I tested hundreds of varieties of vegetables to find the best crops to grow in a vegetable garden. I’ve searched for the most productive, disease resistant and heat tolerant crops with the best flavor that can survive my hot, humid, wet summers, and in this video, I share them with you! Here are my 5 BEST veggies EVER grown: the best tomato, cucumber, zucchini, sweet pepper and hot pepper.
Parthenocarpic Zucchini Test: https://youtu.be/z1xeYw9XEoQ?si=1nZV4I4hzo0d54Gq
Seeds for featured varieties can be purchased** here:
Brandy Boy Tomato: https://fxo.co/Iz0N
Merlin Cucumber: https://fxo.co/Iz4s
Sanabria Zucchini: https://www.jungseed.com/product/J03571/573
Dunja Zucchini: https://tomatogrowers.com/products/dunja-hybrid
Red Impact Sweet Pepper: https://tomatogrowers.com/products/red-impact-hybrid-pepper
Garden Salsa Hot Pepper: https://tomatogrowers.com/products/garden-salsa-hybrid
I use the following products* most often for my garden and fruit trees:
Grow Bags (Black): https://amzlink.to/az0UDaVzkSLWi
Grow Bags (Tan): https://amzlink.to/az02kBaExY5sL
4FT LED Grow Light (60W): https://amzlink.to/az0V6hbDTqDNP
Seedling Heat Mat: https://amzlink.to/az071jOYOileE
Seedling Heat Mat & Thermostat Kit: https://amzlink.to/az0w0n9cO7SRH
Shade Cloth: https://amzlink.to/az01boLJy9JNI
Insect Netting: https://amzlink.to/az0H5tKMYxP2O
Pruning Snips: https://amzlink.to/az0S6BULZGPmi
Weed Barrier: https://amzlink.to/az0FMvvMdjto9
4 Gal Battery Backpack Sprayer: https://amzlink.to/az0yoJL5NNxkB
Pyrethrin Concentrate: https://amzlink.to/az0hrxWNFMSK9
Spinosad Concentrate: https://amzlink.to/az0cWgLhAD56I
Insecticidal Soap: https://amzlink.to/az0LUTcwpDMqn
Surround WP Kaolin Clay: https://amzlink.to/az0QftMdlGkDR
Alaska Fish Fertilizer [5-1-1] (Gallon): https://amzlink.to/az0Jhw8liNoe3
True Organic All Purpose Fertilizer [5-4-5]: https://amzlink.to/az0lVAel6Wss7
Espoma PlantTone [5-3-3] (36lb): https://amzlink.to/az0gylQKIH3hO
Espoma PlantTone [5-3-3] (50lb): https://amzlink.to/az0dh0dYaye1l
Espoma Bone Meal (10lb): https://amzlink.to/az0KAuCOZcPgQ
True Organic Blood Meal (3lbs): https://amzlink.to/az0jNeCruTl6a
Azomite Trace Minerals (44lb): https://amzlink.to/az0qPn4i34Eol
Jack’s All Purpose [20-20-20] (1.5lb): https://amzlink.to/az0JG0Dv6Da0h
Jack’s All Purpose [20-20-20] (25lb): https://amzlink.to/az0F6FgxdhKjO
Jack’s Blossom Booster [10-30-20] (25lb): https://amzlink.to/az08lv7ZJFnUu
• Full Amazon Store: https://amzlink.to/az0yli4Cz0iXX
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 Introduction
0:52 Variety Selection For Hot Summers
2:24 The Best Tomato Variety
6:26 The Best Cucumber Variety
11:58 The Best Zucchini Variety
15:45 The Best Sweet Pepper Variety
18:12 The Best Hot Pepper Variety
20:56 Final Thoughts And Garden Tips
22:56 Adventures With Dale
If you have any questions about how to grow a vegetable garden at home, how to grow fruit trees or the things I grow in my raised bed vegetable garden and edible landscaping food forest, please ask in the Comments below!
