ALEXANDRIA
— Wondering what to plant next in your garden? The results are in! The
University of Minnesota Extension’s Master Gardener
Seed Trials have announced their 2024 winners – and they’re packed with flavor, color and garden-ready resilience.
Each year, Master Gardeners across the state test a selection of vegetables, herbs and flowers in real-world conditions. This year’s lineup included six vegetables, one herb and two flowers, all evaluated for taste, yield, disease resistance and ease of care.
Here are the top picks:
‘Happy Rich’ Broccoli – This variety stood out for its excellent flavor when cooked, high yields and slender stems. It outperformed popular varieties like ‘Apollo’ and ‘DiCicco’ in both taste and productivity.
‘Cupid’ Sweet Pepper – A mini bell pepper with big appeal, ‘Cupid’ matures early and produces snack-sized fruits that are sweet, crisp and perfect for fresh eating. The 2″ x 1¾” fruits ripen to a rich red, and the well-branched plants offer great sun protection.
‘Yu Long Noodle Kin’ Bean – New to many gardeners, this Asian long bean was a top performer. Gardeners found success by soaking seeds overnight before planting. The vines are fun to grow and produce long, tender pods ideal for stir-fries.
‘Calypso’ Cilantro – Say goodbye to bolting cilantro! ‘Calypso’ is slow to flower and produces a generous harvest when direct sown. One gardener even reported harvesting into October.
‘Davidor’ Shallot – This reliable newcomer produces uniform, elongated pink bulbs with a mild flavor and excellent storage life. Easy to grow and pest-resistant, it’s a smart pick for gardeners of all experience levels.
‘Bright Lights’ Swiss Chard – Looking to add color to your garden? ‘Bright Lights’ delivers with vibrant stems in red, pink, orange and yellow. It’s not just pretty, gardeners loved its tender leaves and heat tolerance.
‘Blue Boy’ Centaurea and ‘Scarlet Choice Double’ Helichrysum – On the flower front, ‘Blue Boy’ bachelor’s button attracted pollinators with its vivid blue blooms, while ‘Scarlet Choice Double’ strawflower wowed with its papery petals and long vase life, perfect for dried arrangements. But it wasn’t just about looks or yield. Gardeners also tracked germination, pest resistance and overall ease of care.
“We want to recommend varieties that work for real people in real gardens,” said a Master Gardener from Douglas County. “These aren’t just pretty plants – they’re practical, too.”
Trials took place in a variety of settings – from backyard beds to school and community gardens – ensuring the results reflect Minnesota’s diverse growing conditions.
Ready to try these winners? Many are available at local garden centers or online seed suppliers. And if you’re feeling inspired, the Master Gardener program is always looking for volunteers to help with next year’s trials.
Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting out, these 2024 winners are a great place to dig in. Happy planting!
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” — Robert Louis Stevenson
Robin Trott
is a horticulture educator with University of Minnesota Extension. Contact her at 320-762-3890, or at
trot0053@umn.
Robin Trott