Can you believe the growing seasons of 2024 are fast upon us? It’s amazing how time flies. But if you’re not sure what to grow, it can be a daunting task to design and develop a garden in a short period. You must consider spacing, plant types, production times, and more.
Maybe you’re already set for the season and looking for a few varieties to fill in areas of the garden. You’re miles ahead of me if that’s your situation. I’m still solidifying my lineup of veggies and flowers for the spring garden.
No matter your circumstances, this list should help! We’ve gathered 24 plant varieties you should consider growing in this new year of 2024. The list spans high-producing veggies to more interesting online exclusives and flowering plants to support pollination.
Seeds Featured In This Article:
Gourd
Speckled Swan Hard-Shelled Gourd Seeds
Melon
Minnesota Midget Cantaloupe/Muskmelon Seeds
Cabbage
Squash
Emerald Delight Summer Squash Seeds
Catnip
Tomato
Cream Sausage Bush Tomato Seeds
Eggplant
Jewel Amethyst Eggplant Seeds
Broccoli
Pumpkin
Pepper
Pasilla Bajio Chilaca Chile Pepper Seeds
Cucumber
Muncher Persian Cucumber Seeds
Basil
Nasturtium
Purple Emperor Trailing Nasturtium Seeds
Marigold
Kilimanjaro White African Marigold Seeds
Perilla
Green and Red Shiso Perilla Seeds
Sweet Pea
Beaujolais Sweet Pea Seeds
Snapdragon
Orange Wonder Snapdragon Seeds
Mixed Cacti
All Kinds and Forms Mixed Cacti Seeds
Beet
Bachelor’s Button
The Bride Bachelor’s Button Seeds
Linaria
Fairy Bouquet Linaria Seeds
Marigold
Lemon & Tangerine Gems Signet Marigold Seeds
Delft
Love-In-A-Mist Delft Blue
Sensitive Plant
24 Varieties to Grow in 2024
You have much to choose from in this series! We’ve broken it down by plant types, conditions, growth patterns, and even harvest seasons and timing. Take a look at this, and you’ll notice a great deal of the varieties are completely new to our catalog, too.
Speckled Swan Hard-shelled Gourd
This gourd is an ideal option for both ornamental and edible purposes.
 | plant type Frost-sensitive annual vegetable |
|---|---|
 | sun requirements Full sun |
 | water needs Medium |
 | height 8 to 12-foot vines |
For a combo of decorative and edible squash, the Speckled Swan Hard-shelled Gourd is a great choice that adds so much interest to the fall garden. These long vines take up plenty of space if allowed to sprawl outward from their mounds. However, a trellis is perfect for them.
Vertical growing gives the gourds protection from ground-dwelling pathogens. Maintenance is easier when the plant is trellised as well. Cure these highly interesting gourds with their deep green, yellow-speckled skin, and you’ll have them indefinitely. Immature, tender gourds can be eaten, too!
Most Speckled Swan gourds display a characteristic nodding neck, but a few may produce straight ones. Either way, you can use them in autumn decor or eat them cubed and sauteed with fragrant spices.
Minnesota Midget Cantaloupe/Muskmelon
This muskmelon has a rapid growth cycle and works well in container gardening.
| | plant type Frost-sensitive annual vegetable |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Medium |
| | height 36-inch vines |
If you’ve had trouble with melons in the past, try a Minnesota Midget Cantaloupe plant. This compact plant produces no more than 3-foot vines with small 4-inch melons at full maturity. Needless to say, our container gardener friends can get a lot out of this plant.
A short maturation period means those with short seasons can get tons of small, juicy melons. Gardeners in zones 8 and higher can sow a second succession to double their yields. With resistance to Fusarium wilt, this melon fits into practically any garden.
