When it comes to plants, variety is more than just the spice of life. Plant varieties are the variations on the theme established by the true species that occur naturally. For example, it isn't enough to know a plant is a marigold, tomato or petunia. Each has hundreds of varieties that differ in size, flower or fruit color, and disease resistance. You'll usually see variety names enclosed in single quotes-such as 'Sold Aki' and or 'Yellow Pear' tomatoes, top left and right, respectively.
Some varieties perform better in certain regions than others.
Check with your local extension service or nursery staff for the ones likeliest to flourish in your area. If you prefer to shop at nurseries, look for one that sells seeds from several companies.