Plant Growing Guides

Detailed guides for growing 11 different plants. From seed to harvest, learn everything you need to grow healthy, productive plants in your garden.

How to use this database

Start with quick wins

Filter by difficulty to pick a plant that matches your current skill level, then dive into the seasonal calendar for a week-by-week checklist.

Dial in the details

Each guide includes soil prep, watering cadence, troubleshooting, and storage tips pulled from field trials in Austin, Texas (Zone 8b).

Plan your succession

Use the succession ideas and recommended varieties to keep beds productive and experiment with cultivars that match your climate.

Beginner Friendly
9
Perfect for new gardeners
Intermediate
2
Some experience helpful
Advanced
0
For experienced gardeners

Seasonal planting playbook

Quick harvest champions

Need a fast win? These crops go from seed to plate in 60 days or less.

BasilLettuceZucchiniKale

Heat-loving workhorses

Plant these once soil warms and they will power through the height of summer.

TomatoesBasilPeppersKale

Cool-season staples

Kick off spring or refresh fall beds with crops that thrive in cooler temps.

TomatoesBasilLettucePeppers

Common pests we monitor across trials

Keep an eye out for these repeat offenders. Each plant guide includes targeted tactics to stay ahead of infestations.

HornwormsAphidsEarly blightJapanese beetlesSlugsRabbitsPepper weevilsBacterial spot

Search and filter features coming soon!

All Plants

Cluster of ripe tomatoes ripening on the vine

Tomatoes

beginner

Solanum lycopersicum

The crown jewel of the summer garden, tomatoes are versatile, nutritious, and incredibly rewarding to grow at home.

full sun
moderate water
60-85 days to harvest
Favorite variety: Celebrity
Fresh basil leaves growing densely in a garden bed

Basil

beginner

Ocimum basilicum

An aromatic herb essential for any kitchen garden, basil is easy to grow and pairs perfectly with tomatoes both in the garden and on the plate.

full sun
moderate water
30-60 days to harvest
Favorite variety: Genovese
Rows of vibrant green lettuce growing in a raised bed

Lettuce

beginner

Lactuca sativa

A cool-season crop perfect for beginners, lettuce grows quickly and provides fresh salad greens throughout spring and fall.

partial shade
high water
30-60 days to harvest
Favorite variety: Salad Bowl
Red bell peppers ripening on a garden plant

Peppers

intermediate

Capsicum annuum

From sweet bells to spicy jalapeños, peppers add color, flavor, and nutrition to your garden and kitchen.

full sun
moderate water
60-90 days to harvest
Favorite variety: Ace
Zucchini plant with a young squash forming among large leaves

Zucchini

beginner

Cucurbita pepo

A prolific summer squash that's perfect for beginners, one or two plants can feed a family all season long.

full sun
high water
35-55 days to harvest
Favorite variety: Black Beauty
Lush kale leaves with dew in a garden

Kale

beginner

Brassica oleracea var. sabellica

A nutritional powerhouse that thrives in cool weather, kale becomes sweeter after frost and can produce for months.

full sun
moderate water
50-65 days to harvest
Favorite variety: Lacinato
Freshly harvested carrots with soil still on the roots

Carrots

intermediate

Daucus carota

Sweet, crunchy, and packed with nutrients, homegrown carrots have incomparable flavor and can be grown in even small spaces.

full sun
moderate water
60-80 days to harvest
Favorite variety: Napoli
Green bean vines climbing a wooden trellis

Green Beans

beginner

Phaseolus vulgaris

Easy to grow and highly productive, green beans are perfect for succession planting and provide harvests all summer long.

full sun
moderate water
50-60 days to harvest
Favorite variety: Provider
Cucumber hanging on a vine supported by a trellis

Cucumbers

beginner

Cucumis sativus

Refreshing and productive, cucumbers are great for fresh eating and pickling, with varieties suited for any garden size.

full sun
high water
50-70 days to harvest
Favorite variety: Marketmore 76
Hand holding freshly harvested red radishes with greens attached

Radishes

beginner

Raphanus sativus

The fastest growing vegetable in the garden, radishes are perfect for beginners and great for succession planting.

full sun
moderate water
22-30 days to harvest
Favorite variety: Cherry Belle
Close-up of fresh spinach leaves growing in a bed

Spinach

beginner

Spinacia oleracea

A cool-season green packed with nutrients, spinach is easy to grow in spring and fall, perfect for small spaces.

partial shade
moderate water
40-50 days to harvest
Favorite variety: Bloomsdale

Can't Find Your Plant?

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