Every year, I cultivate a vegetable garden, but with the increasing cost of groceries during the winter, my desire for homegrown fresh produce has heightened. Fortunately, spring crops like radishes and arugula are already thriving. Hence, for my yearly planting recommendations, I have selected four warm-weather vegetables and one herb that are commonly found on my grocery list, along with a few flowers.
The suggestions below consist of plants that I experimented with in my garden last summer, as well as those recommended by other gardening enthusiasts. Keep an eye out for these selections as you explore the garden center this season.
An Unconventional-Looking Squash
Green Lightning, despite its superhero-like name, is actually a summer squash known for its unique appearance and delightful taste. This pattypan variety thrives in full sun and should be harvested when the fruits reach the size of a ping-pong ball or larger for grilling purposes. These squashes can be stuffed with various fillings for a delicious meal.
A Compact Pumpkin
Having to relocate my vegetable gardens to the front yard due to excessive shade in the backyard, I opted for smaller crops like the Patch for Kids pumpkin variety. Planted in the corner of my front-yard perennial garden, these pumpkins, reaching 2.5–3.5 kg, were a manageable size with minimal vine sprawl. Select a sunny location, enrich the soil with organic matter, and plant the seeds in low mounds after the frost risk has passed. If this variety is unavailable, consider alternatives like Small Sugar.
A Flavorful Mini Tomato
Candyland Red currant tomatoes offer a burst of flavor in a small package. I cultivated this indeterminate tomato in a large pot on my back deck, supported by a trellis as it reached nearly a meter in height. The tomatoes ripened in clusters, providing a continuous supply throughout the season. Ideal for small spaces, these tomatoes are perfect for salads or snacking. Plant them in full sun and provide staking for support.
A Mildew-Resistant Basil
Basil is a staple in my garden, used fresh in summer and preserved for later. To combat the downy mildew that often affects basil leaves, I recommend Piedmont, a compact Genovese basil variety resistant to various diseases. Cultivate it in full sun, prune regularly to promote growth, and enjoy its aromatic leaves without worrying about mildew.
A Petite Eggplant
Last year, I grew Fairy Tale eggplant, a visually appealing variety with light purple fruits streaked with white. Planted in my full-sun front-yard raised bed, this variety yielded beautiful eggplants. I used them to prepare a delicious mutabal dip following a recipe from Luay Ghafari’s website, a fellow CBC Life writer.
An Attractive Hummingbird-Attracting Annual
In 2025, I experimented with plants from the Summerlong series of Agastache mexicana, also known as Mexican giant hyssop. These annuals, featuring magenta, lemon, and coral flowers, were added to my containers as filler plants alongside other showy selections. Blo