diff --git a/Gemfile b/Gemfile
index c5c074891..55be65010 100644
--- a/Gemfile
+++ b/Gemfile
@@ -155,4 +155,5 @@ end
 group :travis do
   gem 'platform-api'
 end
+gem 'loofah', '>= 2.2.1'
 gem 'rack-protection', '>= 2.0.1'
diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
index 48837e792..b15ea0120 100644
--- a/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ GEM
       rb-fsevent (~> 0.9, >= 0.9.4)
       rb-inotify (~> 0.9, >= 0.9.7)
       ruby_dep (~> 1.2)
-    loofah (2.1.1)
+    loofah (2.2.1)
       crass (~> 1.0.2)
       nokogiri (>= 1.5.9)
     lumberjack (1.0.12)
@@ -595,6 +595,7 @@ DEPENDENCIES
   kaminari
   leaflet-rails
   letter_opener
+  loofah (>= 2.2.1)
   memcachier
   newrelic_rpm
   omniauth (~> 1.3)
diff --git a/app/helpers/photos_helper.rb b/app/helpers/photos_helper.rb
index 50064f328..b77f35bd9 100644
--- a/app/helpers/photos_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/photos_helper.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,15 @@ module PhotosHelper
     if crop.default_photo.present?
       crop.default_photo.thumbnail_url
     else
-      default_image
+      placeholder_image
+    end
+  end
+
+  def garden_image_path(garden)
+    if garden.default_photo.present?
+      garden.default_photo.thumbnail_url
+    else
+      placeholder_image
     end
   end
 
@@ -11,29 +19,33 @@ module PhotosHelper
     if planting.photos.present?
       planting.photos.first.thumbnail_url
     else
-      default_image
+      placeholder_image
     end
   end
 
   def harvest_image_path(harvest)
     if harvest.photos.present?
       harvest.photos.first.thumbnail_url
+    elsif harvest.planting.present? && harvest.planting.photos.present?
+      harvest.planting.photos.first.thumbnail_url
     else
-      default_image
+      placeholder_image
     end
   end
 
   def seed_image_path(seed)
-    if seed.default_photo
+    if seed.default_photo.present?
       seed.default_photo.thumbnail_url
+    elsif seed.crop.default_photo.present?
+      seed.crop.default_photo.thumbnail_url
     else
-      default_image
+      placeholder_image
     end
   end
 
   private
 
-  def default_image
+  def placeholder_image
     'placeholder_150.png'
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/crop.rb b/app/models/crop.rb
index 15787f6f1..682610436 100644
--- a/app/models/crop.rb
+++ b/app/models/crop.rb
@@ -120,12 +120,7 @@ class Crop < ActiveRecord::Base
   # later we can choose a default photo based on different criteria,
   # eg. popularity
   def default_photo
-    # most recent photo
-    return photos.order(created_at: :desc).first if photos.any?
-
-    # Crop has no photos? Look for the most recent harvest with a photo.
-    harvest_with_photo = Harvest.where(crop_id: id).joins(:photos).order('harvests.id DESC').limit(1).first
-    harvest_with_photo.photos.first if harvest_with_photo
+    first_photo(:plantings) || first_photo(:harvests) || first_photo(:seeds)
   end
 
