Search For These Texas Varieties

As a home vegetable gardener in Texas, one of your first purchases happens to be one of the most important -- the purchase of seeds and plants. And, if you want maximum returns from your gardening efforts, use only the best varieties available along with time-tested and proven gardening techniques and practices. Why is selecting the proper variety so important? There are many, many different varieties of garden vegetables; however, there are only three or four varieties of any one vegetable well suited or adapted to your particular area of Texas. It is important to get the varieties that do well in your area of the state. Below is a list of the vegetable varieties recommended for use in Texas gardens. Your local county Extension agent may also have a listing of additional varieties which have proven themselves worthy of use in your garden. Give your agent a call or go by the Extension office.

BEANS

Green Beans: Contender, Topcrop, Greencrop, Blue Lake, Tendercrop, (pole) Kentucky Wonder

Lima Beans: Jackson, Wonder, Henderson Bush, Fordhook 242, (pole) Florida Butter, Sieva

Pinto Beans: Pinto 111, Luna, Taylor's Horticultural

BEETS: Detroit Dark Red, Pacemaker

BROCCOLI: Green Comet, Southern Comet, Emperor

CABBAGE: Early Jersey Wakefield, Sanibel, Gourmet, Rio Verde, (red) Ruby Ball

CHINESE CABBAGE: Michihli, Jade Pagoda, China Pride

CANTALOUPE: Magnum 45, TAM Uvalde, Perlita, Mission, Ambrosia

CARROTS: Spartan Winner, Imperator, Danvers 126, Chantenay

CAULIFLOWER: Snow Crown, Snow King

CHARD: Lucullus, Rhubarb, Fordhook

COLLARDS: Georgia, Blue Max

CORN, SWEET: Calumet, Golden Queen, Funk G-90, Florida Stay Sweet, (white) Silver Queen, How Sweet It Is

CUCUMBERS: (slicers) Dasher II, Slicemaster, Pointsett, Sweet Slice, Sweet Success, (pickling) Liberty, County Fair 87, Saladin

EGGPLANT: Ichiban, Florida Market, Tycoon

GARLIC: Texas White

KALE: Vates, Dwarf Blue, Curled Blue Knight

LETTUCE: (head) Mission, (leaf) Black-Seeded Simpson, Salad Bowl, Red Sails, Ruby, (butterhead) ButterCrunch, Summer Bibb

MUSTARD: Tender Green Florida Broadleaf, Southern Giant Curled

OKRA: Blondy, Lee, Emerald, Clemson Spineless

ONION: (bulb) Grano 502, Granex, 1015Y, (green) South Port White, Crystal Wax, Beltsville Bunching, Burgundy

PARSLEY: Moss Curled, Evergreen

PEAS: Edible-Podded Sugar Ann, Sugar Pop, Sugar Mel

PEAS, SOUTHERN: Blackeye No. 5, Mississippi Silver, Champion, Cream 40, Purple Hull, Zipper Cream Crowder

PEPPER: (sweet) Summersweet 860, Rio 66, Big Bertha, (hot) TAM Jalapeno, Long Red Cayenne, Hungarian Wax, Hidalgo Serrano

POTATO, IRISH: (white) Kennebec, (red) Red Lasoda, Pontiac, Norland

POTATO, SWEET: Jewell Centennial

RADISH: Cherry Belle, Inca, Champion, White Icicle, Snow Belle

RUTABAGA: American Purple Top

SPINACH: Early Hybrid 7, Coho, Melody, Iron Duke, (summer) New Zealand, Malibar

SQUASH: Dixie, Sun Drops, (green) Multipik, (winter) Acorn, Butternut, Senator, President, Gold Rush

TOMATOES: (large fruited) Spring Giant, Better Boy, President, Celebrity, Carnival Bingo, (small fruited) Small Fry, Red Cherry Large, Porter Improved

TURNIP: Tokyo Cross, White Lady, Royal Globe, (greens) Seven Top, Crawford

WATERMELON: Royal Charleston, Royal Jubilee, Charleston Grey, Royal Sweet, Crimson Sweet