gardening.how
Menu

50 illustrated growing profiles

Choose plants for the garden you have.

Filter by crop type, light, and experience. Every profile connects a recognizable botanical portrait with conditions, timing, roots, spacing, harvest, and common trouble.

50 plants match Each result explains the growing tradeoff.
Vegetable01
Botanical field illustration of tomato showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

A warm-season favorite that rewards steady watering, strong support, and enough sun.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
60–90 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable02
Botanical field illustration of pepper showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Pepper

Capsicum annuum

A heat-loving crop that grows well in beds or containers when the soil stays warm.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
65–100 days
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Vegetable03
Botanical field illustration of cucumber showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Cucumber

Cucumis sativus

A fast, productive vine that benefits from trellising, pollinators, and frequent harvesting.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
50–70 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable04
Botanical field illustration of zucchini showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Zucchini

Cucurbita pepo

A generous summer squash for gardeners who can spare a wide patch of warm, fertile soil.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
45–60 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable05
Botanical field illustration of lettuce showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Lettuce

Lactuca sativa

A quick cool-season crop that fits into beds, boxes, and shallow containers.

Light
Part sun
Harvest
30–60 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable06
Botanical field illustration of spinach showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Spinach

Spinacia oleracea

A cold-tolerant leafy green that grows quickly but dislikes prolonged heat.

Light
Part sun
Harvest
35–50 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable07
Botanical field illustration of carrot showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Carrot

Daucus carota

A root crop that needs loose soil, patient thinning, and consistent surface moisture.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
60–85 days
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Vegetable08
Botanical field illustration of radish showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Radish

Raphanus sativus

One of the fastest crops for beginners and a useful marker between slower rows.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
22–40 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable09
Botanical field illustration of green bean showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Green Bean

Phaseolus vulgaris

A dependable warm-season crop available as compact bushes or climbing vines.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
50–65 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable10
Botanical field illustration of pea showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Pea

Pisum sativum

A cool-weather climber that can be planted early and removed when summer heat arrives.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
55–75 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable11
Botanical field illustration of potato showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Potato

Solanum tuberosum

A flexible crop for beds or grow bags that forms tubers in loose, covered soil.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
70–120 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Fruit12
Botanical field illustration of strawberry showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Strawberry

Fragaria × ananassa

A perennial fruit for beds, towers, or containers with good drainage and winter planning.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
First season varies
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Herb13
Botanical field illustration of basil showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Basil

Ocimum basilicum

A tender annual herb that thrives in warmth and becomes bushier with regular pinching.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
30–60 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Herb14
Botanical field illustration of cilantro showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Cilantro

Coriandrum sativum

A cool-season herb that matures quickly and can also be grown for coriander seed.

Light
Part sun
Harvest
30–45 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Herb15
Botanical field illustration of parsley showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Parsley

Petroselinum crispum

A slow-starting biennial herb that becomes a steady source of fresh leaves.

Light
Part sun
Harvest
70–90 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Herb16
Botanical field illustration of rosemary showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

A woody Mediterranean herb that prefers sun, sharp drainage, and restrained watering.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
Perennial
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Herb17
Botanical field illustration of mint showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Mint

Mentha spp.

A vigorous perennial herb best contained unless spreading is welcome.

Light
Part sun
Harvest
30–60 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Flower18
Botanical field illustration of marigold showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Marigold

Tagetes spp.

A bright, resilient annual flower that brings color and pollinator activity to edible gardens.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
45–60 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Flower19
Botanical field illustration of zinnia showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Zinnia

Zinnia elegans

A heat-loving cut flower that delivers long color from a small amount of care.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
60–75 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Flower20
Botanical field illustration of sunflower showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

A bold annual available in compact, branching, and giant forms for different garden scales.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
70–100 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable21
Botanical field illustration of kale showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Kale

Brassica oleracea var. sabellica

A cold-tolerant leafy crop that can provide repeated harvests from spring into cold weather.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
50–70 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable22
Botanical field illustration of broccoli showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Broccoli

Brassica oleracea var. italica

A cool-season crop that needs fertile soil, steady growth, and timing that avoids prolonged heat.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
60–90 days
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Vegetable23
Botanical field illustration of cabbage showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Cabbage

Brassica oleracea var. capitata

A space-hungry cool-season crop that forms firm heads when growth remains consistent.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
70–110 days
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Vegetable24
Botanical field illustration of swiss chard showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Swiss Chard

Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris

A colorful, durable leafy crop that tolerates more summer warmth than spinach.

