The Best Vegetables for Your Region

Are you really a bad vegetable gardener—or are you just growing the wrong veggies? According to experts that we’ve asked from across the country, many crop failures can be attributed to choosing the wrong variety of a given edible. Some varieties are specially bred for—or are just naturally better suited for—certain climates. In other words, it may not be your fault if you’ve failed with a specific crop in the past. It might be that you’ve just been planting the wrong type of melon, cucumber, or tomato. The following are veggies that will thrive in your specific conditions so, instead of crying at harvest time, you’ll be celebrating.

Sources

W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Warminster, PA; 800-888-1447; burpee.com

Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co., Mansfield, MO; 417-924-8917; rareseeds.com

Botanical Interests, Broomfield, CO; 877-821-4340; botanicalinterests.com

Harris Seeds, Rochester, NY; 800-544-7938; harrisseeds.com

Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Winslow, ME; 877-564-6697; johnnyseeds.com

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Mineral, VA; 540-894-9480; southernexposure.com

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel

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Ideal Tool for All Gardeners Use: Our heavy duty trenching shovel is designed by a professional gardening tool designer. Lifetime Durability: This heavy duty drain spade is made of high-quality stainless steel, it is very strong and durable, even if it is used for high-strength work, it will not bend. Ergonomic Wood Handle: The handle of this planting spade is made of ash hardwood harvested from FSC-certified forests and has an ergonomically streamlined design, making it very suitable for everyone's hands. Multi-Use: This digging shovel is generally used for digging trenches, digging holes, transplanting, edging, moving compost, cutting thick turf and furrowing. The sharp blade allows you to cut, scoop, dig, lift and dice in hard soil.

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Gardener's Log Book from NYBG

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This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features: · Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil · Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds · Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when · Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening · Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting · Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.

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A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

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MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

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