17 Essential Crops for Your Victory Garden

Victory gardens go back to World Wars I and II when millions turned to growing food at home in a feat of patriotism and self-reliance. The movement began in 1917 when the federal government formed the U.S. National War Garden Commission to distribute information on the importance of growing food, how to garden, what to grow, and even offering seed packets.

Victory gardens provided fresh food to fill shortages and reduce demand during wartime. Labor, machinery, and transportation limitations created a need for local food, and Americans responded by growing the bulk of the fresh supply. In 1944, the Department of Agriculture set a goal of 22 million victory gardens to release other supplies and agricultural resources to troops, workers, and allies (whose farmland turned into battlefields). Ornamental beds, vacant lots, schoolyards, public parks, and the White House front lawn under Eleanor Roosevelt became garden sites.

For a delicate twist, try ‘Rapini,’ a broccoli raab (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa). Stems and small crowns are tender, mild, and slightly peppery. They reach only 12 to 14 inches tall and are ready in 45 days. In addition to the florets, the leaves of both broccoli and broccoli raab are edible, fresh, and cooked.

Start broccoli seeds indoors four to six weeks before the final frost in cool climates. In mild climates, sow them in the fall for a winner/early spring harvest. Another round in late summer produces a yield in the fall before frost.

Carrot ‘Tendersweet’

	common name Carrot ‘Tendersweet’
	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Tendersweet’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8-10”

Carrots are easy growers wherever you have space in the garden. In warm climates, they grow in the cool seasons of spring and fall and are heat-tolerant, able to withstand cool-to-warm transitions. In areas with cool summers, do successional sowing every few weeks for a continual harvest through the first frost.

‘Tendersweet’ is a classic carrot with a wonderfully sweet flavor and long, slender roots. In rich red-orange, they’re as pretty as they are tasty, fresh, or cooked, and hold their color.

Direct sow seeds to avoid disturbing the taproot at transplanting. Aim to sow two to four weeks before the final frost, with soil temperatures above 45°F (7°C). Scatter seeds on the soil surface and spread lightly to ensure soil contact.

Cucumber ‘Marketmore’

	common name Cucumber ‘Marketmore’
	botanical name Cucumis sativus ‘Marketmore’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4-6’

Cucumbers are a summer must-have for their cool, crisp, hydrating qualities. Opt for a climber with a support trellis or a space-saving compact variety, both with high yields throughout the warm season.

‘Marketmore’ is a 1968 introduction out of Cornell with uniform six to eight-inch fruits, even under variable weather conditions. The dark green cucumbers are crisp, flavorful, and resist the cucumber mosaic virus.

Heirloom varieties bring history and good performance to the edible landscape. ‘White Wonder’ is an 1893 heirloom that starts a bright, pale green and matures to ivory white. The vines are fast-growing and heat-tolerant. ‘Lemon’ from 1894 bears round fruits in sunny yellow with a light flavor.

Corn ‘Golden Bantam’

	common name Corn ‘Golden Bantam’
	botanical name Zea mays ‘Golden Bantam’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5’

Introduced by Burpee in 1902, ‘ Golden Bantam’ was the first yellow-kerneled variety to be popular beyond its white corn predecessors. The yellow corn became the variety to beat with sweet kernels on five-foot stalks.

‘Golden Bantam’ often bears two sturdy ears per stalk. Its classic corn flavor remains when boiled or roasted and freezes well on the cob.

‘Golden Bantam’ is an early sweet corn that performs well in cold spring soils. Direct sow it early in the season after the final frost when the soil warms above 60°F (16°C).

Radish ‘Cherry Belle’

	common name Radish ‘Cherry Belle’
	botanical name Raphanus sativus ‘Cherry Belle’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3”

A gardener and chef favorite, ‘Cherry Belle’ radishes produce bunches of bright red globes with white flesh and a crisp flavor. The Holland heirlooms won the All-America Selections award in 1949 for their fast growth, easy care, and flavorful roots. Crisp, crunchy, and colorful, ‘Cherry Belle’ dresses up a salad.

Sow these in the cool temperatures of spring and fall. ‘Cherry Belle’ matures in about 24 days and is well-suited to successional plantings every one to two weeks for a continual crop through late spring and early summer. Harvest the little belles when the roots are about 1’ in diameter.

Radishes are quick-growing and pair well in the carrot patch. Scatter both carrot and radish seeds for a complimentary planting. Harvest the speedy radishes before the carrots are ready, thinning the crop and aerating roots simultaneously. Their compact stature makes them a good choice for containers and raised beds. If you have leftover seeds, sow them in bare beds to stabilize soils as a placeholding cover crop to lessen soil compaction and improve aeration.

