Hail the king of home-grown freshness.

• Position: Garden-ready vegetable and herb plants - What's New?

Nothing compares to the freshness of homegrown fruits and vegetables. A plump tomato sliced straight from the vine or an ear of corn taken directly from the stalk and dropped in a pot of boiling water--these are tastes that you just can't get in the supermarket. While novice gardeners may be intimidated by the prospects, Burpee Home Gardens aims to change that with its line of garden-ready vegetable and herb plants available at garden centers nationwide.

Taking the guesswork out of starting your own vegetable or flower garden, Burpee offers helpful tips from the time you plant until harvest day and beyond with suggestions for storage, serving, and even recipes. With five easy steps to growing fresh herbs and vegetables, Burpee recommends starting small in a sunny spot; thoroughly prepare the planting area and soil and remove stones, grass, and weeds; select supplies and plants (make sure your selections are foods you'll actually eat); keep well watered and watch for signs of disease or insect damage; and, finally, harvest and enjoy!

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One easy to grow variety is the Bush Champion Cucumber--perfect for small gardens or patio containers. If space is an issue, consider growing vertically on a trellis, fence, or other support, as it will contain the vines and keep them from sprawling throughout the garden, and with better air circulation and sunlight, they will produce more cukes. Water deeply once a week, as frequent but shallow watering will reduce overall yields. Apply an all-purpose vegetable garden fertilizer when your plant begins to set fruit. These plants will produce huge 11-inch cucumbers. Be sure to check out Burpee's website for the recipe for Lemon Balm and Cucumber Soup.

For a versatile fresh herb, the Boxwood Basil, with its compact, small leaves is great for pesto or as an ornamental plant. Just keep the soil evenly moist and feed with a vegetable fertilizer to ensure a bountiful crop. When harvesting basil, cut it back to about 1/4-inch above a node, which is where the branch meets the main stem. Be sure to leave enough foliage on your plant so it can continue to grow.

For peppers, the Jalapeno Gigante can measure as much as five inches long. Perfect for salsa or stuffing as poppers, these jumbo delirious (and hot) peppers are easy to grow in any sunny garden or large patio pot, and can be harvested throughout the summer when they're green or red. For support, loosely tie the plants to...