There are so many vegetables out there, how does one even know where to begin?! Tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peas, greens, carrots, potatoes, herbs, squash (winter and summer!), radishes, the list just goes on and on. It’s generally not a good idea to plant every single type the first few years of gardening – you can overwhelm yourself and then the garden will suffer (or you will!) These top 5 easiest vegetables to grow are perfect for your first garden adventure; they don’t have any super special needs and grow easily in almost every garden.
Starting your first gardening journey can be a thrilling yet mind-boggling experience. But, if you start with these five easy-to-grow vegetables, you’ll be set up for success. From the quick-growing radishes to the bountiful zucchini, each of these plants makes gardening easy. Their forgiving nature and relatively simple care requirements make them ideal choices to build your confidence and skills in the garden.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Easiest Vegetables To Grow
Lettuce
Lettuce ranks among the simplest veggies to grow. It makes an ideal first vegetable for beginners for a few reasons. To start, it grows quickly, with some types ready to pick in just 20-25 days for small leaves. This speedy growth is great for newbies who can’t wait to see results. Plus, lettuce doesn’t need perfect conditions to thrive. It can handle some shade and does fine in gardens that don’t get full sun all day long.
Another plus of growing lettuce is how adaptable it is. You can plant it in many places, from regular garden plots to pots on your porch. This makes it a great pick for city gardeners or folks with small yards. Lettuce doesn’t need deep earth, so it works well in raised beds or shallow containers.
Best lettuce types for beginners:
Loose-leaf lettuce kinds often grow the easiest. They get ripe fast and let you pick them many times. These types are not simple to grow but also give you lots of tastes and feels to enjoy in your homemade salads. Some good options include:
- Black Seeded Simpson: This variety stands up well to heat and has light green leaves with a crinkled texture.
- Lola Rosa: This heirloom lettuce catches the eye with its red-tinged leaves. It has a mild taste, perfect for salads or sandwiches.
- Buttercrunch: This butterhead variety produces sweet crisp leaves that come together in loose heads.
Radishes
These crisp, peppery roots are not only quick to mature but also add a splash of color to your garden and plate. One of the most appealing aspects of radishes is their rapid growth. Many varieties are ready to harvest in as little as 20 to 30 days after planting. Spring radishes, in particular, are known for their speedy development. For instance, the popular ‘Cherry Belle’ variety can be ready in just 22 days, while ‘Early Scarlet Globe’ matures in 20 to 28 days.
Popular radish varieties to try:
- Cherry Belle: A classic round, red radish that’s crisp and mildly spicy.
- French Breakfast: An elongated variety with a red top and white tip, known for its mild flavor.
- Watermelon: Also called ‘Mantanghong‘, this variety has green skin and pink flesh, resembling a tiny watermelon when sliced.
- White Icicle: A long, white radish with a crisp texture and slightly peppery taste.
- Daikon: A large, white Asian radish that’s excellent for cooking and pickling.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a popular choice for first-time gardeners because they are, of course, delicious, but also because they’re simple to grow. Growing your own tomatoes has many benefits. You’ll get to eat fresh ripe fruits that tastes way better than what you buy at the store. And, you can use tomatoes in lots of ways, like in salads, sandwiches, sauces, and more. Also when you grow tomatoes at home, you can try special old types that you can’t even find in grocery stores.
Beginner-friendly tomato varieties:
‘Sungold‘ and ‘Black Cherry‘ are great starter options. These plants make lots of small sweet fruits that ripen fast and taste great as snacks.
If you like bigger tomatoes, try growing ‘Early Girl‘ or ‘Cherokee Purple.’ These kinds are known to be dependable and resist diseases well. For people who don’t have much room, types like ‘Roma‘ or ‘San Marzano‘ work well in pots. These plants stop growing at a certain size making them perfect for small spaces.
Keep in mind, tomatoes grow best in warm weather and can’t handle frost. Plant them outside after the last frost has passed. If you take good care of them, you’ll soon pick juicy, home-grown tomatoes from your new garden.
Green Beans
Green beans are incredibly easy to cultivate, making them one of the best vegetables to grow for beginners. They thrive in warm weather and can be grown in various settings, including raised beds, in-ground beds, or containers. This flexibility makes them suitable for any garden size or style.
Growing green beans has a big plus – they grow fast and give you lots of beans. Most types are ready to pick in 50 to 70 days, so you’ll have fresh beans all season long. They’re also pretty easy to take care of once they start growing.
When you’re picking the kind of green beans to plant, you’ll have to decide between bush beans and pole beans. Each type has its plus points, which makes them a good fit for different garden setups.
Bush beans grow into small plants about 1 to 2 feet high. They don’t need any support and work well in pots or tight spaces. These beans give you their whole crop at once in a few weeks. This is great for gardeners who want to can or freeze a big bunch of beans in one go.
Pole beans however, are climbing plants that can reach heights of 6-7 feet. They require a trellis or support structure to climb, which adds height to your garden. Pole beans keep producing beans all season long giving you a constant supply until frost hits.
Here are some popular pole bean and bush bean types. Each type has its own unique characteristics in terms of flavor, productivity, and appearance.
Pole Beans:
Bush Beans:
Zucchini
This adaptable summer squash grows fast and yields a lot giving you plenty to harvest all season long. If you’re starting your first garden or want to add more variety to your crops, zucchini is a great choice for your beginner veggie patch.
Zucchini plants produce a lot, often catching new gardeners off guard with their huge harvests. A single plant can produce up to nine pounds of fruit, or 30-40 zucchini, throughout the season. This abundance means you’ll have plenty to enjoy fresh, share with neighbors, and even preserve for later use. Try not to get too carried away when planting. For a family of four, one or two plants are usually sufficient to meet your needs.
Popular Zucchini varieties:
- Black Beauty: Dark green, straight fruit; classic variety
- Cocozelle: Italian heirloom; striped green fruit
- Golden: Bright yellow; mild, sweet flavor
- Ronde de Nice: Round, light green; best for stuffing
- Saffron Summer: Classic straight-neck yellow squash with high yields.
FAQs
What are the easiest vegetables to cultivate in a home garden?
Some of the simplest vegetables to grow include lettuce, green beans, peas, radishes, carrots, cucumbers, kale, and Swiss chard. These vegetables generally require less maintenance and can thrive even in less-than-ideal soil conditions.
Which vegetable grows the fastest?
Radishes are among the quickest vegetables to grow, along with lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, turnips, and peas. These vegetables can be harvested relatively quickly after planting, provided they are grown in loose soil with adequate sunlight and moisture.
