Crops Worth Growing

The start of this year’s deck container garden with cold weather crops. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Crops Worth Growing and How to Grow Them Well

There’s something deeply satisfying about stepping outside and harvesting dinner. Whether it’s a sun-warmed tomato or a handful of fresh herbs, homegrown food just tastes better—and often grows easier than people expect.

If you’re deciding what to plant, or what’s worth the effort, these tried-and-true favorites earn their place in the garden year after year. Here’s how to grow them successfully, with a few practical tips that make all the difference.

🍅 Tomatoes: The Garden’s Crown Jewel

If you grow just one thing, make it tomatoes.

Why they’re worth it: Flavor. Store-bought tomatoes simply can’t compete with vine-ripened ones.

Tips for success:

• Plant deep—bury 2/3 of the stem to encourage strong roots

• Give full sun (8+ hours) and consistent watering

• Mulch early to prevent soil splash and disease

• Support them from the start (cages or stakes)

• Avoid overhead watering to reduce fungal issues

Pro tip: Slightly stressing plants with less frequent watering, once established, can intensify flavor.

🌶️ Peppers: Small Plants, Big Rewards

Peppers are surprisingly low-maintenance once established.

Why they’re worth it: High yield in small spaces, and they freeze beautifully.

Tips for success:

• Wait for warm soil—peppers hate cold feet

• Plant in full sun with well-drained soil

• Don’t overwater; they prefer slightly drier conditions than tomatoes

• Pinch early flowers if plants are small to encourage stronger growth

Pro tip: A little afternoon heat stress can increase capsaicin—hotter peppers if you like the kick.

🧅 Onions: Set Them and Forget Them

Onions are one of the easiest crops with the longest payoff.

Why they’re worth it: They store for months and require very little attention.

Tips for success:

• Choose the right type (short-day vs. long-day) for your region

• Plant early—onions love cool starts

• Keep weed-free; they don’t compete well

• Stop watering as bulbs mature to prevent rot

Pro tip: Bend tops over late in the season to encourage bulbs to finish sizing up.

🥬 Lettuce: Fast, Fresh, and Forgiving

Lettuce is perfect for continuous harvest.

Why it’s worth it: Quick turnaround and cut-and-come-again harvests.

Tips for success:

• Grow in cool weather—spring and fall are ideal

• Provide partial shade as temps rise

• Harvest outer leaves regularly to keep plants producing

• Keep soil consistently moist for tender leaves

Pro tip: Succession plant every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply.

🌱 Radishes: Instant Gratification

If patience isn’t your thing, radishes are your crop.

Why they’re worth it: Ready in as little as 3–4 weeks.

Tips for success:

• Sow directly in cool soil

• Thin seedlings early for proper root development

• Harvest promptly—waiting too long leads to woody roots

• Keep evenly watered for crisp texture

Pro tip: Use radishes as row markers for slower crops like carrots.

🌿 Herbs: Small Space, Big Flavor

Herbs are the easiest way to elevate both your garden and your cooking.

Why they’re worth it: High value, low effort, and great for pollinators.

Tips for success:

• Most herbs prefer full sun and well-drained soil

• Harvest frequently to encourage bushy growth

• Don’t over-fertilize—too much nitrogen reduces flavor

• Let some plants flower for bees (especially basil, oregano, thyme)

Pro tip: Perennial herbs (like thyme and oregano) become more flavorful each year.

A Final Thought

These crops aren’t just popular—they’re reliable, productive, and deeply rewarding. Whether you’re gardening on a hillside, in raised beds, or a few containers by the door, they’ll give back far more than they ask.

For more weekly gardening, beekeeping, cooking and easy home decor tips, subscribe to Garden Notes.

Charlotte

Pot Garden One Month Later

My pot garden one month later has produced lettuce, several herbs including catnip and is now growing tomatoes and peppers. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Pot Garden One Month Later

This is one month since I started planting in pots again on my deck. So many how to guides don't discuss what happens after one gets started with a container garden so I will feature the results through the growing season. As I said earlier, besides the sheer fun of saying you have a “pot garden,” growing food in pots is an easy and practical way to get yourself fresh produce.

Here's a quick 101 primer on how to set up a pot garden. This is a quick video tour of how I started. Here's a short video tour of what the pot garden looks like a month later.

What to Grow in Pot Garden 

I've been growing in pots for several decades now. It started when I was traveling for work but still wanted fresh herbs for cooking and cat treats; then expanded to wanting better flavored tomatoes.

If you haven't started yet, here is a list of some easy spring seeds to get you started:

Lettuce and mixed greens; beets, peas, spinach, onions (red, white and yellow) and radishes. All of these crops like cool spring weather.

A note about radishes. Don’t toss those green tops, add the top green to a salad, they are delicious.

Now that the danger of hard frost is over, I've added cherry tomato starts surrounded by basil seedlings. Basil will keep bugs off the tomatoes and improve flavor. Clam shells work well as tiny greenhouses to protect tomato seedlings from late cold spells.

I also started nasturtium, green peppers, tiny zinnias, more basil and dill from seed. You can buy starts but it's less expensive to grow from seeds. And catnip. I can't seem to grow enough catnip!

How to Manage Pot Gardens

• Don’t dig up soil from your garden; start with new potting soil. You don’t want to grow unwanted bugs.

• When planting summer crops, add compost to the bottom of the pots before adding potting soil to feed soil that keeps plants fed and healthy.

• Wet soil down before adding seeds or plants.

• Pick up a set of children’s gardening tools. They are a better size to work in pots.

• Add buried plastic bottles with holes on sides to make sure water gets to the roots.

• If you have a crop you can’t get to, don’t toss it just yet, let it “bolt” or go to seed and it will feed local pollinators.

• If you can’t use what you grow, compost. You can start by putting the gathered greens in the bottom of the next pot you are making.

• Once you pot herbs, you can have them year around. Plan to bring them in over winter and they won't take over your garden.

• If you have inside cats, you may find they enjoy having an empty pot of soil to curl up in and take a dust bath.

• If it’s not a hybrid, you can save the seeds for next year and you won't have to buy seeds.

  For more gardening, beekeeping, cooking and easy home decor tips, subscribe to Garden Notes.

  Charlotte