After plenty of testing and documentation during the past 35 years at Arborcrest Gardens, here are our Top 12 Vegetables to grow each summer in the high country of the Blue Ridge Mountains (and at your home garden elsewhere!). 

 

Brandywine Tomato: This heirloom tomato is a top pick due to its ability

to tolerate our cooler, wetter climate. It boasts a perfect balance of sweetness and

acidity, and it’s perfectly sized for a classic tomato sandwich. Of the 40 varieties

we’ve tested, the Brandywine takes the cake (and sandwich!) for the richest flavor

and perfect texture. 

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Green Brussels Sprouts: With plenty of sun and well-drained soil,

Brussels sprouts prefer cooler temperatures, so plant them in spring for a fall

harvest. Frost can work its magic by converting some of their starches into

sugars, causing the brussels sprouts to become sweeter and a bit more tender,

so wait to harvest until after a frost!

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Potatoes ‘Kennebec’: Potatoes are a delight to grow and harvest,

offering a rewarding experience for gardeners of all levels. Their smooth,

cream-colored skin, and firm texture make them perfect for enjoying mashed,

roasted, or fried. These crops love plenty of sun and well-drained, but moist,

soil. We make sure to keep them hilled with soil or mulch as they grow to

prevent the potatoes from being exposed to sunlight.

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Carrots ‘Sugar Snax’: These carrots offer the sweetest flavor that you’ll

enjoy into fall and all winter long. Harvesting in colder months and storing well,

they defy the chill and bring a taste of summer year-round. The leaves of this

variety are disease-resistant, so they signal strong, thriving plants, and the

promise of crisp, flavorful roots. 

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Turnips ‘Hakurei’: These hidden gems reveal

their sweetness in the colder months, making them an

irresistible crisp, naturally sweet reward. Perfect for

snacking on the go or incorporating them into your

favorite dishes. They do well in raised beds or pots. 

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Yellow Squash ‘Gold Star’: This resilient squash variety combines its

vigor and resistance to powdery mildew to offer bounties of tender, flavorful

fruit all season long. Its striking appearance of vibrant yellow skin makes it a

standout in the garden and on the plate. Its compact, bushy growth makes it

well-suited for smaller gardens. 

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Corn ‘Gotta Have It’: Living up to its name, this variety boasts an

irresistible sweetness that keeps longer than other corn varieties. As a vigorous

plant with high yields, it produces an abundance of ears. Plant crops at

different times so you can enjoy corn all summer long. We use metal crow

covers to protect the seedlings and a solar-powered electric fence to deter those

hungry raccoons. 

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Asparagus ‘Purple Passion’: This visually stunning variety is known

for its vibrant purple spears and exceptional flavor. It is prized for its

productivity and hardiness in the garden. Year after year, it will produce

abundant harvests with proper care including beds with organic matter,

plenty of sun, and well-drained soil. 

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Cabbage ‘Bonnie Giant’: A classic cabbage with large, round heads

and a mild, sweet flavor. This variety tolerates cooler weather like a champ

making it suitable for a spring and fall planting. It is a reliable crop, and we

donated about 500 lb of cabbage to the Hunger & Health Coalition in

Boone, NC last year. Tip: Plant large heads upside down in late fall and

harvest white, more mild heads in early spring.

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Cucumbers ‘Corinto’: This cucumber has a hint of sweetness and a crisp

texture making it a refreshing snack all summer. It’s tempting to enjoy them

before they even make it from the garden to your fridge. This variety is disease

resistant and produces high yields with proper maintenance. Requiring

warmth and plenty of moisture, be sure to water and fertilize regularly to

prevent bitterness and cucumber beetle infestations. 

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Sweet Peppers ‘Lunchbox’: This pepper offers a vibrant array of colors

ranging from bright red to yellow to orange. They make a delicious healthy

snack and do well in raised beds or smaller containers. 

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Okra: While it's difficult to grow in our colder climate, we have found

that it’s best to plant in early June.

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