If I could only choose one variety of each vegetable crop for real-world self-sufficiency, these are the 36 I would grow. Every single variety in this video has been selected for reliability, yield, flavour, disease resistance, and usefulness in the kitchen.
This is not a random list. It’s a curated shortlist built from years of hands-on growing, failures, successes, and real harvest data. Each variety is explained so you understand why it made the cut, not just what the name is.
This video is designed as a practical starting point for anyone growing for food security, self-sufficiency, or simply to simplify their seed choices.
All of these varieties – and many more – Feature in our upcoming book How To Grow Food with full growing instructions, spacing, yields, harvesting, cooking and preserving guidance.
Preorder here: https://geni.us/HowToGrowFood
Chapters are included so you can jump to each crop group easily.
Roots and Tubers 0:00
Alliums 5:12
Fruiting Veg 7:33
Leafy Greens 11:40
Legumes 12:34
Brassicas 14:38
If you’re overwhelmed by choice, this video removes the guesswork. #selfsufficiency #gardeningideas #vegetablegarden
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Every single variety in this video (and many more) is featured in our upcoming book How To Grow Food with full growing, spacing, harvest and kitchen-use guidance. If you want the complete crop-by-crop guide to Self-Sufficiency, preorder the book here: https://geni.us/HowToGrowFood 🌿
Shtuan? I can't understand some things you say.
Great video very beneficial I'll definitely be utilizing this, also I've noticed the same good and bad of certain varieties as you described.👍🙏
I'm excited to see your new book! Always easy to follow and you certainly help keep me on track for planting.
love the miners lettuce hiding amongst the rhubarb
Great video. Some interesting varieties and affirmation of others. Leefy Greens?😮 Leafy Greens
Again such a good and helpful video. Thank you!
Looking forward to the book! I always try to limit myself to just one variety per species (not per crop; I grow 4 varieties of squash because there are 4 separate species of squash, and I can save true seed without worrying about cross pollination). The hardest category for me, and for you as I see in your choices, is tomato. I struggle to just pick one type! This year I caved and grew two: a slicer heirloom and a roma paste type heirloom. It definitely feels like a sacrifice when I look at see catalogs stuffed with so many tempting varieties, but when I'm laying out the space in my garden and really not sure how to fit 20 large sweet potato plants, 40 sprawling winter squashes and a ton of sarpo potatoes, yams, canna, sunchokes, and still have room to trellis my beans, tomatoes, hot peppers, luffa and passion fruits, plus defend an area for aliums in full sun…. Well, it's a challenge to fit just one variety!
Brilliant, thank you.
But the background music is toooo loud: and maybe investigate background music and neurodivergent watchers. Ta
A question about onion sets at 5:33: why do you bother putting them in modules? Sets are completely fine when put in the ground directly. The added inconvenience of using modules is usually reserved to seed. Are you worried of frost?
I grew marketmore cucumbers in the polytunnel this year. It did really well and did not need manual pollination.
Thanks huw definitely wrote down a few of those varieties ready for next year 😊 another Great video thank you 🫶🏻
Thanks great info to consider. PLEASE no more music its really annoying and makes it hard to hear you.
🐝🌻🐝 Thanks for the great video 🐝🌻🐝
Love these round up type videos, Huw. Great timing! Apart from the tomatoes, I think we’ve grown all the varieties you’ve chosen at some point. But unless I’m on top of labelling I can never remember what I’ve sown when harvesting! Or if I can, my memory fails the following year. Don’t think I’ve tried Bandit leeks. Might give them a go. We save our own Musselburgh leek seeds but I think they have become too mild in flavour over the years. 👍🏻
Sarpo Mira was on the tip of my tongue🤐
I’m not a big fan of kale but now have what is a large bush of curly kale in its fourth year. Accidentally made some kale chips while sautéing kale for Thanksgiving dinner. If what fell on the stove and dried is a kale chip, I definitely have a new appreciation for kale. Now I can’t wait for this “bush” to start growing next spring ❤️🥬
I just knew it would be bolthardy. I've not been able to find padrons, perhaps i need to look in the chili section rather than the peppers?
Happy Saturday, all! Thanks, Huw. What is your hardiness zone?
Thanks, that's really useful. I've actually done my main seed order, but these suggestions could be handy if any varieties don't work out.
Lovely! Looking forward to the newest book! 💚🌿
A tip is egyptian walking onions. Plant them ones and you have them forever.
Hola, hola Huw, me encantan tus videos y recomendaciones, gracias por compartir, saludos desde Querétaro, México. ( I understand inglish, but I don’t written as I wish).
What is the onion you mentioned? I am not understanding how to spell that. Thanks!
Fan of your Chanel for a long time. But just realised how good the colour grading is 😅
Next season? Boss, my next planting season is at least 4.5 months away, and probably closer to 5.5 months…
Planning for the apocalypse?
I'll definitely look into a few of these. Love Charlottes and my Passandra cucumber was prolific this year. Struggle with tomatoes that are not blight resistant even in the greenhouse or blowaway and cannot get a fennel bulb to grow no matter the variety but I'll check to see if I've tried Rondo. Don't agree about carrots. I get root fly even if I grow carrots at height so I have tried Resistafly. I had the worst crop ever, carrots were really small, still suffered root fly and were tasteless. I usually grow 3-4 types of carrot and at least if they grow to a decent size you can still cut the bad bits out. Look forward to the new book.
Solid recommendations! Notes taken! Also preordered the new book, can't wait
This was extremely helpful . Thank you so much ❤.
Talking about self sufficiency and F1 hybrids is a contradiction in terms
Thank you – very useful. My best bell pepper seeds are from a huge red pepper bought in a Spanish supermarket.