These easy to grow vegetables are great for beginning gardeners as well as those more experienced. I know that growing your first garden can be exciting but at times very frustrating. When you don’t get much to harvest you can feel defeated.
But I implore you, don’t give up gardening! I have some simple advice for beginner gardeners and today we are going to talk about the easiest vegetables to grow in your backyard garden.
If you’ve never had success, get prepared to harvest this year!
One of the best things about growing a vegetable garden is that you can practically do it anywhere. You can growing in small spaces using raised beds, pots on your porch or patio (I highly recommend these fabric pots) or even on a 1/2 acre plot of land.
Nothing tastes better than eating something you grew!
But if you’re having a hard time growing anything your garden can become a source of stress and frustration. Let me assure you that these easy to grow vegetables are going to give you the success you’ve been craving!
What’s even better? Most of these grow really well sown from seed so you won’t need to buy pricier transplants. Growing from seed also allows you more control over soil, varieties and being able to choose non-gmo, organic and heirloom seeds.
When Should I Plant My Vegetable Seeds?
Before we get started on the specific vegetables that are easy to grow you have to know WHEN to plant. I have each month listed for you to make that easy.
- What to Plant in March
- What to Plant in April
- What to Plant in May
- What to Plant in June
- What to Plant in July
- What to Plant in August
What is my planting zone?
Some zones will have growing seasons outside of these months. So it is a good idea to know what your planting zone is by checking the USDA Hardiness Zone Map.
These have been the easiest vegetables for me, and most gardeners, to grow for many years.
I know when I was first starting my garden I wanted plants that would be easy and even fast growing.
Gardening is a wonderful hobby and can be a great way to become more self sufficient. If you’ve felt like quitting in the past, I encourage you to give it a try just one more time!
These easy to grow veggies are going to boost your gardening confidence.
Easy to Grow Vegetables
Radishes
This is the, in my opinion, the number 1 easiest vegetable to grow in just about any garden. Start as seeds right where you wan them, root veggies don’t do well as transplants. You’ll have radishes, ready to eat, about a month later! Even if you haven’t been a fan of traditional store radishes, grow them! There are so many different radish varieties out there, try a few and see which you like best.
Carrots
Another fantastic root vegetable to grow in your garden. Carrots do take some patience; I’ve never found one that grows as fast as the seed packet says it will, but they always grow. I have grown carrots in pots, 6 and 12 inch garden boxes with equal success. And you’ll never have a better tasting carrot than the one you eat right out of the garden! Check out How to Preserve Your Garden Carrots
Tomatoes
Though I recommend radishes, most gardeners will tell you to start with tomatoes. They are an easy to grow vegetable (that is really a fruit) and have so many uses. Cherry tomatoes are a great place to start, especially in pots!
I always try to grow more than I need so I can make plenty of tomato powder for the year. There are a few things you can do to ensure even more success with tomatoes, but for the most part they do well with water and a little pruning.
Swiss Chard
I have started growing Swiss Chard more than spinach these days. I find it to be a lot more hardy, fast growing and fast to re-grow after trimming. If you harvest only the outside leaves you can harvest again and again from the same plant. I used the leaves much the way I use spinach.
The stalks are great in salads and stir fry recipes too. And Rainbow Swiss Chard is just beautiful in the garden. Tasty, nutritious as well as easy to grow! Start indoors or sow seeds straight into the garden.
Sweet Potatoes
If you live in a warm climate, like I do, then you’re going to love growing sweet potatoes. Among easy to grow vegetables, this one is HIGH on my list. When I first started with raised beds, I grew these in only 6 inches of soil; I still got some huge potatoes from those beds.
Sometimes I would be walking the garden and see a big of orange peeping out of the rock path between the beds…yep I had some jumpers! And sweet potatoes store fairly well so you can enjoy your bounty for awhile.
See: How to Grow Sweet Potatoes
Zucchini
The hardest thing about growing zucchini is what to do with it all! I usually share quite a bit with friends and family because, after awhile, no one in the house wants to eat it.
For the best return, start your zucchinis inside about 4 – 6 weeks before you’re ready to plant them outdoors. I usually grow the black beauty variety.
See: Growing Summer Squash – Everything You Need to Know and Zucchini Harvest Recipes
Peppers
From jalapenos to bell peppers – peppers are one of the easiest vegetables to grow in your garden. Most do well in warmer weather and even survive the hot temps of the Phoenix summers; though I do offer my bells a bit of coverage in the hottest part of the day to avoid the “sun burn”.
These prolific veggies will be fun to grow and there is nothing like making jalapeno jelly from your own plants!
Lettuce
Lettuce is an easy to grow vegetable for cool seasons; though I would recommend staying away from the head varieties for the best results. Most years I like to get a pack of mixed seeds.
Be sure to see: How to Grow Lettuce in Your Backyard
There more varieties than I can list and they all do well in bed, pots…heck I even grew some in a Rubbermaid tub one year. Again, like Swiss Chard, you can harvest the outside of the loose leaf lettuces and it will continue to grow for you.
The Best Vegetables to Grow in Pot and Containers
Beets
Another easy to grow root vegetable! Beets do best when grown from seed because they do not transfer well. You can grow several different types of beets and eat both the root and the greens from the plant.
I would advise you to buy your seeds from a reputable heirloom seed dealer because beets are high on the list of genetically modified foods.
Watch your nitrogen (not too much rabbit poo) where you grow beets and you’ll be enjoying them for months.
How to Use Rabbit Poop Fertilizer for a Better Garden
Onions
Onions require very little from you – lots of sun and soil that drains well. I prefer to grow my onions from set, rather than seeds; they are easy to plant and just seem to do better establishing themselves.
If you want a great onion harvest then you’ll want to look for varieties that do best in your climate. I buy my onion sets from Native Seed Search in Tucson, because theirs are grown in the desert from plants that are known to do well in our crazy climate.
If you can find a local seed saver, they are going to be your best bet for pretty much all your vegetable seeds.
Easiest Vegetables to Grow
Easy to grow vegetables are a great place to start for beginning gardeners or frustrated gardeners. I have that even our gardening mistakes can help us become better gardeners.
Start with Good Soil
I can’t leave you without making sure you know that even the best seeds of the easiest to grow veggies need a good foundation.
Growing plants need healthy soil in garden beds, pots and rows.
How to Improve Soil Without a Compost Pile
The Best DIY Soil Mix Recipe
Awesome Soil Amendments for Your Organic Vegetable Garden
More on Backyard Gardening
Where to Buy Heirloom Seeds
Flowers to Plant in Vegetable Gardens
9 Ways to Conserve Water in Your Vegetable Garden
Growing Corn in Your Backyard
All You Need to Know About Growing Garlic
How to Grow Potatoes Anywhere
How to Use Seeds and Transplants in the Vegetable Garden
