All Growing Guides

Bush beans grow 18-24 inches tall and produce in 50-55 days. Use an 8-inch deep pot, plant 4 inches apart, and harvest when pods are 4-6 inches.

Cherry tomatoes grow well in 5-gallon pots on a balcony with 6-8 hours of sun. They mature in 60-70 days and produce dozens of fruits per plant.

Chives grow well in 8-inch pots and come back every year. Cut them to 2 inches and they regrow in 2 weeks. Almost impossible to kill.

Calendula sprouts in 7-14 days and blooms in 50-60 days. It's cool-season and self-seeds. Petals are edible and can substitute for saffron.

Cilantro bolts above 75°F. To slow it: plant in cool weather, provide afternoon shade, keep soil moist, and succession-plant every 2-3 weeks.

Cosmos sprout in 7-10 days and bloom in 60-75 days. They thrive in poor soil — too much fertilizer means no flowers. They self-seed every year.

Dill self-seeds aggressively and grows 3 feet tall. Plant where you want it to spread, or grow dwarf varieties in containers.

Kale sprouts in 5-10 days and matures in 55-65 days. It doesn't bolt in heat and gets sweeter after frost. Harvest outer leaves for months.

Marigolds sprout in 5-7 days and bloom in 50-60 days. They're the easiest flower for beginners and repel some garden pests.

Lettuce sprouts in 7-10 days and is ready to harvest in 45-60 days. Plant in cool weather, keep soil moist, and harvest outer leaves so the plant keeps producing.

Nasturtium sprouts in 7-14 days and blooms in 50-60 days. It thrives in poor soil. Every part is edible.

Radishes sprout in 4-6 days and mature in 25. Plant 1/4 inch deep, thin to 2 inches, keep soil moist, and harvest when the root pokes out of the soil.

Peas are the first crop of spring. Plant 4-6 weeks before last frost, when soil is 45°F+. They mature in 60-70 days and fix nitrogen in the soil.

Dwarf sunflowers like Teddy Bear grow 2-3 feet tall and work in 12-inch pots. They need 6-8 hours of sun and bloom 60-90 days after planting.

Parsley takes 14-21 days to germinate. Soak seeds 24 hours before planting, keep soil consistently moist, and harvest outer stems starting at 70-90 days.