If you are new to gardening and want to start a small vegetable garden for your family. Then you are in the right place.
Today I will show you how you can grow healthy and tasty vegetables without gardening experience.
There are some vegetables that are very easy to grow for beginners. All you have to do is just buy the seeds, sow them in the ground and give them some water.
These vegetable plants need less care and maintenance.
Below is the complete list of easy-to-grow vegetables. Select a few of them and start growing them in pots or in a plot.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are easy to grow in pots because they can grow vertically. You need to support the plant structure with a tomato cage or moss pole to help it grow vertically.
This way you can save a huge amount of space for other vegetables.
The potting soil must have some organic content in it. I mix homemade compost in the potting soil to increase the nitrogen content.
Nitrogen and potassium are the two main nutrients that cucumbers need to grow.
In the absence of nitrogen, cucumbers turn yellow and grow small in size. They need direct sunlight and warm weather to grow.
Harvest time: 45 to 60 days
Planting time: Summer
Seeds germination: 5 to 10 days
Temperature: 70 to 85 F
Light needs: Full sun
Carrots
Carrot is a cool-season crop and the good news is carrots can handle the frost. Spring and fall is the best time for planting carrots.
All you need to do is take a 5-gallon bucket and add potting soil to it. But before that mix some parts of sand in the soil.
Sand will keep the soil loose and loose soil is best for growing carrots.
In hard and rocky soil carrots do not gain their size and stay small. If you are planning to grow them in your garden.
Then before sowing the seeds, you must lose the soil and add sand to it. For best harvest mix some parts of compost in the soil to increase its fertility.
Harvest time: 50 to 70 days (depending on the variety of carrots)
Planting time: Summer, spring, and fall
Seeds germination: 7 to 15 days
Temperature: 55 to 80 F
Light needs: Full sun or partial sun
Bell Pepper
Bell pepper is one of the easy to grow vegetables if you start them indoors. Buy the seeds and germinate them indoors, a few weeks before transplanting.
Generally, the germination process takes 7 to 21 days. Once the seedlings grow a few leaves and are 5 to 6 inches long then you can transfer them to an outdoor garden.
Peppers are light-loving plants so plant them in direct sun.
Well-draining potting is recommended for the best harvest. You must fertilize them once in 30 days to harvest big juicy and tasty peppers.
Once they turn bright green and waxy. This means it’s time for the harvest.
Harvest time: 55 to 75 days
Planting time: Early days of Summer
Seeds germination: 7 to 21 days
Temperature: 70 to 95 F
Light needs: Full sun
Arugula
Arugula is a member of the mustard family. This means it is a seasonal salad crop. You can start it in the early days of spring to summer to fall.
It takes 40 days to harvest arugula after germination. Well-draining potting soil is required for heavy harvest.
You can grow this fast-growing crop in buckets. Just throw some seeds in the bucket filled with potting soil and give some water.
You will see a tiny arugula plant in 5 days.
Remember that this plant needs plenty of sunshine to grow. The minimum requirement for sunlight is 7 hours per day.
Harvest time: 40 days
Planting time: Early spring to fall
Seeds germination: 5 days
Temperature: 40 to 65 F
Light needs: Full sun
Lettuce
You can grow lettuce in any place from the patio or small balcony to small containers. The good news is you can grow lettuce year-round.
In spring and summer, you can grow it outside in your garden. Whereas in winters you can grow it indoors in containers.
I always grow it in my medium size garden beds (size 3×2 feet and 8 inches deep).
Regardless of the type of lettuce, you can harvest baby leaves in just 30 days. For big-size leaves, you have to wait for 60 to 70 days.
Lettuce is a light-loving plant and you must give it indirect bright light. It cannot tolerate a temperature above 75 degrees F.
Harvest time: 30 to 60 days
Planting time: Year-round
Seeds germination: 5 to 10 days
Temperature: 45 to 70 F
Light needs: Partial sun or indirect bright light
Beets
You can grow beets almost anywhere. This is a cool-season crop and it takes 60 days to harvest.
