Never too late
My Favorite Plant Varieties & Healthy Plant Buying Tips
We all start somewhere.
Would you believe that 10 years ago, this farm-loving girl was actually a shopaholic? Yes, that was me. From the day I stepped on my first farm at 18, I learned to grow food by harvesting tomatoes by hand. I learned by feeling the grooves of the cucumber. I learned by asking questions in community. I learned by trying over and OVER again.
Wherever you are in your journey, whether you're a nurse, corporate girlie, teacher, mom, garden curious - anyone can learn to grow food along the way because it’s NEVER TOO LATE!
Maybe you told yourself this would be your gardening year. And then you blinked, and it’s June, and that raised bed is still empty. The seed packets you bought in April are staring at you from the counter.
As someone who manages a community garden, I’ve seen this story unfold more than a few times. Folks say, “Yes, I’ll plant soon!” and then never quite get to it.
Sometimes folks just need a nudge. So here it is:
If you think you missed the gardening season… we have only just begun!
In fact, if you’re in gardening zones 6 through 8 (I’m in 7a myself), there is still plenty you can plant right now to bring your garden dreams to life.
Today, I’m sharing exactly what I JUST planted in some abandoned garden plots that needed a little last-minute love, and you can plant them too.
First Stop: The Nursery
I took a trip to my local nursery. And let me just say, plant joy is real! I always go in thinking I’ll be there for 15 minutes and end up staying 45 minutes or more.
It’s not just about what I need to grow. It’s about the joy of imagining what could grow. So if you’ve been feeling behind, don’t worry, I’m sharing my favorite veggie varieties below!
What You Can Plant in June ( Zone 7a—and similar zones like 6a - 8a)
At local plant nurseries, you can still find the most common veggies & flowers. The ones I recommend for an easy start from TRANSPLANT are:
Cucumbers - I love the “ market more” variety, and this year I am testing out the “burpless” variety, because the truth is, that’s all that was left for me to choose from.
Tomatoes: If you are a tomato hater, try “Sungold” and “Super Sweet 100” for their scrumptious, melt in your mouth flavor! I personally stay away from heirloom tomatoes because I find them to be less resilient to high temperatures.
Squash: Zucchini, yellow squash, and pumpkins are all on my list. Please give these enough space apart from each other because they are vining plants!
Peppers: Bell Peppers are my favorite to eat. But if you want an abundant harvest, try growing jalapenos and banana peppers.
Eggplant: My favorite variety the grow is “Dancer,” an asian variety.
Herbs: sage, oregano, thyme, parsley (NEVER plant mint in the ground unless you want it to take over. Plant it in a container)
Swiss Chard: “Rainbow blend” is my go-to because I love the diverse colors it brings to the garden.
Pole Beans: “ Blue Coco” and “Rattlesnake” are my reliable favorites that taste amazing when eaten raw!
Nasturtium: Don’t forget your edible flowers that look gorgeous, attract pollinators and repel aphids.
Healthy Plant Buying Tips (Don’t Bring Home Trouble)
Before you toss that seedling tray in your cart, please remember:
Check the leaves: If 75% of the plant looks spotted or diseased, leave it.
Look under the leaves: Pests/ eggs often hide there.
Bottom leaves browning? Totally fine. As long as the center 3 leaves are green and strong, you’re good. Just remove the browning leaves when transplanting
Kickstart Your Garden Dreams: A FREE WEBINAR June 16th @ 8 PM EST!
If you’re still unsure where to start, come hang out with me at my virtual workshop: Kickstart Your Garden Dreams! 🌱
In 40 minutes, you’ll:
Learn 3 easy steps to kickstart your garden
Gain the confidence to actually start
Get your burning questions answered by an experienced farmer ( me!)
📍 Register Here!
Celebrating Gardeners in our Community!
I just got an email from Julia, who took my container gardening class in March, and wrote back to me sharing that she’s a first-time gardener and thanks to the workshop, “So far we have mint, basil, oregano, peppers, and lettuce.” What I love too is that she started small in containers, and her plants are thriving!
No matter how big or small you start, YOU are a gardener!
The season isn’t over, and neither are your garden dreams.
Sending light and Love,
xx Brittney
Good try with the tomatoes. Keep inspiring!