5 Essential Crops Every Gardener Should Grow

For our video on Ben's top 10 money saving crops, watch this next:

For our recent watering video, see

If you could only grow 5 different vegetables, what would you choose? Tricky question! So we put it to Ben to decide and to fiercely defend his selection. Can you guess which ones they will be? Are they the same as the ones you chose, we wonder. Let's find out..!

In this week's episode, Ben has chosen his top rated crops that are easy to grow, cover all bases from roots to leaves, that are good all-rounders in the kitchen and super tasty too. We think you'll agree that these really are the 5 essential crops that every gardener should grow.

[fostercat]

“Like choosing your favorite child….difficult, but not impossible”

“Has-beans”

😂 Thanks for the laughs and another great gardening video!

[harbour_wildflower]

My favourite child changes with good performance, much like my favourite crops 😂😂 Oh that intro had me howling!!

[lisakruger]

Tomatoes and cucumbers are my favorites - because they are so easy to grow and make me feel like an accomplished gardener! :)

[oceansoul]

Tomatoes, Chard, Zucchini, Beans and Corn. Thank you, Ben, for this lovely video. I am so thankful for your huge enthusiasm and knowledge, you make my weekends better!

[froginprogress]

The garden has been the only way to get my special-needs son to try new foods. If he can pick it, he’ll usually eat it. Going off of his favorites, or what he’ll tackle me for, it’s broccoli, bell peppers, corn, carrots, and peas. What are those fabulous trellises you planted your beans along?

[trockodile]

This year has been a proper 'has-been' for so many crops this year. We've lost more crops than any other year, so we've doubled down on those that would grow strongly, and we've found new and exciting ways to make the most of these hardy weird-weather-winners! We've grown an abundance of peas (including tray as microgreens for shoots), spuds galore, onions of every type we could find to plant, brassicas aplenty (including perennial kale), salad leaves by the barrow load, and strawberries and perennial soft fruits on mass! If at first you don't succeed don't take it personal, grow more of what's working well, and go again next year if needs be.👍

[holycameltoe]

you're an amazing person, you always lift my spirits and reinvigorate my motivation for my gardening. keep up the great work

[ArmigerRu]

Another splendid vid Ben! And that's not just the ample info -- it's the enthusiasm and cheer (and may I say the alliteration) that sets you apart. Hope yourself and family are well, enjoy the rest of your summer! 😄

[stephh_nz]

As a beginner gardener from New Zealand I really appreciate how you refer to planting in seasons rather than by month - it makes it much easier to transfer the information to my reversed climate!

[ob]

I love how you grow nasturtium everywhere in your garden

[Beaguins]

I have challenging growing conditions, so instead of basing my top five on what I like best I have to base it on what works. For me that's beans, Swiss chard, cabbage, green onions, and tomatoes. Thankfully I like all of these, but I wish I had more success with bulbing onions, potatoes, peppers, corn, squash, and carrots.

[trapped]

Tomatoes, peppers, beans,
cucumbers and potatoes 💖.
Thanks Ben….

[jessicajordan]

I grew kentucky *pole beans* last year and found myself enamored with the crazy little things! Playing "hunt the beans" every day, even though i swear i picked everything the day before, is just awe inspiring for me 🤩 the buggers like to play hide-n-seek. So for me, there will always be beans. And I grew *potatoes* for the first time this year as well and I am in love. Iam growing summer squash for my mother and even though I dont enjoy the flavor myself, I love watching it grow! I didnt have spaces prepared for *onions* or *garlic* but i am doing so this year because I use them nearly every day. I want to grow *corn* and *pumpkins* but the seeds have not germinated successfully at all, despite resowing. Same with *carrots* yet (the sun is just too bloody hot for the seeds to germinate. My fault for not shading them correctly) but these crops will forever have a place in my summer garden, for however long I have space to grow them. Winter this year I want definitely want to grow broccoli and cauliflower, spinach, kale, and celery. I have never grown any of them! So exciting! Hopefully my Southern Cali sun is kind to them 😢

[missmaziecat]

So here I sit, shelling fava beans while you pull out your fava beans. LOL. My favorites to grow are zucchini, tomatoes and peas. Happy Summer, Ben!

[jacquelineclauson]

These are has beans, good one. I’ll be growing more beans for sure.

[peterblomgren]

My absolute favourite is tomatoes, cannot get enough of them ❤️

[frankhill]

Ben
Thanks for your videos. They do inspire me to try different veggies.
My favs are tomatoes {beefsteak and cherry}, beans, cucumbers peas and potatoes. My potatoes are grown in potato bags which I bought on line and the rest are in my small garden plot against the property fence line with a sunny southern exposure.

[sosgardening]

I have to agree, Zucchini (Courgette) is one of my favorites too, however I prefer waiting for the monsters to pan fry or throw on the bbq. What i've found over the years is you can train them to grow vertical if needed and this helps save space (and gets you more delicious fruit!). Additionally I found you will get a bigger plant and fruit if you give it more space for the roots, but you can easily grow it in a decent sized pot to get smaller fruit if desired.

[tatianka]

tomatoes, kale, garlic, potatoes and pumpkins. :) Thank you for your humor, Ben! I always enjoy your content and your personality!

[basketcaz]

I am house-bound and garden vicariously through you. If I could I would grow: Tomatoes, cauliflower, corn, lettuces, and potatoes. Top 5 for me. Thank you for your lovely vids. ❤