The possibilities of using nine crops (Beta vulgaris, Cichorium intybus, Cucurbita pepo, Phaseolus vulgaris, Hordeum vulgare, Brassica oleracea var. capitata, Zea mays, Medicago sativa, and Pastinaca sativa) in removing metals from soil were investigated in field trials from 1999 to 2001. The aim of the study was to determine the efficiency of nine cultivated plant species in removing cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc from soil. The most effective ones in cadmium, manganese, copper, nickel, lead and zinc remediation were - Cucurbita pepo; chromium - Zea mays; iron - Medicago sativa. The phytoremediation efficiency of the investigated crops depended both on biomass production and on the possibility of metal accumulation in tissues.