Top 10 Easy Vegetables to Grow For First Timer Gardeners

In these uncertain times, many people are turning to self-sustainability options, and growing your own fruits and veggies is right at the top of that list! These 10 easy vegetables to grow are perfect for first time gardeners and beginners! Sure, you can stockpile canned goods and frozen foods, but when it comes to fresh fruits and veggies, that's a little more complicated.

So what better way to self-sustain ourselves and our families than to grow our own crops? These easy vegetables to grow are just that – EASY. If you've got even the smallest backyard, or even a balcony, you CAN grow these vegetables. All they require is spring/summer weather (above 70F), a little sun, and some good quality soil. In no time, you'll be able to provide your family with freshly picked vegetables!

You can choose to grow just one of the vegetables on this list, or a variety, depending on how much space you have in your garden. To get you started, check out these top 10 gardening tips for beginners and 7 gardening mistakes every gardener makes. Once you've brushed up on the basics, you'll soon become an expert gardener!

10 Easy Vegetables to Grow

1. Lettuce & Other Greens

If you love your salads, there really is nothing easier to grow than lettuce and other greens! The great thing about lettuce is that it grows quickly, doesn't take up a lot of space, doesn't require too much care, can be easily grow in pots. Learn more about how to grow lettuce.

2. Carrots

If you have a little bit of room, carrots are the way to go! They prefer well drained soil, but if you can't get your hands on that, they'll grow in almost any type of soil. They also tolerate a little shade as well, so you're in luck if your garden doesn't have a lot of sun. Learn more about how to grow carrots.

3. Tomatoes

One of the most popular vegetables (actually, tomatoes are a fruit) to grow are tomatoes! Tomatoes are great to grow because they can grow in pots, directly in the ground, or even upside down, plus there are hundreds of varieties you can choose from! Ensure that tomatoes have full sun for successful harvest. Learn more about how to grow tomatoes.

4. Cucumbers

Cucumbers are another easy and fun vegetable to grow so long as the temperature is warm, they have enough sun, and a trellis or some sort of support is used. Once seedlings appear, water consistently, and watch them spread like wildfire! Bush cucumbers are the easiest to grow and are great for small spaces and container gardening. Learn more about how to grow cucumbers.

5. Green Beans

Greens beans are fun to grow, especially since there are hundreds of varieties you can choose from. While bush beans require less space, vine beans are actually easier to grow, but both grow well directly from seed. Make sure to provide your bean plants with plenty of sunlight and well drained soil. Learn more about how to grow green beans!

6. Radishes

Did you know that radishes only take 20 days to grow fully from seed? With such a fast harvest time, you'd be crazy NOT to grow them! Be sure to grow them in an area where they will receive full sun, and in just less than a month you'll have crunchy, delicious radishes! Learn more about how to grow radishes!

7. Zucchini

Zucchini actually grows quite prolific, meaning they produce a LOT and can get quite out of hand, which is good news for beginner gardeners! For a family, you only need one or two plants! Be sure to only plant zucchini seeds in warm weather, provide them with plenty of sun, and give them lots of water. You'll soon be rewarded with a full bounty! Learn more about how to grow zucchini! If you're growing more than a couple of zucchini plants, you'll need to provide them with plenty of support, so check out this article on how to trellis zucchini plants.

8. Pumpkins

Although you may need some room to grow them, pumpkins are actually quite easy to grow and don't require too much care. Plus, there are hundreds of pumpkin varieties you can choose from so pumpkin growing is never boring! Learn more about how to grow pumpkins! If you don't have a lot of space, you can also grow pumpkins in pots.

9. Herbs

Herbs are one of the easiest things to grow, and most often what a beginner gardening will start off with! Choose from basil, rosemary, cilantro, thyme, oregano, parsley, and a slew of many others! Check out all the herbs that can be planted together to save space, or head on over to our herbs section to learn more!

10. Peas

Pears are easy to grow, and even if you don't have a ton of space, can be successfully grown in a pot as well! Be sure to give your peas plenty of sun and plant them in early spring so they can bloom before it gets warm out. Learn more about how to grow peas!