas and kale. In warmer climates, opt for tomatoes, squash, and peppers. Finding your USDA Hardiness Zone will help you figure out what will grow where you live.

The next step is deciding what types of vegetables your family likes to eat. Think about which recipes you love and what dishes are favorites at home. Consider which flavors work well together and if any varieties can be cooked up easily from start to finish without requiring much extra effort from you. You may also want to consider growing some herbs for seasoning, for your favorite dishes. Pizza lovers could grow tomato, oregano and basil, for instance.

You’ll also want to consider the amount of time and space that you have available for gardening. Smaller spaces often limit the number of plants that can be grown, while larger gardens give more room for expansion and experimenting with different vegetable varieties. Consider how long each vegetable takes to mature and plan accordingly so that they all ripen at the same time and don't need special attention from you before harvesting them.

Finally, don't forget about companion planting when selecting vegetables for your garden. Certain vegetables naturally deter pests from other crops due to their strong smells or flavors so pairing them up makes sense for both health reasons and efficient use of space! Planting legumes (beans, peas) next to corn helps nitrogen fixation so those two can make an excellent combo in small gardens as well as large ones.

Choosing the right vegetables doesn’t have to be complicated – it’s all about understanding your environment and picking out varieties that are sure to thrive under specific conditions while offering plenty of nutrition as well as enjoyment!