Caraflex Cabbage
Caraflex cabbages grow to a maximum of 2 pounds and mature quickly.
| | plant type Frost-tolerant annual or biennial |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | water needs Low |
| | height 9 inches tall, 4 ½ inches wide |
Caraflex cabbages are also perfect for smaller gardens and gardens where you want to use up all your harvest rather than deal with a surplus. That’s because these cabbages grow to no more than 2 pounds total and mature within a few months.
Their interesting conical shape is just one of the many reasons Caraflex is great for your upcoming garden. Along with that, you have a mild and sweet flavor that is adaptable to enjoying raw, in soups, or caramelized in the oven.
Emerald Delight Summer Squash
This zucchini boasts high yields and is strongly resistant to several common diseases.
| | plant type Frost-sensitive annual vegetable |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Low |
| | height 2 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide bush |
Jacques loves Emerald Delight Zucchini because it’s a prominent producer from spring through fall in his growing zone 10. Therefore, it’s a great plant to grow in any zone, and its high yields should be expected in optimal conditions. It’s highly disease-resistant, too, avoiding multiple pathogens.
What sets this zucchini apart from the rest is its sparse foliage that makes continuously developing harvests easier to spot. It’s another compact plant that fits into full-spread and container gardens alike, and its short maturation rate ensures multiple yields over the season.
Catnip
Safeguard younger plants from local cats by covering them with a critter cage to allow them to mature.
| | plant type Hardy perennial herb in zones 3 and higher |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | water needs Low |
| | height 3 feet tall and wide |
Both humans and their feline friends can get something out of hardy, no-fuss catnip. You can grow some for your cats and enjoy it in teas. It brings in many bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps and flies. This makes catnip an excellent companion in the veggie garden.
You can sow catnip a couple of weeks before your last frost date and up to two weeks after your first frost date. When you plant it, know that you’ll probably bring in a few of the local cats. You can protect your younger plants from them with a super cool critter cage if you know that is an issue. Once the plants size up, pop off the cage and prepare for kitty bliss!
Cream Sausage Bush Tomato
Pick these tomatoes when they’re fully ripe or just slightly soft when gently pressed.
| | plant type Determinate, frost-sensitive annual vegetable |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Medium |
| | height 3 feet tall |
Tomato fiends and those interested in growing high-yield tomatoes will adore Cream Sausage Bush Tomatoes. The pale yellow cylindrical fruit has a buttery and rich flavor that you can’t deny. The small bush can fit into spaces in garden beds or containers if that’s your growing method.
You can enjoy these when they reach full ripeness or when they’re light yellow and give slightly to a squeeze. Alternatively, you can harvest all the remaining fruit at the end of the season and eat them green or let them ripen on a counter as you would with other varieties. You will have a lot of these to enjoy!
If you prefer a more traditional variety, plenty of other tomatoes are just as easy to start from seed. But for something a little uncommon, we definitely recommend this variety!
Jewel Amethyst Eggplant
Harvest these jewels at 3 ½ to 4 inches for optimal freshness.
| | plant type Frost sensitive annual vegetable, perennial in zones 9 and above |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Medium |
| | height 22 inches tall, 18 inches wide |
If solanaceous plants are your thing, this is the eggplant for you! Even if you already have an established eggplant garden, pop some Jewel Amethyst into small spaces or empty containers to have even more abundance in the eggplant realm. Its small stature makes this possible.
Harvest your jewels when they’re about 3 ½ inches to 4 inches long. If you continuously harvest them, you’ll keep a consistent supply going until the first frost. If you don’t have frost in your area, you can perennialize your plant and have eggplants on hand for years.
Burgundy Broccoli
Consider this Burgundy broccoli instead of the typical green variety.
| | plant type Frost-tolerant annual vegetable |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Low |
| | height 3 feet tall, 2 feet wide |
Forget regular old green broccoli and opt for Burgundy Broccoli this coming spring season. This variety is perfect for those with mild winters and those with longer cold seasons. Among its cold tolerance, you can count on resistance to fusarium yellows.
