Pumpkins

Scientific NameCucurbita pepo; Cucurbita moschata; Cucurbita maxima
Growing Days100-120
Varieties We GrowSeminole; Small Sugar
Growing NotesPumpkins need room to grow. They will take up as much space as you give them…and then some!
Battle of the BugsSquash bugs, cucumber beetles, and squash vine borers are mighty pests. They’ve taken out many of our squash plants!
Fun FactApparently, you can scratch a picture or message on a growing pumpkin; it will scar over and then be visible at harvest time. I’m going to try this!
Don’t Waste It!Pumpkins are for more than just carving at Halloween. Bake, roast…treat it like you would any winter squash. Don’t forget to roast the seeds!

Potatoes

Scientific NameSolanum tuberosum
Growing Days120
Varieties We GrowYukon Gold, Kennebec, Red
Growing Notes Plant cut potatoes that have 1-2 eyes on them. Hill potatoes by mounding them with soil or mulch so the potatoes aren’t exposed to any light.
Battle of the BugsColorado Potato Beetles! We hand pick them off of the leaves and try to smush the eggs before they create the next generation. It’s a battle!
Fun FactPotatoes are in the same family as tomatoes…nightshade. Bonus fun fact…new potatoes are really just immature potatoes. When the plant flowers, the new potatoes are generally ready to harvest. Leave ’em alone and they’ll get bigger!
Don’t Waste It!
Bake, roast, boil…yum yum yum!

Peppers (Sweet)

Scientific NameCapsicum annum
Growing Days70-75
Varieties We GrowCalifornia Wonder; Horizon; Ajvarski; Yellow Banana
Growing NotesPeppers like it warm! Be patient and wait to put them in the garden for soil temperatures to be at least 65 degrees.
Battle of the BugsEverything that goes after tomatoes also likes peppers (they are in the same family, after all).
Fun FactPeppers are technically perennials so if you bring them inside over winter, they just might live for multiple years!
Don’t Waste It!Peppers are tough to grow to full color, so don’t let them go to waste! Eat ’em raw, roasted, or steamed. Cut up peppers and put them in the freezer to save some for later.

Peas

Scientific NamePisum sativum
Growing Days60-70
Varieties We GrowSnow; Snap
Growing NotesPeas like it cool; they are one of the earliest vegetables planted in the spring. Pea seeds don’t have a great germination rate, so it’s best to plant extras.
Battle of the BugsAphids, cutworms, and Mexican bean beetles like pea plants.
Fun FactGreen peas are the shelling peas (don’t eat the pods) while snow and snap peas have edible pods.
Don’t Waste It!Enjoy them raw or steamed; just don’t let them sit long or they’ll go to waste. Pea tendrils are also edible!

Peanuts

Scientific NameArachis hypogaea
Growing Days100-130
Varieties We GrowTennessee Red Valencia (of course!)
Growing Notes When the plants get about a foot tall, it’s a good idea to “hill” them by mounding soil around them.
Battle of the BugsPeanut plants seem to be pretty hardy so far (aside from the deer loving them).
Fun FactDid you know that peanuts are actually not nuts…they are legumes! Bonus fun fact…peanuts grow underground! They flower then send out pegs called “peduncles” that grow into the ground where the peanuts will form. So cool!
Don’t Waste It!Enjoy peanuts raw, roasted, or boiled.

Onions

Scientific NameAllium cepa; Allium fistulosum
Growing Days100-120
Varieties We GrowRed Burgundy; Texas Early Grande; Bunching
Growing NotesGrow onions from seed (takes a long time!) to get the biggest results; starting from “sets” is easier though. “Sets” are small onion bulbs that are already one year old.
Battle of the BugsOnions do pretty well in the battle of the bugs. Apparently, the bugs don’t like the smell!
Fun FactThere are “short day,” “intermediate,” and “long day” onions. The northern latitudes get to grow the long day onions since they need 14-16 hours of daylight to form bulbs.
Don’t Waste It!Depending on the variety, eat them raw, steamed, roasted, or cooked just about any way.

Okra

Scientific NameAbelmoschus esculentus
Growing Days60
Varieties We GrowEmerald
Growing Notes Okra likes it hot! By the end of summer, it can get 10+ feet tall!
Battle of the BugsA few of the regulars will go after okra leaves, but it’s overall pretty resilient.
Fun FactOkra is in the hibiscus family…the flower gives it away.
Don’t Waste It!Enjoy okra roasted, sauteed, or in the southern tradition of breaded and deep-fried.

Melons — Watermelon

Scientific NameCitrullus lanatus
Growing Days70-100
Varieties We GrowSugar Baby
Growing NotesOne of the trickiest times is figuring out when to harvest a watermelon. We use the tendril method…when the tendril immediately above the fruit is browned, it’s time to pick that fruit and hope it’s ripe, but not overripe!
Battle of the BugsCucumber beetles and squash vine borers will go after watermelon vines. They are the worst pests!
Fun FactWatermelons are 90% water so they are aptly named!
Don’t Waste It!Duh…these are way too delicious to waste!

Melons — Cantaloupe

Scientific NameCucumis melo
Growing Days80-90
Varieties We GrowHale’s Best
Growing NotesCantaloupes grow well if you trellis them. The vines will climb. It also helps to keep some of the fruit off of the ground out of easy reach of the resident critters.
Battle of the BugsEverything that gets the cucumber plant goes after the cantaloupes too (and groundhogs love them). Sigh…
Fun FactDid you know that the cantaloupe we think of is not actually a true cantaloupe? Apparently our “cantaloupes” are actually a type of muskmelon (real cantaloupe has a rough, warty rind and isn’t really available in the U.S.). Who knew?
Don’t Waste It!Cantaloupe has a pretty narrow window of peak ripeness (just a couple days). Don’t let a ripe one sit on the counter too long!

Malabar Spinach

Scientific NameBasella alba
Growing Days70-85
Varieties We GrowThis is the green leaved variety.
Growing Notes Malabar spinach loves it HOT! Give it enough water and it will produce edible leaves the entire summer. Soak the seeds before planting to give them a better chance of sprouting.
Battle of the BugsNothing has touched these vines so far.
Fun FactMalabar spinach isn’t really a spinach. It is a leafy green though. Bonus fun fact…the plant produces purple berries (not edible) that will stain your hands bright purple (ask me how I know) 🙂
Don’t Waste It!Eat it raw, or cook it just like you would spinach.