While the thought of growing a garden from scratch can be intimidating, building a beautiful garden can be an enjoyable and exciting process with the proper resources and know-how. With a little bit of research, you can be on your way to a blooming garden.
However, some plants are far easier to grow than others, especially beginner gardeners. Below is a list of nine beginner-friendly plants perfect for inexperienced gardeners looking to stick their toes into vegetable gardening.
Radishes
Radishes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow and are often where novice gardeners start their garden. It’s essential to gain confidence and experience when you start your garden, and growing radishes are a perfect way to succeed early on.
In addition to being a straightforward crop, radishes are lovely additions to many different meals. They have a tasty peppery flavor that is great in salads, stir-frys, and more.
Just like any other veggie, radishes need sunlight to thrive. However, they have a high tolerance for shaded areas, which is why they’re considered one of the easiest vegetables to cultivate.
No matter where your garden is, you’re likely to get your crop of radishes to grow. Plus, they often repel pests and are quite simple to plant.
Herbs and aromatics
Various herbs and aromatics are a smart option for new gardeners. If you’re looking for a plant to complement the other vegetables you’re growing, high-quality garlic seeds and herbs like basil make an excellent addition to any garden.
Often, herbs are cited as one of the easiest plants to grow and capable of withstanding various environmental factors. Whether you forget to water them, have a scorching day, or a frosty night, your herbs and aromatics can withstand most conditions.
For beginners, consider starting off with French thyme, oregano, rosemary, or sage.
Green beans
Green beans are another popular, easy-to-grow vegetable found in gardens worldwide. Their popularity is in part because they are so versatile.
Green beans can grow on the ground or on a trellis, meaning you can maximize your space and fit them to your specific needs.
To grow green beans, start by planting them about 1” deep and make sure to space them out by at least 2 inches. After planting, they should grow in around 60 days.
Kale
For some gardeners, kale is, without a doubt, the easiest vegetable to grow. It can tolerate a wide variety of diseases and flourish in many different climates and sun levels. Additionally, kale can withstand sweltering summer days and is even possible to grow in a pot due to its compact nature.
That said, the best time to plant kale is in the late spring or easy summer. The seeds should be about 18” apart, and you should be able to harvest them in around 60 days.
Beets
Beets are a tasty addition to your new garden that you’ll have little trouble cultivating, presenting few issues to even the most novice gardener.
Additionally, beets also make a great side dish for any number of meals. Some popular and delicious varieties include boltardy, avalanche, and bull’s blood beets. Beets are also a very healthy addition to your vegetable selection.
To grow beets, plant the seeds in a sunny spot of your garden, around ½” deep and about 2” apart. They should be ready to harvest in about 60 days.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are an ever-popular vegetable found in nearly every garden. Plus, they’re perfect for beginners because they’re adaptable to almost every climate. You can grow tomatoes inside and outside, under glass, and out in the open.
In addition to their straightforward nature, tomatoes are a versatile vegetable in the kitchen, adding delicious, fresh sweetness to many different tomato-based recipes. After harvesting your tomatoes, you can use them to make paste, sandwiches, and pasta, or eat them fresh with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
If you’re interested in giving tomatoes a try in your garden, consider yellow, purple Cherokee, and Beef steak tomatoes.
Swiss chard
Swiss chard is a delicious and attractive plant that’s also incredibly healthy. Rich in several different vitamins, this leafy veggie is an excellent addition to any garden.
Swiss chard is best planted in spring if your garden is outside. However, you can also grow swiss chard in the winter in a greenhouse. Some of the best varieties include rainbow and giant swiss chard.
When you plant swiss chard, you should ensure the seeds are ½” deep. Once they start to grow, you should separate them to about 10” apart to ensure each plant is flourishing.
Lettuce
Lettuce is another popular, easy-to-grow plant in almost every gardener’s crop. Fresh lettuce is far superior to store-bought, not only because it’s so satisfying to grow but because it grows fast.
Typically, lettuce plants will be ready to harvest in about six weeks or even earlier. Two particularly hardy varieties are the green star and the new red fire.
A popular way of cultivating the crop is to plant a few seeds at once to keep from overwhelming your garden. You should also note that some lettuce varieties are more challenging to cultivate than others.
Carrots
Carrots are hardy vegetables that do very well in loose soil and can even be grown indoors in a bucket. The seeds should be planted loosely in the ground, with each row about a foot apart.
Additionally, seeds should be about 2” apart and, ideally, planted in spring and fall, as planting during the summer or winter makes a crop of carrots far harder to cultivate.
You should also be on the lookout for carrot flies which can plague some carrot crops and have deterred many a beginner gardener.
Plus, as even the most novice gardeners know, carrots are an excellent addition to many different meals.
Wrapping up
No matter your experience level, these easy-to-grow plants are delicious additions to any garden.
Carrots, radishes, lettuce, herbs, and other vegetables are also a perfect place to start if you’re hoping for an easy-to-maintain organic crop that’s fun to cultivate.
