If you’re new to gardening or have limited time to care for your garden, you might want to start with easy to grow and low maintenance fruits and veggies.
1. Lettuce
It is a cool-season crop that grows best in spring and fall, the seeds germinate in 2-12 days, it matures in 45-55 days, and there are so many lettuce varieties to choose from, to keep life in the garden as diverse as possible.
2. Arugula
Arugula is super easy to grow, and toss it into a salad and all of your friends will be upset and impressed by its peppery flavor. It’s resilient to most conditions and grows well in moist climates, too. In fact, it’s just as easy to grow as lettuce.
3. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are crisp, refreshing, and super easy to grow. You need to be careful about providing them with plenty of watering, as too little can cause your cucumbers to become bitter tasting. Otherwise, all your cukes need is full sunlight to be content.
4. Cherry tomatoes
These tasty, grape-sized tomatoes are family favorites and easy to grow. This is another plant you can start indoors and replant outside when it’s warm enough. Cherry tomatoes do well in moist soil, and full sunlight. They grow fast and ripen quickly, making them great for snacks.
5. Peppers
These guys need well-draining soil and watered about twice a week. You can start peppers inside, in pots. When the frost is gone, you can plant outside. Plants need to be about 18 inches apart. Hot peppers hardly have any problems with pests!
6. Zucchini
This vegetable is easy to grow. Zucchini loves the sun and easy-draining soil. It needs a bit of space to grow, but can be started in containers and then transplanted when the weather is right. Even the flowers on zucchini are edible.
7. Asparagus
AAsparagus is a popular perennial. It can grow for several decades in just about any climate. Asparagus needs full sun with sandy, moist soil (but not too wet.) It is very tasty and can be used as side dishes or in salads.
8. Rhubarb
This is a hardy vegetable, and does well in colder climates. It needs well-draining soil with part shade. The plant will come back each year, so be prepared as it can grow very wide.
9. Potatoes
Potatoes are so easy to grow that many gardeners grow them in containers or even garbage bags! All you need is a few eyes to start your annual supply of potatoes. They keep well in cold storage, too, making them easy to harvest and keep.
10. Radishes
They take up little space and they are fast-growing (ready to harvest in about 4 weeks), leaving you with that much more room for a second crop, succession planting if you will.
11. Onions
Similar to chives, onions can also be grown from seed, more commonly they are grown from sets. Just remember to give each growing bulb plenty of space, so they can grow to their full potential.
12. Green Beans
This vegetable likes deep and moist soil. Plant after the threat of frost is gone. Beans need a lot of sun — at least six to eight hours a day. The soil also needs to drain well. Some bean plants need a fence or trellis to grow, while others only grow up to two feet and won’t need support.
13. Garlic
Try to plant garlic in the fall for the next season. Plant clove root down, with plants being six to eight inches apart, depending on the size of your garden. Only water when the soil is dry.
14. Blackberries
Like blueberries and strawberries, blackberries are quite easy to grow. All you need to do is pop the canes in the ground and prune every so often. You’ll enjoy a delicious harvest of succulent berries all summer long!
15. Strawberries
If your garden has full sun, and a well draining soil, try growing strawberries, your ice cream will appreciate the gesture! Alternatively, you can also grow strawberries in containers – even lovely woven baskets.