Giant veggies might look tricky to grow, but they’re really no different than growing smaller versions. As long as you buy seed varieties that are meant for growing oversized vegetables, and provide them with the proper care, then you can grow gigantic carrots, peppers, radishes, and more in your very own garden. Whether you’re interested in growing these oversized varieties in your backyard vegetable plot or a raised garden bed, these are some of the best seed varieties to check out.
Manpukuji Carrot
'Manpukuji' carrots, available through Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, can grow sweet, crispy roots up to 6 feet in length when average carrots get about 6 inches long! These oversized veggies originated in Japan, where they're popular for grating into salads, but you can mix them into any dish you’d like.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil
Germination Time: 12-18 days
Days to Maturity: 60-80 days
Plant Spacing: 2-3 inches
Sakurajima Giant Radish
Baker Creek also offers 'Sakurajima' radishes, another veggie variety that reaches unreal proportions. These radishes have been known to reach up to 100 pounds! More typically, they grow to about 10-15 pounds, which is still enormous compared to regular radishes. They also have a crisp texture and mild flavor.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained, slightly acidic soil
Gemination Time: 3-6 days
Days to Maturity: 90 days
Plant Spacing: 24 inches apart
Sasquatch Butternut Squash
'Sasquatch' is a behemoth of a butternut squash from the new Colossal Seed collection developed by Ferry-Morse. The fruits reach a hefty 5 pounds or more, about twice the size of regular butternuts. They have yellowish orange flesh and a sweet flavor.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Germination Time: 7-14 days
Days to Maturity: 110 days
Plant Spacing: 12 inches
Green Beauty Snow Pea
Regular snow peas are typically 3 inches long, but 'Green Beauty' snow peas can grow up to 8 inches! Available from several seed sellers including Baker Creek, these huge snow peas have a sweet flavor and tender texture. They're perfect for snacking on straight from the garden or using in your favorite recipes.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Germination Time: 10-30 days
Days to Maturity: 60 days
Plant Spacing: 4 inches
Super Nacho Jalapeno Pepper
Another variety in Ferry-Morse's Colossal Seed collection, 'Super Nacho' jalapeño pepper grows 6 to 7 inches long, about double the size of a regular jalapeño. It’s not only extra large but extra hot, hitting 8,000 on the Scoville scale. Use them to make some truly impressive jalapeno poppers or a tasty topping for nachos.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained, sandy loam soil
Germination Time: 10-14 days
Days to Maturity: 80-120 days
Plant Spacing: At least 12 inches
Giant White Kohlrabi
'Giant White' kohlrabi, also known as 'Superschmelz', is an heirloom variety that can grow up to a whopping 14 inches across and weigh up to 20 pounds as long as it’s given the proper amount of space in the garden. Despite its impressive size, the "bulb" has a tender, buttery texture and mild flavor. It's available from Baker Creek as well as several other seed sellers.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and rich, well-drained soil
Germination Time: 6-9 days
Days to Maturity: 60-90 days
Plant Spacing: 6-8 inches
Elephant Garlic
Typical heads of garlic are only about 2 inches in diameter, but elephant garlic gets at least twice that size. The jumbo cloves have a mild, mellow flavor that's less pungent than regular garlic. This variety is available in the fall for planting from Burpee and many other seed sellers.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Germination Time: 14-40 days
Days to Maturity: 90 days
Plant Spacing: At least 4 inches
Gigante D'Inverno Spinach
'Gigante D'Inverno' is an heirloom spinach variety from Italy that is also known as the Giant of Winter. As the name indicates, the leaves reach much larger proportions than most types of spinach. This oversized variety produces its broad, tender leaves well into the winter months in most areas. It's available from Baker Creek and many other seed sellers.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-drained soil
Germination Time: 7-14 days
Days to Maturity: 55 days
Plant Spacing: 6-8 inches
Yellow Monster Sweet Pepper
Meaty 'Yellow Monster' sweet peppers can grow up to 8 inches long and 4 inches wide, making other sweet peppers look tiny by comparison. They’re easy to grow, but the plants should be staked because they get so tall. Use them to make impressive stuffed peppers, or whip up a double batch of salsa. Find this heirloom variety from Baker Creek and several other seeds sellers.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Germination Time: 7-10 days
Days to Maturity: 90 days
Plant Spacing: 14-18 inches
SteakHouse Hybrid Tomato
Beefsteak type tomatoes are already known for their large fruits, but 'SteakHouse' is one of the biggest with fruits as large as 3 pounds a piece. And even though it's a hybrid, it offers the more complex flavors of heirloom tomatoes. This indeterminate variety is available from Burpee and other sellers.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and rich, well-drained soil
Germination Time: 5-10 days
Days to Maturity: 75–80 days
Plant Spacing: 65-70 inches
Dawn Giant Leek
'Dawn Giant' leeks consistently grow shanks up to 15 inches long and 2 inches across, dwarfing many other leek varieties. To allow these leeks to reach their full potential, make sure to give them enough room and plant them in rich soil. This variety is available from several seed sellers, including Burpee.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and loamy, well-drained soil
Germination Time: 7-21 days
Days to Maturity: 98 days
Plant Spacing: 12 inches
Chinese Red Noodle Bean
'Chinese Red Noodle' beans produce long, slender pods up to 18 inches long. The deep red pods are absolutely showstopping in a garden, and are tasty too. This variety is available through Baker Creek, Ferry-Morse, and many other seed sellers.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Germination Time: 5-8 days
Days to Maturity: 80 days
Plant Spacing: 6 inches
Sapporo Giant Cabbage
With plenty of water and space to grow, 'Sapporo Giant' cabbage from Baker Creek can reach a stunning 40 pounds or more. That's about 10 times as large as a typical head of cabbage. Prepare to make a lot of coleslaw! The leaves have a peppery, sweet flavor and crisp texture.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Germination Time: 7-10 days
Days to Maturity: 65 days
Plant Spacing: 24 inches
Big Daddy Onion
A typical onion gets about 2 inches in diameter, but 'Big Daddy' from Burpee can grow more than double that size! This Spanish type onion may not be the biggest variety out there, but it is one of the best oversized onions for storage. It will keep well for up to 10 months. This variety is also very disease-resistant.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained, rich soil
Germination Time: 20 days
Days to Maturity: 110 days
Plant Spacing: 24 - 30 inches
Jack's Magic Pole Bean
'Jack's Magic Beans' from the Ferry-Morse line of Colossal Seeds are quick and easy to grow in any vegetable garden. Although the individual pods aren't especially huge at about 4 inches long, this pole bean variety can yield twice as much of a harvest as compared to regular green beans. Just make sure to provide a tall, sturdy trellis.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and slightly acidic soil
Germination Time: 6-8 days
Days to Maturity: 55-65 days
Plant Spacing: At least 12 inches