Tomato ‘Yellow Pear’ 

	common name Tomato ‘Yellow Pear’
	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Yellow Pear’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-8’

No victory garden would be complete without a selection of tomatoes. Heirloom ‘Yellow Pear’ produces masses of one-to-two-inch pear-shaped golden tomatoes. Pretty and flavorful, the little pears are tangy and emerge prolifically throughout the summer.

‘Yellow Pear’ dates to Europe in the 1700s and maybe earlier. American colonists used them for pickling, canning, and flavoring soups, plus they’re delicious right off the vine.

Many strains of yellow pear tomatoes are available today and are easy-to-grow, vigorous, and heavy producers. Heirloom yellow pears are indeterminate, with long vines that yield fruits all season. When it’s time to harvest, pick the tomatoes early and let them ripen indoors. They’ll be just as tasty and less susceptible to splitting and pest damage than on the vine.

Sweet Pepper ‘Jimmy Nardello’

	common name Sweet Pepper ‘Jimmy Nardello’
	botanical name Capsicum annuum ‘Jimmy Nardello’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”

Reliable and sweet ‘Jimmy Nardello’ pepper hails from the Basilicata region of Italy. Mr. Nardello’s mother and father brought seeds to the U.S. when they immigrated in 1887.

The Italian peppers have a sweet, mildly spicy flavor with a hint of roasted apples. The plants produce five- to ten-inch-long glossy red peppers, perfect for frying, cooking, or adding to fresh salsas. 

The well-adapted heirloom grows across various climates in the warm season. Start seeds indoors eight to ten weeks before the final frost date. Move seedlings outdoors when days are warm (70°F or 21°C) and nights are above 55°F (13°C). Due to the prolific growth and loads of peppers, plants may need staking or caging.

Squash ‘Tromboncino’

	common name Squash ‘Tromboncino’
	botanical name Cucurbita moschata ‘Tromboncino’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 15’ vines

‘Tromboncino’ is another Italian heirloom, this time a favorite squash. Also called ‘Zucchino Rampicante,’ long fruits mature in autumn, though they’re equally tasty harvested young, green, and tender in the summer. They provide a flavorful stand-in for summer squash and develop butternut characteristics in the fall.

Grow the vigorous vines on a trellis or arch to watch the long and narrow fruits develop. As they hang, the unique squash is a conversation piece that reaches up to three feet long if left on the vine.

C. moschata is more resistant to squash vine borer infestations than other species. Its thick, smooth stems make them less accessible during egg-laying and larval cycles. You may have more success with C. moschata varieties over traditional summer squashes.

Turnip ‘Purple Top White Globe’

	common name Turnip ‘Purple Top White Globe’
	botanical name Brassica rapa ‘Purple Top White Globe’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 14-22”

Turnips are a centuries-old root vegetable and a hearty stand-in for potatoes. In addition to the nutritious roots, the vitamin-packed greens are edible. They grow well in the ground, containers, and raised beds and make an easy companion to beets.

‘Purple Top White Globe’ adds visual interest with purple shoulders above the soil and creamy white skin beneath. Roots reach two to six inches in diameter, depending on picking time (about 50 days). Use them mashed, roasted, as fries, or for fresh eating. The European heirloom has leaves as tasty as the roots.

As a bonus, the root vegetables serve to aerate the soil as they develop. If you have extra seeds, sow them as a cover crop to nourish and hold soils in the “off” season when beds are bare.

Beet ‘Chioggia’

	common name Beet ‘Chioggia’
	botanical name Beta vulgaris ‘Chioggia’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 18”

Not your average beet, this 1800s Italian heirloom bears the name of an island fishing village in Northern Italy near Venice. A candy-striped variety, ‘Chioggia’s’ interior has a peppermint swirl of white and pinky-red rings. It has a mild, sweet, and slightly peppery flavor. The roots and their leafy greens are rich in vitamins and minerals, including A, C, iron, potassium, and folic acid, with antioxidant benefits.

The beets are slightly flattened globes. Harvest them early at one to three inches for the best flavor and texture. The roots have pink, orange, and red-hued skins, and the flesh is relatively free of bleeding and staining.

‘Chioggia’ is an early producer maturing in 55 days. The cold-tolerant, frost-hardy root vegetables grow best in the cool weather of fall and spring. Direct sow seeds two to four weeks before the last frost. In warm climates, sow them in the fall for a winter harvest.

Watermelon ‘Sugar Baby’

	common name Watermelon ‘Sugar Baby’
	botanical name Citrullus lanatus ‘Sugar Baby’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-10’ vines

Sweet, delicious, and small enough to fit in an ice box, ‘Sugar Baby’ packs all the juicy flavor in a compact form. The rounds have firm, dark skin and weigh six to ten pounds. 

