24 Seeds to Grow in 2024

Can you believe the growing seasons of 2024 are fast upon us? It’s amazing how time flies. But if you’re not sure what to grow, it can be a daunting task to design and develop a garden in a short period. You must consider spacing, plant types, production times, and more. 

Maybe you’re already set for the season and looking for a few varieties to fill in areas of the garden. You’re miles ahead of me if that’s your situation. I’m still solidifying my lineup of veggies and flowers for the spring garden. 

No matter your circumstances, this list should help! We’ve gathered 24 plant varieties you should consider growing in this new year of 2024. The list spans high-producing veggies to more interesting online exclusives and flowering plants to support pollination. 

Seeds Featured In This Article:

24 Varieties to Grow in 2024

You have much to choose from in this series! We’ve broken it down by plant types, conditions, growth patterns, and even harvest seasons and timing. Take a look at this, and you’ll notice a great deal of the varieties are completely new to our catalog, too. 

Speckled Swan Hard-shelled Gourd

	plant type Frost-sensitive annual vegetable
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Medium
	height 8 to 12-foot vines

For a combo of decorative and edible squash, the Speckled Swan Hard-shelled Gourd is a great choice that adds so much interest to the fall garden. These long vines take up plenty of space if allowed to sprawl outward from their mounds. However, a trellis is perfect for them.

Vertical growing gives the gourds protection from ground-dwelling pathogens. Maintenance is easier when the plant is trellised as well. Cure these highly interesting gourds with their deep green, yellow-speckled skin, and you’ll have them indefinitely. Immature, tender gourds can be eaten, too!

Most Speckled Swan gourds display a characteristic nodding neck, but a few may produce straight ones. Either way, you can use them in autumn decor or eat them cubed and sauteed with fragrant spices. 

Minnesota Midget Cantaloupe/Muskmelon

	plant type Frost-sensitive annual vegetable
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Medium
	height 36-inch vines

If you’ve had trouble with melons in the past, try a Minnesota Midget Cantaloupe plant. This compact plant produces no more than 3-foot vines with small 4-inch melons at full maturity. Needless to say, our container gardener friends can get a lot out of this plant. 

A short maturation period means those with short seasons can get tons of small, juicy melons. Gardeners in zones 8 and higher can sow a second succession to double their yields. With resistance to Fusarium wilt, this melon fits into practically any garden. 

Caraflex Cabbage

	plant type Frost-tolerant annual or biennial
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	water needs Low
	height 9 inches tall, 4 ½ inches wide

Caraflex cabbages are also perfect for smaller gardens and gardens where you want to use up all your harvest rather than deal with a surplus. That’s because these cabbages grow to no more than 2 pounds total and mature within a few months. 

Their interesting conical shape is just one of the many reasons Caraflex is great for your upcoming garden. Along with that, you have a mild and sweet flavor that is adaptable to enjoying raw, in soups, or caramelized in the oven. 

Emerald Delight Summer Squash

	plant type Frost-sensitive annual vegetable
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Low
	height 2 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide bush

Jacques loves Emerald Delight Zucchini because it’s a prominent producer from spring through fall in his growing zone 10. Therefore, it’s a great plant to grow in any zone, and its high yields should be expected in optimal conditions. It’s highly disease-resistant, too, avoiding multiple pathogens. 

What sets this zucchini apart from the rest is its sparse foliage that makes continuously developing harvests easier to spot. It’s another compact plant that fits into full-spread and container gardens alike, and its short maturation rate ensures multiple yields over the season. 

Catnip

	plant type Hardy perennial herb in zones 3 and higher
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	water needs Low
	height 3 feet tall and wide

Both humans and their feline friends can get something out of hardy, no-fuss catnip. You can grow some for your cats and enjoy it in teas. It brings in many bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps and flies. This makes catnip an excellent companion in the veggie garden. 

You can sow catnip a couple of weeks before your last frost date and up to two weeks after your first frost date. When you plant it, know that you’ll probably bring in a few of the local cats. You can protect your younger plants from them with a super cool critter cage if you know that is an issue. Once the plants size up, pop off the cage and prepare for kitty bliss!

