10 Easy to Grow Vegetables for Beginner Gardeners

If you are new to gardening, but don’t know where to start, check out this helpful list of ten easy to grow vegetables for beginners including green beans, basil and cucumbers.

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Find Your USDA Hardiness Zone

Gardening is a passion of mine and I love sharing tips and tricks with you guys that I’ve learned over the years. If you’re new to gardening then it can all seem overwhelming and intimidating at first. It’s pretty easy once you get into it though. Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to determine your first and last frost dates. These dates will be used to calculate when to plant in your area.

10 Easy to Grow Vegetables for Beginners

Some things are easier to grow than others which is why I’ve compiled this list of 10 Easy Vegetables to Grow in the Backyard Garden. Enjoy and I’d love to hear about your gardening adventures in the comment section below!

Green Beans

I’ve never had a problem growing green beans. You can grow either a bush bean or a pole bean. If you choose the pole bean then you will need to have a trellis that it can grow up.

I prefer the pole bean because it can be kind of hard hunting for beans all over the ground with the bush varieties. Seeds should be planted in the ground after the danger of frost has past. Most varieties take 50-70 days until harvest.

Pro Tip:

Make sure to protect young seedlings from rabbits and/or grasshoppers. I’ve had them come in over night and wipe out my whole crop. You can add insect netting over tender plants until they start to bud and flower, then you will need to remove the netting for proper pollination.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are another really easy crop to grow. They’re pretty prolific, so unless you plan on canning or preserving them, 3-4 plants should be plenty for fresh eating. They are a vine as well so, you will need to trellis them. Seeds should be planted in the ground after the danger of frost has past. Most varieties take 50-60 days until harvest.

Pro Tip:

Make sure that your plants aren’t overcrowded and have enough air flow to prevent diseases. Also, make sure that the plants get adequate water, otherwise the fruits can turn bitter under stress.

Try these Old-Fashioned Refrigerator Sweet Pickles for a special treat.

Zucchini

If you have any friends who garden then you’ve probably received a load of free zucchini from them. This is because they are REALLY prolific and grow like crazy. Seeds should be planted in the ground after the danger of frost has past. Most varieties take 50-60 days until harvest. Also, be sure to space them out according to package directions or they will take over your whole garden.

Pro Tip:

Squash are susceptible to powdery mildew, squash bugs and squash vine borers, so be sure to check your plants regularly underneath the leaves for small red eggs. You can squash them with your fingers or use duck tape to remove them. Also, check the base of the plant for adult squash bugs. You can pick them by hand and drop them into soapy water.

Try these Old-Fashioned Zucchini Fritters as a summertime side dish.

Radishes

Radishes are a fast growing cold weather crop that should be planted 4-6 weeks before your average frost date. Succession plant (every 2-3 weeks) for a longer harvest period. Most salad varieties take only 30-40 days until harvest.

Pro Tip:

If your radishes try to go to seed, let them. They have edible seed pods that are great on salads. Some people prefer these to the radishes themselves.

Beets

Beets are another cold weather root crop that are easy to grow. Seeds can be planted in early spring (around 4-6 weeks before average first frost) and can also be succession planted for a longer harvest period. Greens are also edible. Most varieties take 50-60 days until harvest.

Basil

This one is a herb not a vegetable, but I think it should be included in every garden for its amazing flavor and ability to keep pests at bay. If you’re new to gardening then I would suggest buying starts (small plants) at your local nursery and planting outside once all danger of frost has past.

Pro Tip:

Continual harvest keeps plants happy and growing all season long. To harvest, you will nip the tops off of stems, to encourage new growth, otherwise your plant will go to seed.

Try this Sparkling Basil Lemonade for a special summertime drink!

Carrots

Carrots are a cold weather root crop that are easy to grow, but can be difficult to germinate. Make sure your soil is loose so the roots grow straight. Sow seeds on top of soil and lightly cover with dirt 4-6 weeks before average first frost date. You will need to thin seeds once they are about 3″-4″. Most varieties take 60-80 days until harvest.

Pro Tip:

You will need to make sure that the soil is kept moist for up to two weeks or until germination, after planting. Also, it is wise to cover small plants with insect netting, to protect them from rabbits and large insects. If you are growing fall carrots, they can be left in the ground until you are ready to eat them. Frost makes them sweeter.

Peas

Peas are a cold weather crop that can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked in late winter or very early spring. You want plants to grow and flower before it gets too warm or they won’t produce. Pick pods when they are young and tender. Most varieties take 50-60 days until harvest. Cover tender peas to protect them from rabbits.

Okra

Okra is a heat loving plant that is also drought tolerant. Seeds can be planted in the ground once night temps reach 55 degrees. You may have to start seeds indoors if you live in a cold climate. Plants flower in the early morning and are particularly beautiful. Pick pods when they are young and tender (usually around 3″-5″ in long). Pods will become too tough to eat once they get too long.

Peppers

Peppers are another heat loving plant. If you’re just starting out then I would suggest buying starts at your local nursery and planting in the ground after all danger of frost has past and night temps reach 55 degrees. I’ve found that jalapeños, banana peppers and cayenne peppers are very prolific, but bell peppers don’t yield as much per plant. Seeds can be started indoors 8-10 weeks before transplanting.

Sunflowers and Zinnias (Bonus):

If you’re like me then adding flowers to your vegetable garden is a must. The two easiest to grow are sunflowers and zinnias. You can plant these from seed directly into the ground once the danger of frost has past and you’ll be enjoying fresh cut flowers all summer long.

What is your favorite vegetable to grow? I’d love to know!