Woodside Seed Growing Company of Rocky Ford, Colorado, introduced ‘Sugar Baby’ in its 1958 seed catalog. Amateur breeder Mr. Hardin of Oklahoma selected it from an heirloom Japanese variety, ‘Tough Sweets.’ ‘Sugar Baby’ is an improved dwarf variety with deep red flesh and mottled black-green skin.

In addition to its sweet flavor, ‘Sugar Baby’ is an early maturing melon, ready about 80 days after planting. Wait to sow seeds until at least one or two weeks after the final frost. 

Bush Beans ‘Contender’

	common name Bush Beans ‘Contender’
	botanical name Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Contender’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12-20”

Bush beans move from spring to summer to fall with harvests throughout the season. ‘Contender’ is compact and bushy, versatile in small spaces and pots without the need for support.

The favorite from 1949 is an early bean, ready in under 50 days. Known for its excellent flavor, disease resistance, and high yield, ‘Contender’ is hardy and reliable. It produces loads of five-and-a-half-inch-inch pods in short order. 

Bush beans have a delicate root system and are best direct-sown with adequate spacing for ample air circulation. Harvest the pods regularly to keep them producing.

Okra ‘Clemson Spineless’

	common name Okra ‘Clemson Spineless’
	botanical name Abelmoschus esculentus ‘Clemson Spineless’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4-5’

Okra is highly ornamental with small, hibiscus-like flowers, attractive palmate leaves, and striking seed pods. Enjoy the pods fresh, cooked, or pickled. Freeze them to store for winter vegetable soups.

‘Clemson Spineless,’ while introduced by the University in 1939, built upon forty-year heirloom selections of Mr. Thomas Davis of Lancaster, South Carolina. The selection has ribbed velvety green pods free of spines. Harvest them when they’re five inches or smaller (they keep growing but become tough and sinewy).

Okra grows best in full sun in warm to hot conditions. Germination is highest when soil temperatures are 70°F (21°C) and higher. The heritage crop tolerates various soil types, preferring sandy loams with good drainage.

Snap Pea ‘Sugar Daddy’

	common name Snap Pea ‘Sugar Daddy’
	botanical name Pisum sativum ‘Sugar Daddy’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-3’

Snap peas thrive in the cool season and add vertical interest on a trellis or arch. With easy access, snap them fresh as you stroll the garden or use them in salads, stir-fries, or steamed. Place seeds directly at the base of a growing structure four to six weeks before the last frost. 

‘Sugar Daddy’ isn’t an heirloom, but its compact growth, nutrition profile, and delicious snacking make it worth growing in our modern victory gardens. The compact vines reach two to three feet high, ideal for small spaces and containers with only a small trellis or fence for support. 

The sweet pods are stringless on short vines with improved disease resistance. The slender three-inch pods are ready in about 60 days.

Cantaloupe ‘Hearts of Gold’

	common name Cantaloupe ‘Hearts of Gold’
	botanical name Cucumis melo ‘Hearts of Gold’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’ vines

This popular old-time melon (also called muskmelon) boasts deep orange flesh and a tangy, sweet flavor and aroma to match. The round melons weigh two to three pounds and grow six inches in diameter. Skins are heavily netted, and rinds are thin for good eating.

‘Hearts of Gold’ is a late 1800s variety with productive fruiting. It’s a good option for areas with short growing seasons. Start seeds indoors two to four weeks before the last frost date and move plants outdoors one to two weeks following. For longer growing seasons, direct sow seeds one to two weeks after the final frost.

Tomato ‘Cherokee Purple’

	common name Tomato ‘Cherokee Purple’
	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Cherokee Purple’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 9’

‘Cherokee Purple’ has shiny, dusky rose-purple fruits with pinkish-red flesh and a rich, sweet flavor. Large and juicy, they’re one of the best purple beefsteak tomatoes available.

The heritage selection dates to Tennessee pre-1890 with Cherokee ties. Seed Savers Exchange introduced ‘Cherokee Purple’ in 1991 from heirloom tomato expert Craig LeHollier.

‘Cherokee Purple’ resists cracking and defects and is a productive fruiter. Long vines are indeterminate and reach up to nine feet. Use a trellis, cage, or stakes.to support the rambling stems.

Eggplant ‘Black Beauty’

	common name Eggplant ‘Black Beauty’
	botanical name Solanum melongena ‘Black Beauty’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24-30”

These beauties enhance the victory garden with shiny, dark purple fruits and leafy stems with lavender blooms. ‘Black Beauty’ is a Burpee 1902 introduction and a longtime favorite for its large eggplants and delicate flavor.

‘Black Beauty’ originates from an 1880s cross between ‘Black Pekin’ Chinese eggplant and ‘Large Early Purple.’ The fruits are one to three pounds and have tender skin with no need for peeling.

Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before your final frost and move seedlings outdoors one to two weeks after the frost. To direct sow, wait until soil temperatures warm to 70°F (21°C) for best growth. These compact growers do well in containers.