| Bell Pepper | Vegetable | Full sun | Moderate | 6.0-6.8 | Start indoors, transplant | Feb - Mar and Aug - Sep | Zones 9-10 only | 60-90 days | 18-24 in | Needs warm soil; slow in cool weather. |
| Carrot | Vegetable | Full sun | Moderate | 6.0-6.8 | Direct sow | Oct - Feb | Yes, most zones | 60-80 days | 2-3 in | Direct sow. Keep seedbed moist until sprouted. |
| Collard Greens | Vegetable | Full sun | Moderate | 6.0-7.5 | Direct sow or transplant | Sep - Feb | Yes, zones 6-10 | 60-80 days | 18-24 in | Handles both heat and frost better than most greens. |
| Cucumber | Vegetable | Full sun | High | 6.0-7.0 | Direct sow or transplant | Feb - Apr and Sep | Zones 8-10 | 50-70 days | 12-36 in | Trellis to save space and keep fruit clean. |
| Garlic | Vegetable | Full sun | Low | 6.0-7.0 | Plant cloves | Nov - Dec | Fall is the main season | 8-9 months | 4-6 in | Plant cloves in fall, harvest the next summer. |
| Green Beans (bush) | Vegetable | Full sun | Moderate | 6.0-7.0 | Direct sow | Feb - Apr and Sep - Oct | Zones 7-10 | 50-60 days | 4-6 in | Direct sow; do not transplant. Fixes its own nitrogen. |
| Kale | Vegetable | Full sun to part shade | Moderate | 6.0-7.5 | Direct sow or transplant | Oct - Jan | Yes, most zones | 50-65 days | 12-18 in | Flavor sweetens after a light frost. |
| Lettuce | Vegetable | Full sun to part shade | Moderate | 6.0-7.0 | Direct sow or transplant | Oct - Feb | Yes, most zones | 30-60 days | 6-12 in | Cool-season crop; bolts in heat. Give afternoon shade in warm zones. |
| Okra | Vegetable | Full sun | Low | 6.0-7.0 | Direct sow | Mar - Jul | No | 50-65 days | 12-18 in | Thrives in heat and humidity. Pick pods at 3-4 inches. |
| Onion | Vegetable | Full sun | Moderate | 6.0-7.0 | Sets or transplants | Oct - Dec | Zones 7-10 | 90-120 days | 4-6 in | Choose short-day types in the South, long-day in the North. |
| Potato | Vegetable | Full sun | Moderate | 5.0-6.5 | Seed potatoes | Jan - Feb | Zones 9-10 (Sep - Oct) | 70-120 days | 12 in | Hill soil around stems as they grow. |
| Radish | Vegetable | Full sun | Moderate | 6.0-7.0 | Direct sow | Oct - Feb | Yes, all zones | 22-30 days | 1-2 in | Fastest crop; good for beginners and kids. |
| Spinach | Vegetable | Full sun to part shade | Moderate | 6.5-7.5 | Direct sow | Oct - Jan | Yes, most zones | 35-50 days | 4-6 in | Cool-season crop; bolts quickly in warm weather. |
| Sweet Potato | Vegetable | Full sun | Low | 5.5-6.5 | Slips | Mar - Jun | No | 90-120 days | 12-18 in | Loves heat; a strong choice for southern gardens. |
| Tomato | Vegetable | Full sun | Moderate | 6.2-6.8 | Start indoors, transplant | Feb - Mar and Aug - Sep | Zones 8-10 only | 60-85 days | 24-36 in | Stake or cage. Water at the base to limit leaf disease. |
| Zucchini / Summer Squash | Vegetable | Full sun | Moderate | 6.0-7.5 | Direct sow | Feb - Apr and Aug - Sep | Zones 8-10 | 45-60 days | 24-36 in | Pick small and often to keep plants producing. |
| Basil | Herb | Full sun | Moderate | 6.0-7.5 | Start indoors or direct sow | Mar - Sep | No | 30-60 days | 10-12 in | Pinch off flower buds to keep leaves coming. No frost tolerance. |
| Cilantro | Herb | Full sun to part shade | Moderate | 6.2-6.8 | Direct sow | Oct - Feb | Yes, most zones | 30-45 days | 6-8 in | Cool-season herb; bolts in heat. Sow every few weeks. |
