Which Vegetables Are ACTUALLY Worth Growing?

Vegetable Rankings and Growing Notes

The gardener ranks vegetables based on personal experience, balancing flavor and usefulness against growing difficulty. The rankings are subjective and may vary by climate, pests, and personal taste.

S Tier

• Sweet and hot peppers: Stand out for their variety and many kitchen uses.
• Garlic: Stores well, and saved cloves can be replanted.
• Leaf lettuce, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes
• Flowers: Cosmos, zinnias, and alyssum can attract beneficial insects.

A Tier

• Cucumbers: Quick, productive, and space-efficient when grown vertically, though pests and disease can be problems.
• Carrots: Versatile, store well, and tolerate both heat and cold.
• Tomatoes and super-hot peppers
• Bok choy: Cold-hardy.
• Parsnips and beans: Beans are easy to grow and can produce dry seeds for winter storage.

B Tier

• Winter squash, onions, broccoli, and cauliflower
• Romaine lettuce and Swiss chard: Insect netting can help protect greens such as chard.
• Radishes, ground cherries (physalis), cucamelons, and cabbage

These crops can be worthwhile but may have drawbacks, such as pests, slower growth, or limited appeal to the gardener.

C Tier

• Summer squash: Easy to grow, but takes up space and can develop powdery mildew.
• Eggplant
• Peas: Quick to grow and well suited to trellising, but the gardener tires of eating them.

D Tier

• Kale: The gardener dislikes it despite its cold hardiness and usefulness in cooking.

Crops Without a Specific Tier

• Potatoes: Fun and useful, but Colorado potato beetles are a major obstacle in the gardener’s New England garden.
• Watermelon: Challenging but rewarding when plants are protected; its exact tier is unclear.

Other Details

• Locations: New England and USDA Zone 6b are mentioned. Canada is also noted as a place where peppers can grow successfully.
• Sponsorship: Spot & Tango UnKibble is featured, and the presenter says their dog, Sadie, enjoys it.
• Presenter and channels: The presenter is from Geeky Greenhouse and also mentions their other channel, Pepper Geek.