*******
MY WEBSITE
https://www.themillennialgardener.com/
*******
VISIT MY AMAZON STORE FOR PRODUCTS I USE MOST OFTEN IN MY GARDEN*
https://amzlink.to/az0yli4Cz0iXX
*******
CUSTOM MERCH!
https://shop.spreadshirt.com/themillennialgardener
*******
SUBSCRIBE TO MY 2ND CHANNEL!
https://www.youtube.com/c/2MinuteGardenTips
*******
SOCIAL MEDIA
→ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/millennialgardener/
→ X (@NCGardening) https://x.com/NCGardening
*******
ABOUT MY GARDEN
Location: Southeastern NC, Brunswick County (Wilmington area)
Zone 8B, 34.1°N Latitude
*******
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
**Affiliate links earn commission at no cost to you.
© The Millennial Gardener
#gardening #garden #gardeningtips #vegetablegardening #vegetablegarden
40 Comments
Are you growing any of the varieties featured in this video? Let us know in the Comments! TIMESTAMPS here:
0:00 Introduction
0:52 Variety Selection For Hot Summers
2:24 The Best Tomato Variety
6:26 The Best Cucumber Variety
11:58 The Best Zucchini Variety
15:45 The Best Sweet Pepper Variety
18:12 The Best Hot Pepper Variety
20:56 Final Thoughts And Garden Tips
22:56 Adventures With Dale
In Florida cherry/grape tomatoes work best for me too many animals for big tomatoes in my opinion
I can't grow bell pepper to save my life but the hot ones love Florida
Cayenne have been the most prolific for me especially grown small
If you want bell pepper flavor with a kick, let the jalapeno ripen to red
Looks like an Italian long hot
i grow Katrina cucumbers from JSS. They are prolific producers!!
So true i live in zone 9B no matter what varies tomatoes i grow it thrived. I still have last year tomatoes in my freezer from 3 different varies 3 only plants more than i can eat. I think from now on i will only plant 2 Roma plants that is it. I don't want to freez it just doesn't taste good. I'm not tomatoes sauce fan.
I don’t see Merlin in the link of your seeds. Please let us know a reputable source for this. Thank you for all you do.
Happy Gotcha Day Dale! We love you! ❤
Per recommendation I tried the Garden Salsa pepper, and damn are they hot. Loving the Sport pepper, not too hot and good hot pepper flavor.
Thank you! I enjoyed this so much!
Definitely going to try Red Impact! I’ve never been able to grow a nice bell pepper with thick walls. Thank you!
You had me at "taste". Seriously, you helped me have the best tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers last summer. (I am in Maryland, we are a little dryer and colder) and… I think spicy equates to long life, my aunt is 103, never afraid of the heat. Thank you! (edit… this was the beast Adventures with Dale! ever… He's wonderful)
You should try cooking those zucchini flowers! They're eaten alot in Italy.
I just ordered Dunja Zucchini and Red Impact Pepper using your link to Tomato Growers! Will try to get Brandy Boy and Merlin from Burpee (available in local garden center?)
Thank you! Looking forward to trying!
Thank you for your variety knowledge 🙂
Best move ive made with zucchini is grow it vertically. Once its tall enough tue it to the inside of a tomato cage and keep tucking the branches inside the rings. Barring that, tie it up a t-post. Keep pruning older lower branches. Keeps it off the ground, airflow and allows for underplanting
Correct. I'm in CA zone 9b & my bell peppers are weak. Small & thin walled. Even CA specific varieties like yolo & CA Wonder. My hot peppers thrive. I normally grow banana varieties for sweet but I gotta try Red Impact!
My Brandy Boy seeds came in this week! Going to put them in within the next 2 weeks, inside! I love to flower garden too, so I am going to plant most of the ones I love in seed this year, inside. Prices are too high come spring. Anthony, you should be the Brandy Boy poster man!! 100% Thank you for keeping up and keeping on with all of us…PLEASE video of seed starting soon! 🌱 Dale eats so well!! Love this boy. 🐕
Seriously, try Sashimi from Johnny's. Parthenocarpic and gynoecious long Asian variety. Crisp, thin skin and delicious. Every flower set a cuc and had no issues with disease or cucumber beetles. I was picking 5 cucs a day from 5 plants.
Thanks MG for always providing us with the links. It makes it so much more convenient for us so we dont have to hunt them down. I thought i was done ordering seeds for 2026. I guess not.
how about eggplant, Italian boy? Thank you for info🥰
Hey, just want to say I grew Red Impact pepper last year and it takes a long time to mature in zone 7B (75-80 days) so start it a little earlier. Delicious pepper!