Cream Sausage Bush Tomato

	plant type Determinate, frost-sensitive annual vegetable
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Medium
	height 3 feet tall

Tomato fiends and those interested in growing high-yield tomatoes will adore Cream Sausage Bush Tomatoes. The pale yellow cylindrical fruit has a buttery and rich flavor that you can’t deny. The small bush can fit into spaces in garden beds or containers if that’s your growing method.

You can enjoy these when they reach full ripeness or when they’re light yellow and give slightly to a squeeze. Alternatively, you can harvest all the remaining fruit at the end of the season and eat them green or let them ripen on a counter as you would with other varieties. You will have a lot of these to enjoy!

If you prefer a more traditional variety, plenty of other tomatoes are just as easy to start from seed. But for something a little uncommon, we definitely recommend this variety!

Jewel Amethyst Eggplant

	plant type Frost sensitive annual vegetable, perennial in zones 9 and above
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Medium
	height 22 inches tall, 18 inches wide

If solanaceous plants are your thing, this is the eggplant for you! Even if you already have an established eggplant garden, pop some Jewel Amethyst into small spaces or empty containers to have even more abundance in the eggplant realm. Its small stature makes this possible. 

Harvest your jewels when they’re about 3 ½ inches to 4 inches long. If you continuously harvest them, you’ll keep a consistent supply going until the first frost. If you don’t have frost in your area, you can perennialize your plant and have eggplants on hand for years. 

Burgundy Broccoli

	plant type Frost-tolerant annual vegetable
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Low
	height 3 feet tall, 2 feet wide

Forget regular old green broccoli and opt for Burgundy Broccoli this coming spring season. This variety is perfect for those with mild winters and those with longer cold seasons. Among its cold tolerance, you can count on resistance to fusarium yellows. 

If you want to attain multiple harvests in the growing season, pinch off the first floret that emerges. This will give you access to lovely purple side shoots you can enjoy just as you would any broccoli. Another awesome benefit of this variety is its ability to resist bolting in heat.

Black Kat Pumpkin

	plant type Frost-sensitive annual vegetable
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Medium
	height 6 to 8 foot vines

If you tire of regular orange pumpkins in the fall, try a Black Kat Pumpkin instead! These pumpkins are so deeply green that they’re almost black. They’re a perfect decoration for goth gardeners and those who love the Halloween season, donning front steps and tables with 3 ½ to 4 ½ inch wide gourds. 

You won’t have to worry about powdery mildew plaguing your fall garden when you grow Black Kat; it has good resistance. You also have a chance to enjoy their bright orange flesh in any pumpkin dish you please. Trellis these up to make maintenance slightly easier and give the gourds good airflow. 

Pasilla Bajio Chilaca Chile Pepper

	plant type Frost-sensitive perennial in zones 9 through 11, annual elsewhere
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Low
	height 2 to 3 feet tall

Drying peppers is one of the most fun fall garden activities, and you’ll have plenty for harvesting and drying when you grow Pasilla Bajio.  While the fresh pepper’s full flavor and mild heat condenses in the drying process, it remains low on the Scoville scale at 1000 to 2000 units.

The word “Pasilla” translates to “little raisin,” referring to the look of these dark purple peppers after they’ve dried. Not only can you use these fresh in enchilada sauce, but the dried ones are a staple for mole sauces. With tobacco mosaic virus resistance, it’s kind of a no-brainer for growing this summer.

Muncher Persian Cucumber

	plant type Frost-sensitive annual vegetable
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Medium
	height 4 foot vines

Kevin has opted for the Muncher Persian Cucumber as he’s planning for his spring garden this year. Why, you ask? Because it’s one of those varieties that is perfect when pickled young. These smooth, burpless cukes are also fully mature at 5 inches and have a crispness beyond compare. 

These cukes are resistant to cucumber mosaic virus, powdery mildew, Alternaria leaf spot, and anthracnose, so none of the primary cucumber disease risks will be present when you grow them. As this variety is considered a slicer, you simply must try it fresh on your next charcuterie board. 

