Are you looking to begin a vegetable garden in your yard? Do you want to grow your own food but aren’t sure where to start? Whether you are starting a new garden or you don’t have time for high-maintenance plants, you should begin by choosing hardy, tolerant, easy-to-grow plants that will give you success for the least amount of effort. There are several vegetables and herbs that are generally considered easy to grow for beginners in a vegetable and herb garden. Here are the best choices:
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are popular and are one of the easiest and most productive of all garden plants. They are one of the favorite garden additions, to the point that many people who don’t have a garden at all will still grow a tomato or two in a flowerbed or even in pots on apartment balconies. They do have a few requirements, as they love heat, enjoy a lot of moisture (but not soggy soil), and prefer to grow in rich soil with few weeds. Most people purchase tomatoes as plants or start seeds indoors as these plants require a lot of heat and don’t grow well in cool spring temperatures.
Cannabis
Cannabis is a very easy plant to grow. It is, after all, often called “weed”, and it even grows wild in many parts of the country. However, before you consider growing this plant you will want to verify that it is legal to be grown in your state and municipality. Once you have determined that you can legally grow it in your area, you will also need to find a source for feminized seeds. Cannabis prefers to grow in full sun and warm (but not hot) weather. It also prefers rich soil that is well-draining, so it usually grows best in well-amended garden soil. These plants are often started from seeds inside to give them a longer growing season.
Zucchini and Summer Squash
Zucchini is well-known as one of the easiest and most prolific garden plants. Zucchini and summer squash plants are large, so they will need ample space in a garden. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, and prefer not to fight with weeds, however, once they get established they will keep most weeds from growing nearby because they shade the ground with their large leaves. The fruits are best when they are small. Regular harvesting encourages continued production and if you forget to pick for a few days, you might be shocked at how quickly the small fruits turn large and start maturing.
Basil
Basil is a fragrant herb that is easy to grow from seeds or seedlings. One of the easiest herbs to grow, it prefers warm weather and well-drained soil. The popularity of basil in tomato-based dishes makes these two plants a great choice to grow together in gardens. Regular pinching of the leaves encourages bushier growth. Like most herbs, basil can easily be preserved by drying it in the microwave, a fun and simple project for any gardener as you don’t need a large harvest or a lot of time to be successful.
Lettuce and Salad Greens
Lettuce and other salad greens such as spinach and arugula are quick-growing and perfect for small spaces or containers. They can be grown from seeds and prefer cooler temperatures. For this reason, they are usually grown in the spring along with other salad greens, radishes, and carrots. However, they can also be grown in the fall and many people are even more successful with greens in this season, as the mature plants can endure more cold than the seedlings can. Many people find they can stretch the harvest of greens into the late fall and winter if they cover them during cold snaps.
Green Beans
Green beans are versatile and can be grown as bush beans or pole beans. They are usually easy to grow, as they simply require full sun and well-drained soil. In some areas they will require more care, however, they are one of the easier and more prolific of vegetable garden plants. Regular harvesting promotes continuous yield. If you choose to grow pole beans, be prepared with a fence, lattice, or some other structure to allow the tall plants to vine off the ground.
Mint
Mint is a hardy herb that can thrive in various conditions. In fact, it is one of the easiest of all plants to grow and, since it is a perennial, it will come back year after year. It can be aggressive and it’s best grown in containers to prevent it from spreading. There are many kinds of mints that you can grow, including tantalizing varieties such as chocolate mint, and less minty members of the family like catnip and lemon balm. Mint prefers moist soil and partial shade, so it might need to be planted somewhere other than your main vegetable patch.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are vining vegetables that require ample sunlight and fertile, well-drained soil. Unless you live in an area where it is very dry and hot, or you have common cucumber pests, it is usually simple to grow. In very hot and dry weather cucumbers can wilt and the fruit might be bitter. They can be grown vertically to save space and facilitate harvesting. Cucumbers enjoy vining and if you give them a fence or lattice to climb, they are often healthier and it can help them to resist some funguses and diseases.
Chives
Chives are a low-maintenance herb that grows well in containers or directly in the ground. These lovely members of the onion family are delicious additions to any garden, whether herb, vegetable, or flower, and are very easy to grow. Like many other herbs, you can easily preserve them for the future by drying them in the microwave. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil and can be grown indoors if you have a bright location.
Radishes
Radishes are quick-growing root vegetables that are ideal for beginning gardeners. They can be sown directly in the ground and are ready to harvest in just a few weeks, the fastest of all vegetables. These fun plants are great additions to cool-weather spring or fall salad gardens and can be planted every few weeks for a long harvest. Children usually enjoy growing radishes because they grow so quickly and they love to pop them out of the ground and see that bright red surprise under the green tops.
Peppers
Peppers, both sweet and hot varieties, are relatively easy to grow. They require full sun, warm temperatures, and well-drained soil. While these members of the nightshade family are more temperamental and less tolerant than their cousins the tomatoes, and also produce less abundantly, they are still one of the easiest garden plants to grow. Unlike tomatoes, however, peppers are less tolerant of cool or extremely hot temperatures, and the fruit can sunburn if you live where it is very sunny or you have very long days.
Conclusion
There are a variety of easy edible plants that make great additions to vegetable and flower gardens, and many which can be grown in containers or pots for those without space for a garden. Beginning gardeners can choose from many different tolerant, easy-to-grow, and delicious plants which will help them to gain experience and be successful.