Light
Part sun
Harvest
50–65 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable25
Botanical field illustration of beet showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Beet

Beta vulgaris

A dual-purpose root and leaf crop that grows best in loose soil and cool weather.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
50–70 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable26
Botanical field illustration of onion showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Onion

Allium cepa

A shallow-rooted bulb crop whose variety and planting date must match local day length.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
90–120 days
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Vegetable27
Botanical field illustration of garlic showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Garlic

Allium sativum

A long-season bulb planted from cloves and timed around regional winters.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
8–10 months
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable28
Botanical field illustration of leek showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Leek

Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum

A slow, cold-tolerant allium grown for a long tender stem rather than a bulb.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
90–150 days
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Vegetable29
Botanical field illustration of celery showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Celery

Apium graveolens

A demanding cool-season crop that needs rich soil and unusually consistent moisture.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
100–140 days
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Vegetable30
Botanical field illustration of asparagus showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis

A permanent perennial crop that rewards careful site choice and patience before full harvest.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
2–3 years to harvest
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Vegetable31
Botanical field illustration of eggplant showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Eggplant

Solanum melongena

A heat-loving fruiting crop that needs warm soil, steady growth, and timely harvest.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
70–100 days
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Vegetable32
Botanical field illustration of okra showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Okra

Abelmoschus esculentus

A tall heat specialist that produces tender pods quickly once summer becomes hot.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
55–70 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Vegetable33
Botanical field illustration of sweet corn showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Sweet Corn

Zea mays var. saccharata

A wind-pollinated crop that needs a block of plants, fertile soil, and enough room.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
65–90 days
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Vegetable34
Botanical field illustration of pumpkin showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Pumpkin

Cucurbita pepo

A long-vined warm-season crop that needs space, pollination, and enough frost-free time.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
90–120 days
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Vegetable35
Botanical field illustration of winter squash showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Winter Squash

Cucurbita maxima and C. moschata

A storage crop whose vines need a long season and whose mature rind must harden before harvest.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
85–120 days
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Fruit36
Botanical field illustration of blueberry showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Blueberry

Vaccinium spp.

A perennial berry shrub that succeeds only where soil acidity and cultivar chilling needs fit.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
2–3 years to crop
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Fruit37
Botanical field illustration of raspberry showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Raspberry

Rubus idaeus and hybrids

A cane fruit that needs a permanent row, support, and pruning matched to fruiting type.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
1–2 years to crop
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Fruit38
Botanical field illustration of blackberry showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Blackberry

Rubus subgenus Rubus

A productive cane berry available in erect, semi-erect, trailing, thorny, and thornless forms.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
1–2 years to crop
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Fruit39
Botanical field illustration of dwarf apple showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Dwarf Apple

Malus domestica

A compact fruit tree whose rootstock, pollination, disease resistance, and training determine success.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
2–5 years to crop
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Fruit40
Botanical field illustration of fig showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Fig

Ficus carica

A woody fruit that thrives in heat but requires a realistic winter plan in cold climates.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
1–3 years to crop
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →
Herb41
Botanical field illustration of thyme showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

A compact woody herb that prefers sun, lean soil, and sharp drainage.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
60–90 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Herb42
Botanical field illustration of sage showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Sage

Salvia officinalis

A fragrant woody perennial that needs sun, drainage, and periodic renewal.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
75–90 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Herb43
Botanical field illustration of oregano showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

A spreading perennial herb whose strongest flavor develops in sun and moderate stress.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
45–80 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Herb44
Botanical field illustration of dill showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Dill

Anethum graveolens

A quick annual herb grown for leaves, flowers, beneficial insects, and seed.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
40–70 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Herb45
Botanical field illustration of chives showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

A compact perennial allium that supplies edible leaves and pollinator-friendly flowers.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
60–90 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Flower46
Botanical field illustration of nasturtium showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus

A trailing or compact annual with edible flowers that performs best without rich soil.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
50–70 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Flower47
Botanical field illustration of calendula showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Calendula

Calendula officinalis

A cool-tolerant annual flower that brings long bloom and bright edible petals to the garden.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
45–60 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Flower48
Botanical field illustration of cosmos showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Cosmos

Cosmos bipinnatus

An airy annual flower that thrives in sun and lean soil with minimal attention.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
60–90 days
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Flower49
Botanical field illustration of coneflower showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Coneflower

Echinacea spp.

A durable flowering perennial whose species and cultivar should match the site and regional ecology.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
Second season varies
Level
Beginner
Open growing guide →
Flower50
Botanical field illustration of milkweed showing its mature form, roots, and recognizable harvest stage.

Milkweed

Asclepias spp.

A group of host plants for monarch caterpillars that must be selected by region, species, and site.

Light
Full sun
Harvest
Species dependent
Level
Intermediate
Open growing guide →