Cardinal Basil

	plant type Frost-sensitive annual herb
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Low
	height 2 feet tall, 20 inches wide

The red tops of Cardinal Basil are flowers arranged in a much more compact array than your typical white Genovese blooms. Sprout some of this variety to add interest and spicy goodness to the veggie or herb garden. You can pop it into empty spaces and containers as you see fit. 

Somehow, Cardinal packs all the same punch as your more common basils, with even more color, flavor, and aroma. It does all this within two months, making it possible for you to sow multiple plants successively throughout the year’s warmer seasons. 

Purple Emperor Trailing Nasturtium

	botanical name Frost-sensitive tender perennial flower in zones 10 and above, annual elsewhere
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	water needs Low
	height 6 to 7-foot vines

A trailing nasturtium is even better than a bushy one! Purple Emperor has lovely flowers that bloom a reddish purple in spring and eventually fade to a lavender or rose color. You and the pollinators can feast on this one, as it’s edible for humans and attractive to bees. 

Nasturtiums are a beloved companion in the vegetable garden, too, with a reputation for deterring aphids and other sap-sucking pests. Drape these vines over an arbor and plant some brassicas below for optimal pest resistance. Have a spicy snack of the leaves or flowers every time you visit the garden. 

Kilimanjaro White African Marigold

	plant type Annual flower
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Medium
	height 18 inches tall

Like nasturtiums, marigolds are the flower to grow when you want to include impeccable companions in your summer garden. Grow these Kilimanjaro White African Marigolds in one year, and expect excellent resistance to root-knot nematodes in next year’s tomato garden. 

Not only do they have companion benefits, but these large white marigolds are a sight to see! The flowers reach up to 2 ½ inches wide and have a lovely scent different from other marigolds. Use their petals in culinary efforts for a citrusy, spicy flavor. 

Green and Red Shiso Perilla

	plant type Perennial herb in zones 10 and above, annual elsewhere
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	water needs Low
	height 18 inches tall

As a spicy herb, Green and Red Shiso Perilla is a perfect addition to foods that need spiciness akin to cinnamon, clove, and mint with cumin overtones. Add fresh leaves to your salads or use them as a basil substitute in your favorite pesto recipe. 

Shiso is also great to add to a garden in need of bedding plants or pollinator attractants. Start growing yours in spring, and let it remain until it dies back in fall frosts. Those in the tropics and subtropics can have theirs growing all year round. 

Beaujolais Sweet Pea

	plant type Frost-tolerant annual flower
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	water needs Medium
	height 5 to 8 foot vines

The easy-to-early-sow Beaujolais Sweet Pea vine will surely add intense pops of color to your garden. Plant these in spring, and they’ll grow and bloom through the summer until the heat gets intense. This variety has sturdy stems that make the flowers great for fresh arrangements. 

While you shouldn’t eat these peas due to their mild toxicity, the maroon blooms make growing them worthwhile. You’ll bring in plenty of pollinators, and deer will leave these alone. Those in areas with mild summers can even enjoy the flowers into the fall season. 

Orange Wonder Snapdragon

	plant type Perennial flower in zone 5 and above, annual elsewhere
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	water needs Medium
	height 3 feet tall, 1 foot wide

Sunset blooms in the cooler parts of summer and fall are what you can anticipate when you grow Orange Wonder snapdragons. These awesome flowers are great for garnishes and for stunning flower arrangements. Line beds with these to bring in the pollinators, too!

Unless you live in a region with frigid winters, you can expect these to re-emerge in spring as perennials. Otherwise, deadhead the spent flowers to sow seeds for the next growing season.  

All Kinds and Forms Mixed Cacti

	plant type Tender perennial cacti
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Low
	height 6 to 12 inches tall

If you’re more of a houseplant person, or if you’re someone who wants to learn the slow-going process of germination, opt for our Mixed Cacti seeds. Once you get your seeds germinated, you’ll have little to do other than add minimal water and watch them grow. 

