Most varieties need a second apple variety nearby for cross-pollination.

Pinch flower buds to keep plants producing leaves all summer.

Sweet peppers ripen from green to red, yellow, or purple. Picking green increases overall yield.

KY-native perennial. Reliable late-summer color.

Needs acidic soil. KY soils are typically too alkaline — amend with sulfur and peat.

Critical monarch host plant. Native to KY.

Loosen soil 12 inches deep. Thin seedlings aggressively for full-size roots.

Perennial. Native to KY. Goldfinches harvest the seed heads in fall.

Trellising saves space and reduces disease. Pick frequently to keep plants producing.

Plant cloves in October, harvest the following July.

The KY state flower. Late-season bee forage.

Bush beans produce a concentrated harvest. Pick every 2-3 days for tender pods.

A KY/Appalachian heirloom — climbs 3-4 feet, needs a short trellis.

Frost-hardy down to 10°F. Sweetens after first fall frost.

Cool-season crop. Plant in early spring and again in late summer for a fall harvest.

Companion plant that may deter nematodes in tomato beds.

Plant in containers — mint spreads aggressively via runners.

Long-day varieties (Walla Walla, Candy) suit KY latitude.

KY's official state fruit. Largest edible native North American fruit.

Self-fertile. Most KY peach failures come from a warm Feb followed by a cold March.

Plant seed potatoes (not grocery-store potatoes) for best results.

Nearly indestructible. Trails 6+ feet. Tolerates low light.

Marginal in KY winters (zone 6b). Treat as an annual or overwinter indoors.

Tolerates neglect. Excellent for beginners.

Produces baby plants on long stems. Easy to propagate.

Pollinator magnet. Sow successively for blooms June through frost.

Plant in blocks of at least 4×4 rows for proper wind pollination.

Needs warm soil + a long growing season. Plant slips, not tubers.

The crown jewel of the KY summer garden. Indeterminate varieties keep producing until frost.

Cut flowers all summer. Deadhead to extend blooming.

Two plants will feed a family. Pick at 6-8 inches for best flavor.