What’s Your Favorite Thing to Grow in the Garden?

There’s something magical about asking gardeners this question. Their eyes light up, their shoulders lift, and suddenly you’re buried under stories about heirloom varieties, surprise successes, and that one plant they’ll never grow again because it tried to take over the entire yard.

For me, choosing a favorite is impossible—so I pick three: tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins. Each one brings its own kind of joy to the garden, and honestly, I’d miss them if one didn’t make it into the yearly lineup.

Tomatoes: The Overachievers of Summer

Tomatoes are the divas of the garden—demanding, dramatic, and always worth it. There’s nothing like checking the vines in midsummer and seeing those bright red gems shining back at you. Whether it’s a handful of cherry tomatoes for snacking or a big slicer destined for a BLT, they never disappoint. They’re the heart of my garden and the one plant I always make room for… even when I swear I won’t plant as many next year.

A Quick Note About Tomatoes & Livestock Safety

As much as we love growing them, tomatoes come from the nightshade family. That means the green fruits, stems, and leaves contain solanine—a natural toxin that livestock shouldn’t consume. Animals like goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens etc..should not be fed green tomatoes or tomato plants, as they can cause digestive issues or more serious problems.

Ripe tomatoes are fine for them  but the whole plant and green tomatoes should stay out of the livestock treat bucket.

Peppers: The Flavor Builders

Peppers come with personality. Sweet, spicy, crunchy, colorful—there’s a pepper for every mood. I love how they quietly do their thing all season long without making a fuss. They’re sturdy, dependable, and generous once they start producing. From fajitas to salsa to stuffing them for dinner, peppers earn their keep on my homestead!

A Fun Fact About Chickens

People love to joke that giving spicy peppers to chickens might make the eggs spicy, or even the chicken itself. ( as if they can be pre-seasoned 🤣) Thankfully, that’s just a funny homestead myth. Chickens cannot taste capsaicin—the compound that makes peppers hot—so they can chow down on jalapeños like they’re snacking on mild bell peppers. And no, it won’t make your Sunday dinner spicy. It’s just one of those quirky, almost-disappointing  facts.

Pumpkins: The Garden Party Guests

Pumpkins are the plants that make you feel like a kid again. Watching the vines sprawl across the yard, spotting those bright  green globes forming under the leaves. Then the excitement of them turning orange or white —there’s something so wholesome about it. Pumpkins carry a bit of magic with them, and harvesting them feels like celebrating the end of the growing season with a big, round trophy.

Pumpkins for Livestock: More Than Just a Treat

One of the reasons I love growing pumpkins is how useful they are around the homestead. From seeing the joy on my children’s faces to seeing the livestock enjoying them. Many livestock keepers feed pumpkins (especially the seeds) as a natural support for deworming. Look up the holistic ways pumpkins can help. Remember pumpkins are a great  treat that can help support a healthy gut. Goats, chickens, pigs, and cows all love them—and nothing goes to waste.

So now I want to know… what’s your favorite thing to grow in your garden?
Is it something practical, something nostalgic, or something that just makes you smile? Drop a comment and share—gardeners love to swap stories, after all.

Thank you for reading my blog! If you would please share my blog on social media platforms, I would greatly appreciate it.

You can also follow me on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/share/1DZrcmrycK/

#mjbackyardingwithkids #homesteading #gardening #growingyourownfood #homesteadingjourney #yourgarden  #favoritethingtogrow