   # returns hash indicating whether this crop is grown in
@@ -242,4 +237,8 @@ class Crop < ActiveRecord::Base
     return unless reason_for_rejection == "other" && rejection_notes.blank?
     errors.add(:rejection_notes, "must be added if the reason for rejection is \"other\"")
   end
+
+  def first_photo(type)
+    Photo.joins(type).where("#{type}": { crop_id: id }).order("photos.created_at DESC").first
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/views/crops/_index_card.html.haml b/app/views/crops/_index_card.html.haml
index 39b9e8da4..99b4a1a7e 100644
--- a/app/views/crops/_index_card.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/crops/_index_card.html.haml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 .well
   .row
     .col-md-4
-      = link_to image_tag((crop.default_photo ? crop.default_photo.thumbnail_url : 'placeholder_150.png'),
+      = link_to image_tag(crop_image_path(crop),
                           alt: '',
                           class: 'img crop-image'),
                           crop
diff --git a/app/views/crops/_thumbnail.html.haml b/app/views/crops/_thumbnail.html.haml
index c83a1a0c6..77793ef22 100644
--- a/app/views/crops/_thumbnail.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/crops/_thumbnail.html.haml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   .thumbnail
     .crop-thumbnail
       - if crop
-        = link_to image_tag((crop.default_photo ? crop.default_photo.thumbnail_url : 'placeholder_150.png'),
+        = link_to image_tag(crop_image_path(crop),
                             alt: crop.name, class: 'img'),
                             crop
         .cropinfo
diff --git a/app/views/gardens/_photo.html.haml b/app/views/gardens/_photo.html.haml
index caf5c04d1..b6d301d2e 100644
--- a/app/views/gardens/_photo.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/gardens/_photo.html.haml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-= link_to image_tag((garden.default_photo ? garden.default_photo.thumbnail_url : 'placeholder_150.png'),
+= link_to image_tag(garden_image_path(garden),
                     alt: garden.name, class: 'img-responsive'),
           garden_path(garden)
diff --git a/app/views/gardens/_thumbnail.html.haml b/app/views/gardens/_thumbnail.html.haml
index 56c8c9614..a2e4ea7eb 100644
--- a/app/views/gardens/_thumbnail.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/gardens/_thumbnail.html.haml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   .panel-body{ id: "gardens_panel_body" }
     .row
       .col-md-4
-        = link_to image_tag((garden.default_photo ? garden.default_photo.thumbnail_url : 'placeholder_150.png'),
+        = link_to image_tag(garden_image_path(garden),
                             alt: garden.name, class: 'img'),
                   garden_path(garden)
       .col-md-8
diff --git a/app/views/harvests/_card.html.haml b/app/views/harvests/_card.html.haml
index 1a12128b0..52cfb3627 100644
--- a/app/views/harvests/_card.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/harvests/_card.html.haml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   .panel-body
     .row
       .col-md-4
-        = link_to image_tag((harvest.default_photo ? harvest.default_photo.thumbnail_url : 'placeholder_150.png'),
+        = link_to image_tag(harvest_image_path(harvest),
                             alt: harvest.crop.name, class: 'img'),
                   harvest
       .col-md-8
diff --git a/app/views/harvests/_thumbnail.html.haml b/app/views/harvests/_thumbnail.html.haml
index d7fec2a7a..4344aed7d 100644
--- a/app/views/harvests/_thumbnail.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/harvests/_thumbnail.html.haml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 .thumbnail
   .harvest-thumbnail
     - if harvest
-      = link_to image_tag((harvest.default_photo ? harvest.default_photo.thumbnail_url : 'placeholder_150.png'),
+      = link_to image_tag(harvest_image_path(harvest),
                           alt: harvest.crop.name, class: 'img'),
                           harvest
       .harvestinfo
diff --git a/app/views/plantings/_card.html.haml b/app/views/plantings/_card.html.haml
index bb6d77347..0f9518e6c 100644
--- a/app/views/plantings/_card.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/plantings/_card.html.haml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   .panel-body
     .row
       .col-xs-12.col-md-5
-        = link_to image_tag((planting.default_photo ? planting.default_photo.thumbnail_url : 'placeholder_150.png'),
+        = link_to image_tag(planting_image_path(planting),
                   alt: planting.crop_id, class: 'img img-responsive'),
                   planting
       .col-xs-12.col-md-7
