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Today I’m sharing two All America Selection Winners for 2026. First a little background on AAS. Started in 1932, this non-profit is the oldest, most established international plant testing organization in North America.
Between 6 and 12 plants are selected each year. This year they’ve selected one herb, four vegetables, four perennials and one annual. Check out all the Winners.
The most planted homegrown vegetable in America is the tomato and this year AAS has selected, what they’re calling, a game-changing new cherry tomato called ‘BadaBing!’. According to AAS, it is a large cherry tomato variety offering “unprecedented” (their word, not mine) protection against Septoria Leaf Spot, Early Blight, and Late Blight, keeping your plants healthy all season long. It’s an early-season tomato with outstanding flavor AND it’s crack-resistant.
Despite being an indeterminate plant, (meaning it continues to grow) BadaBing! F1 stays a manageable 40 inches tall. In the words of AAS, “Bred for superior garden performance and robust disease resistance, this truly unique and reliable tomato promises an effortless, predictable, and bountiful harvest. Get ready for “more bang for your buck” and a summer full of delicious, healthy tomatoes!”
Here’s the caveat for 2026, you likely won’t find it as a plant but will have to purchase the seeds. You can start them now and, in our climate zones 4 and 5, and you will likely be able to enjoy the fruits before frost takes them out. NEXT year, I’m certain that some local nurseries will have them available.
Kale is a favorite of mine to add to salads and in cooking. This year, AAS chose ‘Rubybor F1’ – a purple leafed non-bitter beauty, it is also more compact growing 3 ft tall and 2 ft wide. It’s leaves are tender… not tough making it even better for fresh salads. Frost tolerant and can be grown in a container too. Again, it’s only available in seed this year but expect nurseries to have it available as a plant next year.
And a bonus… check out this gorgeous purple cauliflower!!
