I’m starting to plan for my 2025 garden and need some inspiration! I’m in zone 6b but would love to hear about favorites from other zones too. What do you love planting? I’m looking for ideas—things that give big harvests, taste amazing, are unique, or are just fun to grow. Please share your favorite varieties and brands if you can!
@Marlow
Oh, I love that! I ended up with a ton of sulphur cosmos this year—I don’t even know where they came from!
Blake said:
@Marlow
Oh, I love that! I ended up with a ton of sulphur cosmos this year—I don’t even know where they came from!
@Marlow
I had so many colors from a wildflower mix too! But one mild frost wiped them all out before they could bloom. I was heartbroken. 
Rainbow chard is one of my favorites! It’s easy to cook with and so colorful. I also love mixed-color carrots—they look beautiful pickled in jars. Another must-try is ground cherries (not tomatillos). They taste kind of like pineapple and grow like crazy! This was our first year with them, and we had so many we had to give a bunch away.
I also love flowers and plant as many as possible among my veggies. They attract pollinators and look beautiful. Marigolds are great for deterring aphids, and I use small flowers to mark my rows.
@Nico
Ground cherries are such a fun surprise! I can’t wait to grow them again next year.
Rex said:
@Nico
Ground cherries are such a fun surprise! I can’t wait to grow them again next year.
I’ve been wanting to try those!
Have you tried asparagus? It’s amazing straight from the garden—tastes like fresh, juicy peas! It takes a few years to establish, but it’s worth it.
In 6b, our cucumbers were the star of our first garden this year. They thrived even in our not-so-great soil, unlike some of the other things we tried.
Alden said:
In 6b, our cucumbers were the star of our first garden this year. They thrived even in our not-so-great soil, unlike some of the other things we tried.
I’m also in 6b and had more cucumbers than I knew what to do with! But not a single zucchini—just lots of flowers and no fruit.
@Reese
6b here too, and the squash bugs came for everything this year.
Marin said:
@Reese
6b here too, and the squash bugs came for everything this year.
Sevin works great if you’re okay with non-organic options.
@Reese
Zucchinis sometimes need help with pollination. My grandma used to tie male flowers closed and use a paintbrush to pollinate the females when they showed up.
Harlem said:
@Reese
Zucchinis sometimes need help with pollination. My grandma used to tie male flowers closed and use a paintbrush to pollinate the females when they showed up.
I had only male flowers for weeks—no females at all! It was so weird.
@Reese
Try cutting off a few male flowers and pruning weekly to encourage fresh growth. That worked for me and led to plenty of female flowers.
I’m in zone 6b Ohio and had incredible success with Boston pickling cucumbers this year. The yields were so high, and my kid loved snacking on them all summer.
Wasabi arugula—it’s got a nice kick!
Red Yard Long Noodle Beans!!!
Crying with envy from zone 2b…