| Mint | Herb | Full sun to part shade | High | 6.0-7.0 | Nursery plant | Oct - Mar | Zones 8-10 | Harvest anytime | 18-24 in | Spreads aggressively; grow in a container. |
| Parsley | Herb | Full sun to part shade | Moderate | 6.0-7.0 | Start indoors or direct sow | Oct - Jan | Zones 7-10 | 70-90 days | 6-8 in | Slow to germinate; soak seed overnight. |
| Rosemary | Herb | Full sun | Low | 6.0-7.5 | Nursery plant | Oct - Mar | Zones 8-10 | Harvest anytime | 24-36 in | Overwatering is the usual cause of failure. |
| Blueberry | Fruit | Full sun | Moderate | 4.5-5.5 | Nursery plant | Dec - Feb | Zones 6-10 | Year 2-3 onward | 4-6 ft | Needs acidic soil. Plant two varieties for better fruiting. |
| Lemon / Citrus | Fruit | Full sun | Moderate | 6.0-7.0 | Nursery plant | Mar - May | No | Year 2-3 onward | 12-25 ft | Protect from frost. Grows in a large pot in cooler zones. |
| Strawberry | Fruit | Full sun | Moderate | 5.5-6.8 | Bare-root or plugs | Oct - Nov | Zones 7-10 | Spring to summer | 12-18 in | Mulch with straw to keep berries off the soil. |
| Black-Eyed Susan | Flower | Full sun | Low | 6.0-7.0 | Nursery plant or seed | Oct - Feb (zone 9) | Yes | Summer to fall | 12-18 in | Native perennial; reseeds freely. |
| Coneflower (Echinacea) | Flower | Full sun | Low | 6.0-7.0 | Nursery plant or seed | Oct - Feb (zone 9) | Yes | Summer to fall | 18-24 in | Native perennial; drought tolerant once established. |
| Daylily | Flower | Full sun to part shade | Low | 6.0-7.0 | Bare-root or nursery plant | Oct - Mar | Yes | Summer | 18-24 in | Very forgiving. Divide clumps every 3-4 years. |
| Hosta | Flower | Part shade to full shade | Moderate | 6.0-7.5 | Bare-root or nursery plant | Zone 9 only, with deep shade | Yes | Foliage; summer bloom | 18-36 in | Top shade plant. Slugs and deer are the main problems. |
| Lavender | Flower | Full sun | Low | 6.5-7.5 | Nursery plant | Oct - Feb (struggles in humidity) | Zones 7-9 | Summer | 18-24 in | Dislikes wet feet and high humidity. |
| Marigold | Flower | Full sun | Low | 6.0-7.0 | Direct sow or transplant | Feb - Apr and Sep - Oct | Zones 9-10 | Blooms in 45-60 days | 8-12 in | Easy from seed; popular companion plant in vegetable beds. |
| Sunflower | Flower | Full sun | Low | 6.0-7.5 | Direct sow | Mar - Aug | No | Blooms in 70-100 days | 6-24 in | Direct sow. Tall types may need staking. |
| Zinnia | Flower | Full sun | Low | 5.5-7.5 | Direct sow | Mar - Aug | No | Blooms in 60-70 days | 6-18 in | Direct sow after frost. Great for cutting and pollinators. |
| Azalea | Shrub | Part shade | Moderate | 4.5-6.0 | Nursery plant | Oct - Mar | Yes | Spring | 3-5 ft | Shallow roots; mulch well and do not plant deep. |
| Hibiscus (tropical) | Shrub | Full sun | High | 6.0-7.0 | Nursery plant | Mar - Jun | No | Nearly year-round in warm zones | 3-6 ft | Bring pots indoors below 50 F in cooler zones. |
| Hydrangea (bigleaf) | Shrub | Part shade | High | 5.2-6.5 | Nursery plant | Nov - Feb (zone 9) | Yes | Summer | 3-6 ft | Flower color shifts with soil pH: acidic = blue, alkaline = pink. |
| Rose (shrub) | Shrub | Full sun | Moderate | 6.0-6.5 | Bare-root or nursery plant | Dec - Feb | Zones 7-10 | Spring to fall | 3-5 ft | Good air flow reduces black spot and mildew. |