If you want to attain multiple harvests in the growing season, pinch off the first floret that emerges. This will give you access to lovely purple side shoots you can enjoy just as you would any broccoli. Another awesome benefit of this variety is its ability to resist bolting in heat.
Black Kat Pumpkin
To simplify maintenance and promote proper airflow, consider trellising these gourds.
| | plant type Frost-sensitive annual vegetable |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Medium |
| | height 6 to 8 foot vines |
If you tire of regular orange pumpkins in the fall, try a Black Kat Pumpkin instead! These pumpkins are so deeply green that they’re almost black. They’re a perfect decoration for goth gardeners and those who love the Halloween season, donning front steps and tables with 3 ½ to 4 ½ inch wide gourds.
You won’t have to worry about powdery mildew plaguing your fall garden when you grow Black Kat; it has good resistance. You also have a chance to enjoy their bright orange flesh in any pumpkin dish you please. Trellis these up to make maintenance slightly easier and give the gourds good airflow.
Pasilla Bajio Chilaca Chile Pepper
The name “Pasilla” originates from the resemblance to little raisins once the peppers are dried.
| | plant type Frost-sensitive perennial in zones 9 through 11, annual elsewhere |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Low |
| | height 2 to 3 feet tall |
Drying peppers is one of the most fun fall garden activities, and you’ll have plenty for harvesting and drying when you grow Pasilla Bajio. While the fresh pepper’s full flavor and mild heat condenses in the drying process, it remains low on the Scoville scale at 1000 to 2000 units.
The word “Pasilla” translates to “little raisin,” referring to the look of these dark purple peppers after they’ve dried. Not only can you use these fresh in enchilada sauce, but the dried ones are a staple for mole sauces. With tobacco mosaic virus resistance, it’s kind of a no-brainer for growing this summer.
Muncher Persian Cucumber
This variety is perfect for pickling when young and reaches full maturity at 5 inches.
| | plant type Frost-sensitive annual vegetable |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Medium |
| | height 4 foot vines |
Kevin has opted for the Muncher Persian Cucumber as he’s planning for his spring garden this year. Why, you ask? Because it’s one of those varieties that is perfect when pickled young. These smooth, burpless cukes are also fully mature at 5 inches and have a crispness beyond compare.
These cukes are resistant to cucumber mosaic virus, powdery mildew, Alternaria leaf spot, and anthracnose, so none of the primary cucumber disease risks will be present when you grow them. As this variety is considered a slicer, you simply must try it fresh on your next charcuterie board.
Cardinal Basil
Grow Cardinal basil to bring a vibrant burst of color and intense flavor to your garden.
| | plant type Frost-sensitive annual herb |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Low |
| | height 2 feet tall, 20 inches wide |
The red tops of Cardinal Basil are flowers arranged in a much more compact array than your typical white Genovese blooms. Sprout some of this variety to add interest and spicy goodness to the veggie or herb garden. You can pop it into empty spaces and containers as you see fit.
Somehow, Cardinal packs all the same punch as your more common basils, with even more color, flavor, and aroma. It does all this within two months, making it possible for you to sow multiple plants successively throughout the year’s warmer seasons.
Purple Emperor Trailing Nasturtium
This edible plant is a treat for both humans and pollinators, drawing bees with its allure.
 | botanical name Frost-sensitive tender perennial flower in zones 10 and above, annual elsewhere |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | water needs Low |
| | height 6 to 7-foot vines |
A trailing nasturtium is even better than a bushy one! Purple Emperor has lovely flowers that bloom a reddish purple in spring and eventually fade to a lavender or rose color. You and the pollinators can feast on this one, as it’s edible for humans and attractive to bees.
Nasturtiums are a beloved companion in the vegetable garden, too, with a reputation for deterring aphids and other sap-sucking pests. Drape these vines over an arbor and plant some brassicas below for optimal pest resistance. Have a spicy snack of the leaves or flowers every time you visit the garden.