You get six-plus varieties when you grow the seeds in this packet. Expect at least Saguaro cactus, Emory’s barrel cactus, Southwestern barrel cactus, Arizona barrel cactus, prickly pear cactus, and strawberry cactus – with potential for a few more! 

Robin Beet

	plant type Frost tolerant annual
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Low
	height 15 to 17 inches tall

Jacques loves these Robin beets because they’re small and easy to grow. They’re perfect for pickling or enjoying freshly shaven on a salad. Roasting these, canning them, or even eating the greens is not off the table either. 

The fully mature Robin beets reach up to 2 ½ inches in diameter, but you can harvest even earlier if you want to grow some baby beets. Throw these in your beds with carrots, and you’ll have a slew of delicious companion roots come summer or spring. Note that beets do best over a cool fall rather than a hot spring. 

The Bride Bachelor’s Button

	plant type Annual flower
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Medium
	height 3 feet tall, 14 inches wide

You may be used to blue hues from bachelor’s buttons, but The Bride is a bright white. The Bride’s petals are much fuller and frillier than your average button, but just like its counterparts, it invites in butterflies and bees while deterring deer, too. 

Plant a few seeds together in bunches to support the tall stems of this plant. The flowers fade away to produce viable seeds that spread out and return in spring. Make sure you deadhead yours if you don’t want to have an ever-increasing patch of brilliant white bachelor’s buttons. 

Fairy Bouquet Linaria

	plant type Annual flower
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	water needs Medium
	height 15 inches tall, 10 inches wide

If you can’t decide on one color for your cut flower garden, Fairy Bouquet Linaria is a 1934 All-America Selections winner that has at least five for you to enjoy! Known commonly as toadflax, the flowers resemble snapdragons in a much smaller stature. They lure in pollinators and keep away deer, too. 

With a height of just over two feet, you can incorporate little pinches of seeds here and there in the garden as a lush, colorful centerpiece or along borders. Each differently-colored petal’s lower lip has a bright dash of yellow that further accentuates the linaria rainbow. 

Lemon & Tangerine Gems Signet Marigold

	plant type Annual flower
	sun requirements Full sun
	water needs Low
	height 1 foot tall

Yet another set of marigolds you can’t deny are Lemon and Tangerine Gems! These tiny yellow and orange flowers do everything for your garden that any other marigold can. What distinguishes them is the sheer number of blooms and their multicolored array. 

You can include these in your favorite tea blends and dressings and infused in oils for cosmetics. They make lovely tomato companions, and the blooms last until the frost sets in during the fall season. That means a flush of gold and tangerine in your garden all summer. 

Love-In-A-Mist Delft Blue

	plant type Annual flower
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	water needs Medium
	height 3 feet tall, 1 foot wide

Adding an interesting plant to your garden, like Delft Blue Love-In-A-Mist, will probably change how you look at cut flowers. The spindly leaves and white petals with violet-blue streaks are named after the Delft Blue pottery tradition from the 17th century Netherlands. 

Among its petals are deep burgundy stamens, giving this flower a unique look among others you might choose for your garden. Not only are they wonderful in freshly plucked arrangements, but they’re gorgeous when allowed to form lantern-like seed pods in dried bouquets.

Sensitive Plant

	plant type Perennial in zones 10 and above, annual elsewhere
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	water needs Low
	height 20 inches tall

Let’s end this list with one of the most interesting plants out there – Sensitive Plant! This mimosa relative makes an excellent perennial plant in the tropics and a lovely annual in other regions. It’s also the perfect houseplant year-round, requiring little care to thrive. 

It has been named for its tendency to close its leaves when touched. In summer, the plant blooms lovely pink pom-pom-shaped flowers. These fade into bristly seed pods. Grow one with your kids, and teach them about the plant’s life cycle and its ability to protect itself. 

Final Thoughts

Of course, you can grow more than 24 plants this year, but if you’re unsure where to start, this is a great place to start! You can pick your favorites and grow along with Jacques and Kevin, or you can enrich your already-planned garden with a few of these planted here and there. 

Whatever you decide, know that you’ll receive some of the best quality seeds you can find. These flowers, veggies, and herbs are all exciting additions to your growing adventures.