Growing a vegetable garden at home can be an extremely rewarding experience. Not only is it a fun hobby, but you’ll get to (literally!) enjoy the fruits of your labor. You don’t have to have a huge yard or even own a home at all to start a vegetable garden. You can grow many crops in containers on a small balcony or deck, in pots by your entryway or patio, or in raised beds in a small yard. While it’s true that some crops can be complicated, there are lots of vegetables that are appropriate for beginners. To help get you started on your gardening journey, we’ve rounded up a list of the easiest vegetables to grow for beginners! Ready to grow your own vegetables?
#1 Lettuce
Lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to grow for beginners. It matures quickly and likes full sun, but also tolerates some shade. It can be grown in between other vegetables in a large garden or grown in containers on a patio or deck. You’ll want to harvest the outermost leaves, but don’t pull up the plants completely, as they’ll keep producing leaves throughout the season.
#2 Radishes
Radishes are a great vegetable crop for beginners. The seeds sprout quickly and they are perfect for marking the rows of other crops that don’t come up as fast. Radish seedlings thrive in a sunny spot with loose soil.
#3 Cucumbers
Cucumbers are quite easy to grow, so they’re a very good choice for beginners. Just give them a spot with moist, fertile soil and lots of sunshine! You’ll also want to water them regularly and consider working in a balanced, soluble fertilizer when the fruits set.
#4 Zucchini
Zucchini is one of the easiest vegetables to grow for beginners. These plants don’t require a lot of maintenance and are very prolific – a single plant can yield 6 to 10 pounds of zucchinis in a single growing season!
#5 Beans
Most beans are relatively easy to grow and don’t take up a lot of space, so they’re a great option for beginners who lack a lot of gardening space. Many varieties can be grown vertically with poles, which is perfect if you have limited room in your garden bed or need to grow your crops in containers on a balcony or tiny patio. Most varieties will thrive with basic care — they like full sun, regular waterings, and moderately rich soil.
#6 Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard is a great option if you’re specifically looking for a vegetable that grows well in shady areas. It needs just 4 hours of sunlight per day and can thrive in containers as well as in-ground beds. Many varieties are also very pretty, such as the showy 'Bright Lights' and 'Peppermint,' so if you’re a beginner looking to add a little pizazz to your vegetable garden, don’t overlook this tasty, attractive crop!
#7 Kale
Kale is one of the easiest members of the brassica family to grow and thrives in partial shade, so it’s a great choice if your garden doesn’t get a lot of sun. Kale grows equally well in containers or garden beds, making it an especially good option if you don’t have access to a yard with in-ground beds. We recommend selecting a cultivar based on the conditions you can provide — for example, varieties with smooth leaves grow the fastest in the shade.
#8 Asparagus
Asparagus is a great option for beginner gardeners who want a bit of a challenge. Growing asparagus is relatively easy, but it takes a little foresight and involves some delayed gratification. You’ll want to plant 1-year-old crowns in a sunny spot and provide plenty of compost. (You can also start your asparagus from seed if you prefer.) It’s best to avoid harvesting until year two or three, but once it’s time to reap the benefits, you can expect to harvest stalks for about 8 weeks in springtime. Notably, established asparagus is a perennial vegetable, so with a little love and care, it will come back year after year.
#9 Chives
If you’re open to planting herbs as well as vegetables, chives (Allium spp.) are another great option for those beginning their gardening journey. Be sure to deadhead regularly or grow yours in containers to keep them in check. You can harvest chives from spring through fall — you’ll just need to wait 60 days after seeding to begin doing so. Bonus? Chives are perennials — most varieties are hardy in Zones 3 - 9.
#10 Thyme
Thyme (Thymus spp.) is another great option for beginners. If you’re not quite ready to start a full vegetable garden or are looking to grow some herbs to flavor your veggies with, this is a great choice! Thyme grows well indoors (place it in a container on a south-facing or east-facing windowsill for best results), making it ideal for beginners who just want to dip a toe into the world of gardening. Thyme can also be planted outdoors, where it is hardy in Zones 5 – 9 and prefers plenty of sun. We recommend growing thyme from purchased plants (you can usually get them at your local gardening store) rather than from seed, as thyme is known for its uneven seed germination, which can be difficult to deal with. When shopping, be sure to choose a culinary variety — if you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to ask a local expert for assistance!
Bonus!
#11 Raspberries
You don’t have to stick to vegetables! If you’re looking for a fruit crop that grows easily and quickly, raspberries are a great choice! Summer-bearing and fall-bearing varieties make it possible to enjoy fresh fruit for months. Just keep in mind that raspberries are very vigorous growers, so it’s often a good idea to grow them in containers so that you can keep them in check. These plants require well-drained soil and do best in areas with long, cold winters and long, cool springs.
Want more gardening ideas for beginners? We recommend growing succulents!