One of the most popular types of plants to grow both indoors and out is the vegetable. Nothing beats reaping the rewards of your hard work like having a bite into a fresh tomato or pepper. Unfortunately, many beginner gardeners can be a bit apprehensive about growing vegetables and may see them as difficult to do. Today, we want to dispel this myth, and show that growing vegetables is in reach for every level of gardener, even complete beginners. Here are 5 of our top picks for easy to grow vegetables you can start with today!
Lettuce
First up we have lettuce which is a very hardy and easy to grow plant. Lettuce actually grows quite well in cool weather, so it’s okay to plant this in early spring. It can survive a little bit of frost, making it very forgiving if you misplan it’s planting time.
Lettuce is also extremely space efficient, and you can easily grow a decent amount with very little space. Many gardeners put lettuce in between flowers, or even under taller plants. This also makes lettuce one of the most popular vegetables for indoor gardeners who are space conscious.
Tomatoes
Probably the most popular veggie to grow is the tomato. While they do require a good amount of sunlight that’s really the most important part of growing tomatoes. The more sunlight they get the faster and bigger the tomatoes will grow, so pick the sunniest spot you can for this plant.
Tomatoes do require a decent amount of space to grow, and do take some time to mature. It’s also very important to not expose them to frost, so don’t plant them too early. You’ll want to wait until the last frost and the soil
Radishes
For a quick growing vegetable that is also easy to grow check out radishes. These are very hardy, and can produce edible food in only a few weeks from planting.
Take care to ensure that they have adequate sun. Too much shade and the plant will put more energy into larger leaves than vegetables. Plant in a sunny spot and you’ll be able to harvest several times over a single summer.
Green Beans
Green beans are another very easy veggie to grow. There are two different kinds, but each is easy to grow. Simply pop them in a bright spot and they’ll happily grow.
Green beans are very susceptible to pests, so you’ll have to keep an eye on them. Things like rabbits and deer will also munch on this veggie, so consider protective fencing if you live in an area where these animals are prevalent. Outside of this, green beans are a low maintenance plant that will produce delicious veggies all summer long.
Bell peppers
Last up we have bell peppers. Bell peppers are delicious veggies, and are quite hardy outside of frost damage. For that reason, it’s best to plant them after your last frost date. Like most veggies, bright light is best and will produce the best results.
The problem with bell peppers is their long growing period, usually 2-3 months. For this reason, if you do plan on growing outside, it’s smart to start them indoors. This can give them a few extra weeks of growing, which can help get more harvests out of a season. Don’t let this discourage you though, during this time you’ll enjoy a low maintenance plant that won’t require much effort on your part.
You really can’t go wrong with any of the above vegetables. Each will produce some delicious produce while still being an easy to care for plant. Even if you’re a beginner, all the above plants will be a perfect way to get into the world of gardening.
