My Top Pick for a Tomato is Super Italian Paste. This large, beefy, Roma type tomato has very little seed pulp, and is incredibly flavorful. It is good for sauces, adding to salads, or for a sandwich. It is perfect for all home use!

Tomatoes are always top on my list of veggies to grow. They are a classic choice for any home garden and are relatively easy to grow. 

• They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. They can be grown directly in the ground, raised beds, or in containers such as large planters. 
• When you plant your tomatoes, bury the stem at least a third into the ground so it develops a strong root system. 
• You don’t want to over-water tomatoes, and you never want to water the plant. When watering your tomatoes, water the soil, not the plant itself. You will want to soak the dirt, and then water as it dries out. If you overwater tomatoes, they will end up rotting at the base of the stem. 
• When I fertilize my tomatoes, I use organic fish emulsion as a foliar spray. In the early morning when the plant’s leaf pores are open, use a mister or sprayer to coat the plant’s leaves with the fertilizer
• Tomatoes will produce much better when tomato cages or some type of trellising is used. When tomatoes are left to grow on the ground, you will experience much more waste as they will rot on the bottom where the tomato touches the ground.

My Top Pick for Lettuce is Jericho. As with tomatoes, choosing just one variety is challenging, but if you can only grow one variety, then choose Jericho. This lettuce was bred in the country its illustrious name suggests and is extremely heat tolerant, while also growing beautifully in the cooler days of spring & fall. You can plant several plantings in order to enjoy a fresh garden salad all season long. If you have a cold frame, you can have it all year! Keep posted for an upcoming post on How to build your own cold frame.

Lettuce is by far the second vegetable crop in my list of top 10 easiest vegetables to grow for the home gardener.

• Lettuce is a great choice for the beginning home gardener as it is easy to grow and produces a quick harvest.
•  It prefers full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. 
• It requires regular watering, and can be grown directly in the ground, in raised beds, or in containers such as planter bowls! 
• When harvesting, rather than cutting back the entire head, pluck off the outer leaves carefully to encourage new leaf growth. If you do cut back the entire head, leave at least 2 inches of the stem in the ground. The plant will produce more leaves, although significantly smaller than the original head, you will be able to harvest the smaller leaves.

My Top Pick for Peppers is sweet Jimmy Nardello & Jalapeno for hot! I know I just cheated, but they are completely different! Jimmy Nardello is an incredible pepper that can be used in chili’s, salads, or grilled on a shish-ka-bob!!! Of course Jalapeno is great for sandwiches (See my YouTube recipe for my super yummy Jalapeno Popper Sandwich with Turkey or Canadian bacon & Swiss cheese on Sourdough! Of course I love them on our nachos and chili as well!

• Peppers can be a bit tricker crop to grow as the soil needs to be at a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
• They prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
• They require consistent watering. 
• If over fertilized, they will produce more leaves than fruit. I suggest fertilizing them weekly with a foliar spray as I recommend with tomatoes.
• They can be grown directly in the ground, in raised beds, or in containers such as large planter pots. 
• Be sure to pinch off any flowers that appear on the plant before it is established to encourage bushier growth.

My Top Pick for Carrots will be a mix of Heirloom seeds which include Cosmic Purple, Lunar White, Chantenay Red, Amarillo Yellow. So yes that may be cheating again, but you can purchase a pack of mixed seeds lol!  

Carrots are another easy vegetable to grow for the home gardener and are used in so many recipes they are, in my opinion, a staple in the kitchen garden.  

• They prefer full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
• Make sure the soil is light and loose so the carrot will grow straight down.
• They require consistent watering for optimal growth.
• They can be grown directly in the ground or in raised beds. If you choose to use planter containers, be sure they are deep enough for the maximum growth described on the package. 
• It is important to thin the seedlings once they are established to ensure proper spacing.

The small round carrot in the front of the pick is a French Heirloom called Parisienne & is a wonderful variety as well.

My Top Pick for Green Beans is an Italian Heirloom named Roma. This rick buttery flavored flat pod, stringless bush bean also is available in a yellow bean. I prefer this bean over the typical round bean as it is more versatile. You can pan fry or boil this bean, and they also can well. 

Green beans are a great choice for home gardeners because they are easy to grow and produce a bountiful harvest. 

• They can be grown directly in the ground or in raised beds, and require similar care to tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash. 
• They need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day and consistently moist soil.
• Regularly harvesting beans will stimulate continued production. 

PRO TIP: Avoid pole beans and beans that don’t list themselves as stringless. Pole beans require more work as you must have some sort of trellis for them to grow on. If you have ever eaten a bean and there was a ‘string’ along the back of the bean you know why I’m saying to stay away. They are edible, but they are tough to go down. Trust me on this one 😀

My Top Pick for Onions would be any Red Onion. I really never use white onions, and a sweet yellow onion would be my next choice when cooking. I also love shallots, but a good red onion will serve you best in the kitchen either when using fresh in salads or cooking.

Onions are a great choice for home gardeners because they are easy to grow and produce a bountiful harvest. 

• Generally you will purchase onion sets or seedlings from a reputable seed source. You can easily find these at most garden centers as well
• They can also easily be grown in planter pots, in raised beds around the perimeter or in rows, or directly in the ground.
• They require similar care to carrots. 
• They need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day and consistently moist soil.
• When planting onion sets, plant with the pointy tip up and bury just enough to cover about ¾ of the set. You should see the ‘shoulders’ of the onion. This encourages a larger bulb.

My Top Pick for Potatoes would be Yukon Gold. It again is one of the most versatile and easy to grow potatoes. It makes a delish mashed or smashed potato. You can use them for a baked potato, make some french fries, or home fries! 

• They can be grown directly in the ground or in raised beds, and require similar care to tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash. 
• Choose a sunny spot in your garden with well-draining soil.
• Prepare the soil by digging it over and removing any weeds or stones.
• Plant the potatoes in trenches about 8 inches deep and 12 inches apart.
• Cover the potatoes with soil and water them well.
• As the potatoes grow, mound up the soil around them to cover the emerging shoots. This is referred to as ‘hilling your potatoes.’
• Water the potatoes regularly, especially during the hot days of summer.

My Top Pick for Cucumbers is Lemon! This incredibly easy to grow cucumber is great in salad. However, this is not a pickling cucumber. If you are looking to make pickles you will want to use Parasian Pickling Cucumber. 

Cucumbers are another great choice for the beginning home gardener as they are easy to grow and even just one plant will produce a large yield. 

• They prefer full sun and well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. 
• They require consistent watering and fertilization similar to tomatoes and peppers. 
• They can be grown directly in the ground or in raised beds, or in large planter pots.  
• Be sure to provide support for the plants as they grow, either with a trellis or a cage.