Kilimanjaro White African Marigold
These large, white blooms carry a unique scent that is unlike other marigolds.
| | plant type Annual flower |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Medium |
| | height 18 inches tall |
Like nasturtiums, marigolds are the flower to grow when you want to include impeccable companions in your summer garden. Grow these Kilimanjaro White African Marigolds in one year, and expect excellent resistance to root-knot nematodes in next year’s tomato garden.
Not only do they have companion benefits, but these large white marigolds are a sight to see! The flowers reach up to 2 ½ inches wide and have a lovely scent different from other marigolds. Use their petals in culinary efforts for a citrusy, spicy flavor.
Green and Red Shiso Perilla
In tropical and subtropical regions, these herbs can flourish throughout the year.
| | plant type Perennial herb in zones 10 and above, annual elsewhere |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | water needs Low |
| | height 18 inches tall |
As a spicy herb, Green and Red Shiso Perilla is a perfect addition to foods that need spiciness akin to cinnamon, clove, and mint with cumin overtones. Add fresh leaves to your salads or use them as a basil substitute in your favorite pesto recipe.
Shiso is also great to add to a garden in need of bedding plants or pollinator attractants. Start growing yours in spring, and let it remain until it dies back in fall frosts. Those in the tropics and subtropics can have theirs growing all year round.
Beaujolais Sweet Pea
These maroon blooms, though mildly toxic if eaten, attract pollinators and deter deer.
| | plant type Frost-tolerant annual flower |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | water needs Medium |
| | height 5 to 8 foot vines |
The easy-to-early-sow Beaujolais Sweet Pea vine will surely add intense pops of color to your garden. Plant these in spring, and they’ll grow and bloom through the summer until the heat gets intense. This variety has sturdy stems that make the flowers great for fresh arrangements.
While you shouldn’t eat these peas due to their mild toxicity, the maroon blooms make growing them worthwhile. You’ll bring in plenty of pollinators, and deer will leave these alone. Those in areas with mild summers can even enjoy the flowers into the fall season.
Orange Wonder Snapdragon
Unless your region faces harsh winters, these perennials will reappear in spring.
| | plant type Perennial flower in zone 5 and above, annual elsewhere |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | water needs Medium |
| | height 3 feet tall, 1 foot wide |
Sunset blooms in the cooler parts of summer and fall are what you can anticipate when you grow Orange Wonder snapdragons. These awesome flowers are great for garnishes and for stunning flower arrangements. Line beds with these to bring in the pollinators, too!
Unless you live in a region with frigid winters, you can expect these to re-emerge in spring as perennials. Otherwise, deadhead the spent flowers to sow seeds for the next growing season.
All Kinds and Forms Mixed Cacti
Growing cacti from seed is a fun and low-maintenance gardening project.
| | plant type Tender perennial cacti |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Low |
| | height 6 to 12 inches tall |
If you’re more of a houseplant person, or if you’re someone who wants to learn the slow-going process of germination, opt for our Mixed Cacti seeds. Once you get your seeds germinated, you’ll have little to do other than add minimal water and watch them grow.
You get six-plus varieties when you grow the seeds in this packet. Expect at least Saguaro cactus, Emory’s barrel cactus, Southwestern barrel cactus, Arizona barrel cactus, prickly pear cactus, and strawberry cactus – with potential for a few more!
Robin Beet
These beets typically grow up to 2 ½ inches wide when fully mature.
| | plant type Frost tolerant annual |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Low |
| | height 15 to 17 inches tall |
Jacques loves these Robin beets because they’re small and easy to grow. They’re perfect for pickling or enjoying freshly shaven on a salad. Roasting these, canning them, or even eating the greens is not off the table either.
