We’re going to be busy this spring and I don’t want to waste time or money in the garden, so I’m going to make sure to plant some of my tried-and-true, reliable favorites. Any of them would make a great addition to your new garden because they usually do what they’re supposed to do, that is, establish to the soil, grow well, and produce well – whether it’s food or flowers.
Vegetables & Berries
Radishes
Our go-to variety is Cherry Belle. It’s an heirloom, and once you get them in the soil you’ll be harvesting them in about 3 weeks.
Green Beans
The heirloom variety Blue Lake 274 is our favorite. I have been growing this specific variety of bush beans for over ten years. It is a mega producer, and usually, I can expect three harvests out of each bush. The beans are stringless, preserve well, and the plant makes an excellent groundcover which keeps the weeds down.
Raspberries
We grow the ‘Caroline’ variety. Kids love picking raspberries, and they taste so much better than what you get at the grocery store. Have patience though, a new plant won’t produce berries until the second year.
Strawberries
The June-bearing ‘Whopper’ variety has been a good one for us. Have patience for this berry, too. During the first growing season it’s best to pinch off the blooms so the plant focuses its energy on establishing well into the soil rather than producing fruit. Under the right conditions, the second growing season will give you the first, delicious harvest.
Annuals
Zinnia
There are hundreds of varieties to choose from when you’re planning out your garden. Tall, short, big blooms, small blooms, and every color in the rainbow (and then some!) Zinnias are pollinator magnets and look stunning in bouquets. Purple Prince, State Fair, Envy, and Double Zahara Salmon are some of my favorites.
Marigold
Oh, the humble marigold. They’re low maintenance, don’t mind drought or wet soil, and in experience, they’re basically unbothered by everything. NOT great for bouquets but they’re a must-have in the garden for pollinators to enjoy and to serve as a companion plant. I’ve had great experiences with Happy Days, Strawberry Blonde, and Snowball varieties.
Sunflowers
I love experimenting with giant sunflowers – it’s basically growing a tree in one summer. However, with all varieties, the birds flock to them, pollinators are obsessed, they’re so easy to grow, and the flowers are stunning. Absolute must-have. Favorite varieties are Mammoth, Strawberry Blonde, Super Snack, and the Fun N’ Sun Blend.
Herbs
Parsley
We enjoy Italian Flat Leaved parsley. Running out to the garden to snip a little parsley to add the finishing touch to your garden-to-table meal… there’s nothing like it!
Sage
Sage a perennial that grows up to 30 inches tall and wide, and it’s gorgeous in the garden. It’ll grow up to 30 inches tall and wide. It smells great, tastes great, and the pollinators love it when it’s in bloom.
Chives
Another perennial, and another pollinator favorite. Honestly, you won’t realize how much you want chives around until you spoil yourself by growing them right outside your door.
Perennials
Yarrow
Yarrow is tough and beautiful. Basically an evergreen here in zone 5, it makes an excellent groundcover all year long and spreads extremely well by runners. You can be ruthless dividing this plant (trust me, you’ll want to, remember I said it spreads extremely well…) and it’ll withstand a transplant like it hasn’t even been divided. Pollinators love it and the stems are sturdy for bouquets.
Coneflower
Coneflower is beautiful in any landscaping, offering a pop of color and a feast for pollinators all summer long. The stems are perfect for bouquets and the flowers are long-lasting.
Goldenrod
Another one with hundreds of species, goldenrod is one of my absolute favorite perennials for late season color. The bees go nuts for goldenrod, it’s so fun to watch them at the end of the summer. My favorite variety is “Fireworks”, it grows upright and minds its own business – staying where it belongs rather than flopping over onto other plants.
A Few Garden Tips
Planting a garden is a commitment. Like all things, if you want to reap the rewards you need to put in the work. If this is your first garden, my advice is to start small. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a huge space right off the bat. Give yourself some time to build your confidence and get some green on your thumb. If you don’t like any of these plants, find something that you DO like and chat with someone at your local garden center for growing advice.
Don’t forget to water, but don’t water too much. Just make sure your plants get 1 inch of water each week – either from the Lord’s watering system or yours.
Please remember as the months go by this year that there is no perfect garden. Every year is different depending on the conditions, which is part of what makes gardening fun – you never know quite exactly what to expect. All gardens have some weeds – especially the ones without a team of caretakers!
Speaking of weeds, try to keep up with them. By far, the simplest way to do this is to spend at least 10 minutes a day tending the garden. As the plants grow, you’ll want to spend more time in the garden anyway because it will, hopefully, become a place where you will find peace and restoration.
What are you looking forward to the most with this year’s garden? Comment below – I’d love to hear about your garden plans!