diff --git a/app/views/plantings/_thumbnail.html.haml b/app/views/plantings/_thumbnail.html.haml
index 15ff2553e..e34c653da 100644
--- a/app/views/plantings/_thumbnail.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/plantings/_thumbnail.html.haml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 .thumbnail
   .planting-thumbnail
     - if planting
-      = link_to image_tag((planting.default_photo ? planting.default_photo.thumbnail_url : 'placeholder_150.png'),
+      = link_to image_tag(planting_image_path(planting),
                           alt: planting.crop.name, class: 'img'),
                           planting
       .plantinginfo
diff --git a/app/views/seeds/_card.html.haml b/app/views/seeds/_card.html.haml
index 532db8d6c..8cb70f64f 100644
--- a/app/views/seeds/_card.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/seeds/_card.html.haml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   .panel-body
     .row
       .col-md-4
-        = link_to image_tag((seed.crop.default_photo ? seed.crop.default_photo.thumbnail_url : 'placeholder_150.png'),
+        = link_to image_tag(seed_image_path(seed),
                             alt: seed.crop.name, class: 'img'),
                   seed.crop
       .col-md-8
diff --git a/app/views/seeds/_thumbnail.html.haml b/app/views/seeds/_thumbnail.html.haml
index f985b4d16..38aa66d65 100644
--- a/app/views/seeds/_thumbnail.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/seeds/_thumbnail.html.haml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 .thumbnail
   .seed-thumbnail
-    = link_to image_tag((seed.default_photo ? seed.default_photo.thumbnail_url : 'placeholder_150.png'),
+    = link_to image_tag(seed_image_path(seed),
               alt: seed.crop.name, class: 'img'),
               seed_path(seed)
     .seedinfo
diff --git a/spec/helpers/photos_helper_spec.rb b/spec/helpers/photos_helper_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..589cf8104
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/helpers/photos_helper_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+require 'rails_helper'
+
+describe PhotosHelper do
+  let(:crop) { FactoryBot.create :crop }
+
+  let(:garden) { FactoryBot.create :garden }
+  let(:garden_photo) { FactoryBot.create(:photo, thumbnail_url: 'garden.jpg') }
+  let(:planting) { FactoryBot.create :planting, crop: crop }
+  let(:planting_photo) { FactoryBot.create(:photo, thumbnail_url: 'planting.jpg') }
+  let(:harvest) { FactoryBot.create :harvest, crop: crop }
+  let(:harvest_photo) { FactoryBot.create(:photo, thumbnail_url: 'harvest.jpg') }
+  let(:seed) { FactoryBot.create :seed, crop: crop }
+  let(:seed_photo) { FactoryBot.create(:photo, thumbnail_url: 'seed.jpg') }
+
+  describe "crops" do
+    subject { crop_image_path(crop) }
+
+    it { is_expected.to eq 'placeholder_150.png' }
+
+    describe "with a planting" do
+      before { planting.photos << planting_photo }
+      it "uses planting photos" do
+        is_expected.to eq planting_photo.thumbnail_url
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "with a harvest photos" do
+      before { harvest.photos << harvest_photo }
+      it "uses harvest photos" do
+        is_expected.to eq harvest_photo.thumbnail_url
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "uses seed photo" do
+      before { seed.photos << seed_photo }
+      it "uses seed photos" do
+        is_expected.to eq seed_photo.thumbnail_url
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "gardens" do
+    subject { garden_image_path(garden) }
+    it { is_expected.to eq 'placeholder_150.png' }
+
+    describe "uses garden's own photo" do
+      before { garden.photos << garden_photo }
+      it { is_expected.to eq garden_photo.thumbnail_url }
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'plantings' do
+    subject { planting_image_path(planting) }
+    it { is_expected.to eq 'placeholder_150.png' }
+    describe "uses planting's own photo" do
+      before { planting.photos << planting_photo }
+      it { is_expected.to eq planting_photo.thumbnail_url }
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'harvests' do
+    subject { harvest_image_path(harvest) }
+    it { is_expected.to eq 'placeholder_150.png' }
+    describe "uses harvest's own photo" do
+      before { harvest.photos << harvest_photo }
+      it { is_expected.to eq harvest_photo.thumbnail_url }
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'seeds' do
+    subject { seed_image_path(seed) }
+    it { is_expected.to eq 'placeholder_150.png' }
+
+    describe "uses seed's own photo" do
+      before { seed.photos << seed_photo }
+      it { is_expected.to eq seed_photo.thumbnail_url }
+    end
+  end
+end