The fully mature Robin beets reach up to 2 ½ inches in diameter, but you can harvest even earlier if you want to grow some baby beets. Throw these in your beds with carrots, and you’ll have a slew of delicious companion roots come summer or spring. Note that beets do best over a cool fall rather than a hot spring.
The Bride Bachelor’s Button
To support its tall stems, plant several seeds together in clusters.
| | plant type Annual flower |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Medium |
| | height 3 feet tall, 14 inches wide |
You may be used to blue hues from bachelor’s buttons, but The Bride is a bright white. The Bride’s petals are much fuller and frillier than your average button, but just like its counterparts, it invites in butterflies and bees while deterring deer, too.
Plant a few seeds together in bunches to support the tall stems of this plant. The flowers fade away to produce viable seeds that spread out and return in spring. Make sure you deadhead yours if you don’t want to have an ever-increasing patch of brilliant white bachelor’s buttons.
Fairy Bouquet Linaria
Each petal sports a vibrant yellow accentuating the linaria rainbow.
| | plant type Annual flower |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | water needs Medium |
| | height 15 inches tall, 10 inches wide |
If you can’t decide on one color for your cut flower garden, Fairy Bouquet Linaria is a 1934 All-America Selections winner that has at least five for you to enjoy! Known commonly as toadflax, the flowers resemble snapdragons in a much smaller stature. They lure in pollinators and keep away deer, too.
With a height of just over two feet, you can incorporate little pinches of seeds here and there in the garden as a lush, colorful centerpiece or along borders. Each differently-colored petal’s lower lip has a bright dash of yellow that further accentuates the linaria rainbow.
Lemon & Tangerine Gems Signet Marigold
These tiny yellow and orange flowers offer everything other marigolds do for your garden, with more blooms!
| | plant type Annual flower |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | water needs Low |
| | height 1 foot tall |
Yet another set of marigolds you can’t deny are Lemon and Tangerine Gems! These tiny yellow and orange flowers do everything for your garden that any other marigold can. What distinguishes them is the sheer number of blooms and their multicolored array.
You can include these in your favorite tea blends and dressings and infused in oils for cosmetics. They make lovely tomato companions, and the blooms last until the frost sets in during the fall season. That means a flush of gold and tangerine in your garden all summer.
Love-In-A-Mist Delft Blue
This flower stands out from other garden choices with deep burgundy stamens amidst its petals.
| | plant type Annual flower |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | water needs Medium |
| | height 3 feet tall, 1 foot wide |
Adding an interesting plant to your garden, like Delft Blue Love-In-A-Mist, will probably change how you look at cut flowers. The spindly leaves and white petals with violet-blue streaks are named after the Delft Blue pottery tradition from the 17th century Netherlands.
Among its petals are deep burgundy stamens, giving this flower a unique look among others you might choose for your garden. Not only are they wonderful in freshly plucked arrangements, but they’re gorgeous when allowed to form lantern-like seed pods in dried bouquets.
Sensitive Plant
The Sensitive Plant stands out as an intriguing addition to any plant collection.
| | plant type Perennial in zones 10 and above, annual elsewhere |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | water needs Low |
| | height 20 inches tall |
Let’s end this list with one of the most interesting plants out there – Sensitive Plant! This mimosa relative makes an excellent perennial plant in the tropics and a lovely annual in other regions. It’s also the perfect houseplant year-round, requiring little care to thrive.
It has been named for its tendency to close its leaves when touched. In summer, the plant blooms lovely pink pom-pom-shaped flowers. These fade into bristly seed pods. Grow one with your kids, and teach them about the plant’s life cycle and its ability to protect itself.
Final Thoughts
Of course, you can grow more than 24 plants this year, but if you’re unsure where to start, this is a great place to start! You can pick your favorites and grow along with Jacques and Kevin, or you can enrich your already-planned garden with a few of these planted here and there.
Whatever you decide, know that you’ll receive some of the best quality seeds you can find. These flowers, veggies, and herbs are all exciting additions to your growing adventures.