You can start it in the spring season for early harvest and in summer to harvest in fall. This way you can harvest it twice a year.
A sunny spot and good draining soil are a must for growing beets.
Sow the seeds 1 to 2 inches apart in straight rows. There must be a 1-foot difference between rows. While thinning the beets you can harvest beet greens.
If your soil is rich in organic material then you do not need to use fertilizers. Otherwise, you should fertilize the beets with vegetable fertilizer once in 30 days.
Harvest time: 60 days
Planting time: Spring and Summer
Seeds germination: 7 to 14 days
Temperature: 50 to 85 F
Light needs: Full sun or part sun
Radishes
Radish is an annual root vegetable. You should plant them in early spring for harvesting in spring. For fall harvest plant radishes in summer.
There are many varieties of radish seeds available in the market. Small variety takes 30 days to mature whereas large size variety takes 60 days to mature.
Radishes are fast-growing crops therefore you can grow them in containers. Add loose, rich, well-draining soil to it and plant seeds.
A radish plant needs full sun for a minimum of 6 hours per day. They need a good amount of water to grow healthy and juicy.
If your soil is rich in nutrients, you will not need to fertilize radishes.
Harvest time: 30 to 60 days
Planting time: Early spring and summer
Seeds germination: 5 to 10 days
Temperature: 40 to 75 F
Light needs: Full sun
Kale
Kale is actually a cabbage without a tightly packed head. It is a fast-growing vegetable and you can grow it in just 60 days.
I like to plant it in late winter to early spring. If you want you can grow and plant it in summer for fall harvest.
Sow seeds in organically rich soil with little acidic pH value. Nitrogen is the main nutrient that is required for juicy kale.
Plant your kale when the temperature stays near 60 to 65 degrees F. Remember that the sweet taste will develop just before the frost.
Fertilize your plants once in 20 days if you are using organic liquid fertilizer and your soil is less fertile.
Harvest time: 50 to 60 days
Planting time: Spring to Summer
Seeds germination: 5 to 10 days
Temperature: 60 to 75 F
Light Needs: Full sun to part sun
Tomatoes
If you like to eat sweet and juicy tomatoes then you definitely start growing them at home in containers.
All you need to do is support the tomato plants with a tomato cage and they will grow vertically.
Summer is the best time for planting tomatoes. You should start them indoors 30 days before transplanting them outside.
Once the seedlings reach 6 inches in height you can transfer them outside.
Well-draining soil is necessary and tomatoes need a good amount of fertilizer each month. Therefore, you must buy tomato fertilizer for your plants.
I prefer liquid tomato fertilizers over other forms of nutrients.
Harvest time: 70 to 90 days
Planting time: Summer
Seeds germination: 5 to 12 days
Temperature: 60 to 95 F
Light needs: Full Sun
Onions & Garlic
Onions and Garlic are two easy to grow vegetables. They are maintenance-free means you do not need to worry about the temperature and fertilizers.
Plant the onion bulbs and garlic cloves in potting soil that drains extra water in a short time.
Then leave them until autumn and when the foliage starts dying it’s time to harvest them.
Sow them in spring to harvest in autumn.
Spinach
If you like spinach like the popular sailor man (Popeye). Then you must start growing it now. Because it needs well-draining soil and plenty of sunshine to grow.
It does not need fertilizers. Organic rich soil is enough to full fill its nutritional needs.
In most parts of the United States, you can freely plant spinach in an outdoor garden or indoors.
Spinach can tolerate as low as 12 degrees F.
Harvest time: 30 to 45 days
Planting time: Spring, fall
Seeds germination: 5 to 7 days
Temperature: 30 to 80 F
Light needs: Full sun to part sun
Broccoli
Broccoli is a slow-growing vegetable you should plant in spring for the summer harvest. Depending on the variety of the broccoli it takes 50 to 115 days to mature.
