In this episode of the Seeds and Weeds podcast, we are sharing our carefully curated list of the ten plants we believe every gardener should grow. With so many amazing crops to choose from, narrowing it down wasn’t easy — but we selected plants that are reliable, beautiful, productive, and useful in more than one way. Many of these crops offer dual or even triple purposes, giving you food, medicine, pollinator support, and garden beauty all in one plant.

We begin with powerful herbs and flowers like calendula, a cold-tolerant annual that thrives in the garden, self-seeds readily, supports pollinators, and offers both culinary and apothecary uses. We also talk about comfrey, a perennial powerhouse known for its deep taproot, dynamic accumulation of nutrients, and incredible value as a natural fertilizer — along with its traditional medicinal applications. Another standout is echinacea, a native perennial that supports local ecosystems while providing beautiful blooms and versatile medicinal parts from root to flower.

From the vegetable world, we highlight staples like tomatoes and peppers, two of the most popular garden crops for good reason. Tomatoes bring unmatched flavor and diversity, while peppers offer ease of growing, container-friendliness, and a wide spectrum of sweetness and heat levels. We also discuss beans, one of our foundational crops here at the farm — whether pole or bush varieties, beans provide fresh harvests, dry storage staples, pollinator support, and educational opportunities for gardeners of all ages.

To bring in additional perspective, I’m joined by Enoch Graham from The Urban Gardener, who specializes in small-space gardening. Enoch shares his favorite compact varieties, including leafy greens perfect for containers, multi-use crops like peas and beets, and quick-growing favorites such as radishes. His approach emphasizes maximizing space, stacking functions, and choosing plants that deliver multiple benefits — a philosophy that aligns beautifully with our own.

Shop Herb, Flower, and Veggies Seeds
https://www.smallhousefarm.com/seed-collection/

Our Totally Tomatoes Episode:
https://seedsandweedspodcast.com/totally-tomatoes/

Our recent Episode All About Peppers:
https://seedsandweedspodcast.com/all-about-peppers-in-the-garden-kitchen-and-apothecary/

Enoch's last visit to Seeds & Weeds:
https://seedsandweedspodcast.com/jon-jackson-enoch-graham/

Check out Enoch's Youtube channel and Let's Get Growing Show
https://www.youtube.com/@theUrbanGardener

Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/c/smallhousefarm

Support for the Seeds and Weeds Podcast comes from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. Baker Creek offers America’s largest selection of heirloom and open-pollinated seed varieties from around the world – and right here at home. For more than 25 years, saving, sharing, and celebrating heirloom seeds has been their mission and their passion. Find out more at rareseeds.com.

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In this flavor-packed conversation, we dive deep into the vibrant world of peppers—from seed to harvest, kitchen to apothecary. Timed perfectly for late-winter seed starting, this episode walks you through everything you need to know to successfully grow thriving pepper plants, including seed-starting tips, heat and light requirements, transplanting, and maximizing yields in the garden.

But the journey doesn’t stop at the harvest. You’ll explore how peppers transform in the kitchen—fresh, dried, fermented, or smoked—and how heat levels (thanks to capsaicin) influence both flavor and culinary creativity. We share our personal experiences crafting unique hot sauces and spice blends straight from the garden.

Finally, discover the powerful medicinal side of peppers, including their role in circulation, digestion, and topical pain relief, along with simple ways to incorporate them into your home apothecary.

Whether you love sweet bells or fiery super-hots, this episode is your complete guide to growing, using, and benefiting from one of the most versatile plants in the garden. 🌶️

Dive further with more information:

Planning your garden in 3 Simple Steps (featuring info about seed starting equipment): previous podcast episode: https://seedsandweedspodcast.com/planning-your-garden-in-three-simple-steps/

Seed Starting Tips & Tricks on Youtube: https://youtu.be/pEvbvYLrPa0?si=ZQByYqYKPjktINx4

Tabasco Seed Story on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EJQM_U2v5Zs?si=Wtg8Fh2WZZ-sQSdR

Shop Pepper Seeds in the Small House Seed Collection: https://www.smallhousefarm.com/product-category/seeds/peppers/

Shop Small House Salves made with Capsicum: https://www.smallhousefarm.com/product-category/herbal-body-care/salves/

✨ Join our Patreon community for exclusive content, seasonal herb boxes, and more! ​www.patreon.com/smallhousefarm

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IG: @small_house_farm
FB: @smallhousefarm

Learn more about the plants in your yard and garden! Join our Patreon community to discover our Plant of the Month and learn how to work with herbs in the kitchen, garden, and apothecary!

https://www.patreon.com/c/smallhousefarm

Support for the Seeds and Weeds Podcast comes from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. Baker Creek offers America’s largest selection of heirloom and open-pollinated seed varieties from around the world – and right here at home. For more than 25 years, saving, sharing, and celebrating heirloom seeds has been their mission and their passion. Find out more at rareseeds.com.

Support the show

Unlock the secrets to a low-maintenance, high-yield garden. Gardening expert and author Charlie Nardozzi shares how his book The Continuous Vegetable Garden helps growers maximize harvests while reducing time and effort.

From perennial vegetables and self-seeding crops to succession planting, overwintering, and season extension, this episode delivers practical, approachable techniques to help gardeners enjoy fresh food from early spring through late fall—no matter their garden size or experience level.

Learn more about Charlie and order his book:

https://www.gardeningwithcharlie.com/

Sign up for Charlie's gardening webinar:

https://www.gardeningwithcharlie.com/webinars/the-continuous-vegetable-garden-webinar/

Order The Continuous Vegetable Garden from Amazon:

https://amzn.to/4qj15SG

Learn more about the plants in your yard and garden! Join our Patreon community to discover our Plant of the Month and learn how to work with herbs in the kitchen, garden, and apothecary!

https://www.patreon.com/c/smallhousefarm

Support for the Seeds and Weeds Podcast comes from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. Baker Creek offers America’s largest selection of heirloom and open-pollinated seed varieties from around the world – and right here at home. For more than 25 years, saving, sharing, and celebrating heirloom seeds has been their mission and their passion. Find out more at rareseeds.com.

Support the show