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Crop library

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A compact crop library for real bed constraints.

Filter vegetables, herbs, and flowers by the conditions that change a plan: season, spacing, light, starting method, and container suitability.

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Find a crop that fits the space

21 of 21 crops

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fruiting

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Give indeterminate plants sturdy support and generous airflow.

Spacing: 24 in
Typical harvest: 60–90 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Transplant

warm seasonContainer ready

fruiting

Pepper

Capsicum annuum

Wait for warm soil; compact varieties perform well in containers.

Spacing: 18 in
Typical harvest: 60–100 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Transplant

warm seasonContainer ready

fruiting

Cucumber

Cucumis sativus

Trellising saves bed space and keeps fruit easier to spot.

Spacing: 12 in
Typical harvest: 50–70 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Either

warm seasonContainer ready

fruiting

Bush bean

Phaseolus vulgaris

Sow small batches every couple of weeks for a longer harvest.

Spacing: 6 in
Typical harvest: 45–60 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Direct sow

warm seasonContainer ready

fruiting

Pea

Pisum sativum

Install the trellis before seedlings need it to protect tender roots.

Spacing: 3 in
Typical harvest: 55–75 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Direct sow

cool seasonContainer ready

fruiting

Zucchini

Cucurbita pepo

One mature plant can occupy far more than a single square foot.

Spacing: 36 in
Typical harvest: 45–60 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Either

warm seasonBest with bed space

leafy

Leaf lettuce

Lactuca sativa

Harvest outer leaves young or allow more room for full heads.

Spacing: 6 in
Typical harvest: 30–55 days
Light: Sun / part shade
Start: Either

cool seasonContainer ready

leafy

Kale

Brassica oleracea var. sabellica

Closer spacing suits baby leaves; full plants need the listed room.

Spacing: 12 in
Typical harvest: 50–70 days
Light: Sun / part shade
Start: Either

cool seasonContainer ready

leafy

Spinach

Spinacia oleracea

Best in cool conditions; heat and long days can trigger bolting.

Spacing: 4 in
Typical harvest: 35–50 days
Light: Sun / part shade
Start: Direct sow

cool seasonContainer ready

leafy

Swiss chard

Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris

A long-season leafy crop that tolerates more heat than spinach.

Spacing: 12 in
Typical harvest: 50–65 days
Light: Sun / part shade
Start: Either

Cool or warmContainer ready

leafy

Broccoli

Brassica oleracea var. italica

Allow airflow and plan for the wide leaf canopy, not just the head.

Spacing: 18 in
Typical harvest: 55–85 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Transplant

cool seasonContainer ready

roots

Carrot

Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Use loose, stone-free soil and thin seedlings to their final spacing.

Spacing: 3 in
Typical harvest: 60–80 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Direct sow

cool seasonContainer ready

roots

Radish

Raphanus sativus

Quick maturity makes radish useful between slower-growing crops.

Spacing: 2 in
Typical harvest: 22–40 days
Light: Sun / part shade
Start: Direct sow

cool seasonContainer ready

roots

Beet

Beta vulgaris

Each seed cluster may produce several seedlings, so thinning matters.

Spacing: 4 in
Typical harvest: 50–70 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Direct sow

cool seasonContainer ready

roots

Bulb onion

Allium cepa

Match day-length type to your latitude before choosing a variety.

Spacing: 4 in
Typical harvest: 90–120 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Either

cool seasonContainer ready

herbs

Basil

Ocimum basilicum

Pinch growing tips often to encourage a branching, leafy plant.

Spacing: 10 in
Typical harvest: 50–75 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Either

warm seasonContainer ready

herbs

Cilantro

Coriandrum sativum

Succession sow because individual plants move quickly to flower.

Spacing: 4 in
Typical harvest: 40–55 days
Light: Sun / part shade
Start: Direct sow

cool seasonContainer ready

herbs

Parsley

Petroselinum crispum

Germination can be slow; keep the seedbed evenly moist.

Spacing: 8 in
Typical harvest: 70–90 days
Light: Sun / part shade
Start: Either

Cool or warmContainer ready

flowers

Marigold

Tagetes spp.

Choose compact varieties for bed edges and larger types for cutting.

Spacing: 10 in
Typical harvest: 50–70 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Either

warm seasonContainer ready

flowers

Nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus

Trailing forms spill over bed edges; bush types stay more compact.

Spacing: 12 in
Typical harvest: 55–70 days
Light: Sun / part shade
Start: Direct sow

cool seasonContainer ready

flowers

Zinnia

Zinnia elegans

Good airflow and watering at soil level help keep foliage dry.

Spacing: 12 in
Typical harvest: 60–75 days
Light: Full sun
Start: Either

warm seasonContainer ready

Favorites are stored only in this browser. Spacing is a starting point; check the variety packet and local growing guidance.

Read the cards

Three details that prevent crowded plans.

Spacing describes the mature plant

Baby-leaf harvests can be closer. Full heads, sprawling vines, and airflow-sensitive crops need more room.

Days are a range, not a deadline

Variety, temperature, transplant stress, and day length can all move harvest earlier or later.

Season labels need local context

A cool-season crop may grow in winter in one climate and spring or fall in another.

Place favorites in a bed Open the seasonal checklist