Direct sun rays must fall on the broccoli plant for its good health. You cannot grow it in the absence of direct sunlight.
Rich soil with a 7.0 pH is best for growing broccoli. Like other green leafy vegetables, it also needs soil high in nitrogen content.
To improve nitrogen levels in your potting soil or garden soil. You must add compost to the soil.
Normally it can survive at 65 to 80 degrees F.
Harvest time: 45 to 115 days
Planting time: Spring
Seeds germination: 10 to 17 days
Temperature: 60 to 80 F
Light needs: Full sun to part sun
Zucchini
Zucchini needs plenty of space and good air calculation to grow. This is the reason I recommend it for the outdoor garden.
It needs moist potting soil rich in organic material like compost.
It needs direct sunlight to make fruit. It is popular in many salad dishes and a pizza topping.
Harvest time: 50 to 65 days
Planting time: Early Spring
Seeds germination: 5 to 15 days
Temperature: Mild
Light needs: Full Sun
Summer Squash (yellow)
Yellow summer squash is the easiest vegetable to grow for beginner gardeners. For a quick harvest, you should start it indoors or buy seedlings from the local garden store.
Before planting summer squash add compost to the soil. Plant squash where it can get plenty of direct sunlight.
To speed up the growth of your plant take proper care of its water requirements. Fertilize it once a month with liquid fertilizer.
Dilute it in water as per the manufacturer’s instruction and then pour water to base the plant. Never spray nutrient-rich water on the plant leaves.
Harvest time: 45 to 70 days
Planting time: Summers
Seeds germination: 5 to 10 days
Temperature: 65 to 95 F
Light needs: Direct Sunlight
Pumpkins
Pumpkin is a large size fruit and to grow this huge size crop you need to supply a good amount of water and fertilizers.
You need to feed your pumpkins once in 15 days. High nitrogen fertilizer is best to use for harvesting big pumpkins.
Once you see the bloom right way stop using nitrogen-rich fertilizer and switch to phosphorous-rich fertilizer.
Harvest time: 90 to 110 days
Planting time: Early Spring
Seeds germination: 7 to 18 days
Temperature: 65 to 95 F
Light needs: Full Sun
Green Beans
Go for green beans if you like to grow a few plants but like to harvest tones of fruits. Buy seeds and sow them in rich soil.
You will need to use a trellis or tomato cage to support the growth of beans.
Green beans are a good source of vitamins and minerals. If you do not like to eat spinach then you must add green beans to your diet plan.
Sow the seed in the early days of summer to harvest in just 60 days.
Harvest time: 50 to 60 days
Planting time: Spring
Seeds germination: 5 to 7 days
Temperature: 50 to 80 F
Light needs: Full Sun
Cabbage
Plant the cabbage in your garden right before the last spring frost. Because at this time the garden soil becomes workable.
For a quick harvest, you should start seeds indoors 6 to 7 weeks before the frost.
The best place is where your planted cabbage can get direct sunrays for a minimum of 7 hours in a day.
Cabbage needs plenty of water because it likes to grow in consistently moist soil. But this does not mean you overwater the plant.
Let the top 2 inches of the soil dry between watering sessions.
This is a heavy feeder crop so you need to buy fertilizers in huge amounts. Select vegetable fertilizer and use it thrice in 30 days.
Harvest time: 70days
Planting time: Before last spring frost
Seeds germination: 7 to 12 days
Temperature: 55 to 70 F
Light needs: Full Sun
Peas
Peas are a cool-season crop. You should plant the seeds directly in the soil 30 days before the last spring frost.
Peas are strong enough to handle the frost. In fact, in frost, they develop a sweet taste.
Do not grow peas where you previously grow them. Choose a sunny place to give your growing peas plenty of sunshine.
The good news is fertilizers are not required for growing peas. You need to mix compost in the soil and that’s it.
Harvest time: 60 to 65 days
Planting time: Spring
Seeds germination: 10 days
Temperature: 60 to 70 F
Light needs: Full Sun
Potatoes
Plant potatoes in mid-spring for a quick harvest. Potatoes are a favorite food of many American families.