I have an idea for an experiment for you. Could you add activated carbon to some potted plants, regular charcoal (same particle size) to another set, and then of course, have a control group? You often mention that the rain washes all your nutrients away, but because of the chemical structure of charcoal and carbon, they are likely to hold on to nutrients. This is also good for the environment downstream of you
Sanabria all alone fighting for its life against a colony of baby centipedes 😂 @14:12 drop a few Helldivers nearby.
@themillennialgardener I know that your climate can be tough for peppers (they don't like wet feet) there is a variety called Super Shepard you should give a try. It's an Italian sweet pepper hybrid that makes a pretty good bell pepper sub. Better yet it is extremely productive and tolerates humidity fairly well.
I love how your excitement amped up when you said "gynecious parthenocarpic" 😮 that means i must grow Merlin.😅
Did your citrus trees survive the cold? Love your shows.
THANK YOU! BC OF YOUR VIDEOS I KNOW WHAT TO PLANT THIS YEAR. i have a shady back yard but ive planted things like okra and eggplant and they did fine, not great with full sun, but they surprised me.
Thank you so much for your wisdom. I am an avoid but failed Gardner, gardening for last 3 years without giving up. I have learned so so much in this video that I would not get from anywhere else.
After you showed the Merlin cucumbers I instantly went and bought some seeds 😂
You suggested a tomato called bobcat and I gave it a try for a late bumper crop. It performed very well with decent flavor and a long storage life of 2-3 weeks. I want to give Merlin a try and I’m sure I will like the results. Thank you for sharing.
Happy Gotcha Day, Dale! Love the breakfast in bed. ❤
I live in the same zone in VA on the coast. I now have 2 new favorites for pepper.. * hot* is carolina reapers.. 1 pant provieds SO MUCH. not hot habanada!! Small plant produces MORE THAN PLENTY. They have a slighty smokey flavor, they are a MUST! Thank you for your recommendations, last year my cucs were taken over by beetles. Planting in a new ares, going to gibe those Merlin a shot!
Great video I just ordered Merlin and Brandy Boy. Also, I just watched your video from around a year ago about using the watering hose with the laser drilled holes turning upside down …..that is a great idea. I do have a question??? Just what do you do with ALL those FIGS from your numerous Fig trees?? I have only one good sized tree and it produces way more figs than I can use. Thanks Tom
Good for you. I also grow tomatoes, cucumber, sweet pepper, hot peppers. But I don't grow much zucchini. I don't really like them and they are hard to grow because of pests, mildew, heat, and they take up too much space. My best tomatoes are red currant, Valentine, and Red Snapper has done well, I can no longer grow tomatoes that are not resistant to TYLCV. Cucumber: Soarer (favorite) Beit Alpha, Summer Dance, Southern Delight, Diva. Sweet Peppers: Chinese Giant ( it does have issues with mildew and black spot but the peppers are huge), Revolution, Sunsation, Red Knight, King Arthur, Touchdown, Aristotle. Majestic Red, Snapper, Orange Blaze. Hot peppers Wailua pepper (jalapeno), Hawaiian Chili, Thai chili. 7 pot hot, Habanero, Long Red Cayenne. I can grow hot peppers easier than sweet peppers, but they need to have resistance to mildew, bacterial spot and phythophthora to do well. The best zucchini I grew was Partenon. It is partenocarpic , resistant to mildew, and productive. It needed to be covered because of fruit flies and zuchhini attracts fruit flies like a magnet. Fruit flies will attack cucumber and bitter melon if zucchina are nearby. Bell peppers don't produce a lot of peppers. Carmen is more productive and a stronger plant for a sweet pepper. I also grow Shishito because that is what the people I know like. Wailua Pepper (Jalapeno) was developed by the UH so it does well in Hawaii. I grew over 30 plants, and I got a lot of medium hot peppers, but most people want hotter peppers.
Anthony, the low temps will be near freezing here in South Florida on February 1st and 2nd. Yikes!
Another fantastic video! Can you tell us which Eggplants you recommend for great production?
I bought red impact seeds in the late fall after your first recommendation. Been waiting until now to get them started!