Parsley, Garden Parsley, Petroselinum

Petroselinum crispum

Apiaceae

NE Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

💧WaterKeep soil consistently moist but not saturated. Provide about 1 inch of water per week and mulch to reduce bolting.

🗺️Zone4-9; grown as an annual in all zones

📏Height12-24 inches

Ideal pH6 – 7

Parsnip, Garden Parsnip, Wild Parsnip (wild form)

Pastinaca sativa

Apiaceae

LC Moderate ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterEnsure deep, even watering during summer root expansion to prevent root splitting and woody cores.

🗺️Zone2a-9b

📏Height2-4 feet (60-120 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7

Pickerelweed, Blue Pickerel, Heartleaf Pickerelweed

Pontederia cordata

Pontederiaceae

LC Easy

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterMust be kept in continuously submerged or saturated substrates. Submerge crown under 2 to 12 inches (5-30 cm) of standing water.

🗺️Zone3a-10b

📏Height2-4 feet (60-120 cm)

Ideal pH5.5 – 7

Popcorn, Popping Corn

Zea mays

Poaceae

LC Moderate

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterProvide 1-1.5 inches of water weekly; critical moisture periods occur during silking, tasseling, and kernel development.

🗺️Zone2a-11b

📏Height5-8 feet (1.5-2.4 m)

Ideal pH6 – 6.8

Potato, Irish Potato, Spud, Papa, Cultivated Potato

Solanum tuberosum

Solanaceae

NE Easy ⚠️ Highly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterProvide consistent moisture, about 1-2 inches per week, especially during tuber initiation and bulking. Avoid waterlogged soil to reduce tuber rot.

🗺️ZoneUSDA 3-10 as annual; 8-10 may overwinter tubers or volunteers

📏Height1.5-2 feet

Ideal pH4.8 – 6.5

Indian Fig Prickly Pear, Nopal, Tuna Cactus, Barbary Fig

Opuntia ficus-indica

Cactaceae

DD Easy

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterIrrigate lightly during early cladode emergence to maximize crop yield; otherwise entirely drought-tolerant.

🗺️Zone8b-11b

📏Height10-15 feet (3-5 m)

Ideal pH6 – 8.5

Field Pumpkin, Sugar Pumpkin, Jack-o'-Lantern

Cucurbita pepo

Cucurbitaceae

LC Easy

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterDeep, regular irrigation of 1-2 inches per week applied directly at soil level to prevent foliar fungal diseases like powdery mildew.

🗺️Zone3a-11b

📏Height1.5-2.5 feet (45-75 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 6.8

Purple Coneflower, Eastern Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Asteraceae

LC Easy

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterLow; drought-tolerant once established. Supplementary water during severe heat waves improves flowering duration.

🗺️Zone3a-9b

📏Height2-4 feet (60-120 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7.5

Quinoa, Quinua, Andean Mother Grain

Chenopodium quinoa

Amaranthaceae

NE Moderate ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterIrrigate during germination and seedling establishment; reduce moisture drastically once flowering begins to prevent downy mildew.

🗺️Zone4a-10b

📏Height3-7 feet (90-210 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 8.5

Radicchio, Italian Chicory, Red Chicory of Chioggia

Cichorium intybus

Asteraceae

LC Moderate

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterProvide 1 inch of water weekly. Ensure steady soil moisture during late summer head formation to avoid tipburn.

🗺️Zone4a-9b

📏Height8-12 inches (20-30 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7

Radish, Garden Radish, Daikon, Oriental Radish

Raphanus sativus

Brassicaceae

NE Easy

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

💧WaterProvide consistent, even moisture. Drought stress causes pithy, cracked, or excessively pungent roots.

🗺️Zone2a-10b, cultivated as a cool-season crop

📏Height6-12 inches foliage; up to 36 inches when flowering

Ideal pH6 – 7

Red Raspberry

Rubus idaeus

Rosaceae

LC Moderate

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

💧WaterProvide 1-1.5 inches of water per week during flowering and fruiting. Use drip irrigation where possible to keep foliage dry and reduce fungal disease.

🗺️Zone3a-9b

📏Height4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m), occasionally up to 8 feet (2.4 m)

Ideal pH5.5 – 6.5