It takes 120 days to harvest full-size potatoes. For small size potatoes, you can harvest them once your plant reaches 1 foot in height.
For potatoes, you need to keep the soil pH between 5.0 to 6.0. They like to grow in slightly acidic soil. Moisture is the most important thing that you need to keep in mind while growing potatoes.
Harvest time: 90 to 120 days
Planting time: Mid Spring
Seeds germination: 8 to 15 days
Temperature: 60 to 75 F
Light needs: Full Sun Light
Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is the extremely easiest vegetable to grow in the home garden. It is the starter vegetable for beginner gardeners.
Again, sow seeds in the soil 15 days before the last frost. For quick harvest germinate seeds indoors roughly 30 days before transplanting.
Swiss chard cannot survive in full sun. So, choose a place where it can get plenty of indirect bright light.
It needs moist soil throughout its life span. Therefore, I suggest you use mulch and make a layer around the plant.
Mulch will lock the moisture inside the soil.
Harvest time: 50 to 65 days
Planting time: Spring
Seeds germination: 5 to 7 days
Temperature: 50 to 80 F
Light needs: Partial Sun
Bok Choy
It is a fast-growing Chinese cabbage. Plant the seeds in the soil in the early days of spring for the best harvest in late spring or early summer.
No need to buy seedlings because Bok choy can easily be grown from seeds.
Well-draining soil with good moisture-retaining power is required. Keep the pH of the soil between 6.0 to 7.0.
Regular watering is required for juicy leaves.
Fertilize Bok choy with organic fertilizers only. Do not use synthetic nutrients.
Harvest time: 45 to 60 days
Planting time: After Spring frost
Seeds germination: 5 to 7 days
Temperature: 55 to 70 F
Light needs: Full Sun
How to grow vegetables in easy steps?
Sunlight
This is the very first step that you need to keep in mind while selecting the vegetables to grow. Some veggies need more hours of light while some species need little or less light.
Plants convert the light into their food and this process is called photosynthesis.
We are sure you heard about this process in high school.
Remember that at least 7 hours of light is required for any type of plant to grow.
Protection System
This is often called a drainage system that protects your plants from overwatering.
This system removes the excess water from the potting soil and saves the plant roots. People dig a ditch around the growing field to reduce the risk of root rot due to more water.
For container growing plants use pots with bottom drain holes.
Quality of Soil
Soil is everything when it comes to easily growing vegetables. Always test the soil pH level before planting.
This gives you an idea of soil quality. To maximize the quality of soil, mix a good quality organic manure where you are planning to grow. Do this before 14 days of planting.
You can also add homemade organic compost to the soil in order to increase its nutritional content.
Seeds
Now, this is an important part of the vegetable growing process and you need to be extra careful.
Take the help of an experienced grower to select seeds.
Before choosing any quality of seeds read the packet carefully and select a packet with a “pedigree”.
Watering
Plants that are in the initial stage of the growing phase always need more water than matured plants.
The water must be clean and does not contain any unwanted minerals.
Do not use tap water if it contains chlorine and fluoride. These two substances are harmful to plant roots. they get collected at the root zone and block the root functions.
The golden rule of watering is letting the top 1 to 2 inches of soil dry before a watering session.
Fertilizers
These are necessary because with time soil loses its nutritional values. You can do a simple soil test to know what things you need to add in what quantities.
To keep the nutritional values of your potting soil.
Chemical-based fertilizers are harmful to soil, plant, and of course human health. So, we do not advise you to use them.
On the other hand,
we have another option that is good to use and is safe for human health that is Organic Fertilizers.
They are made from the organic waste of plants and animals and have high nutritional content. This type of fertilizer makes your plant healthy and strong.
We are constantly adding more useful information to make you an expert gardener. If you have any type of question, feel free to contact us one of our expert team members will help you ASAP.
