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 12 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!
1. Lettuce
A garden staple for many, leaf lettuce requires little care and is ready to harvest quickly. Many varieties exist to choose from, and all grow well in containers or the ground. Plant seeds every couple of weeks when temperatures are cooler for a continuous harvest.
2. Cucumbers
If you want to invest in a plant, then cucumbers are your best choice. They will simply pay themselves off. They are maybe relatively cheap, but if you have a specious garden, cucumbers are a must-have plant. They are extremely productive, one plant provides a great amount of cucumbers.
3. Tomatoes
These plants can go in every salad combination and they are definitely on our cost-effective plants. Tomatoes are very easy to grow and in order to get a juicy fruit, you must provide a sunny place in your garden and the best thing is that they don’t need large space or any special climatic conditions. In order to keep them fresh, after picking, store them in a room temperature and you will always have fresh tomatoes.
4. Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard is extremely popular because of its great nutritional value and the positive effect which it has on the body. This delicious plant can adapt to every possible climatic conditions and the best thing is that it is easily transplanted wherever you want.
5. Bell Peppers
Before you consider planting bell peppers in your garden, please bear in mind that they need to be planted in small pots before they can grow in your garden. You can always expect new growth as soon as you pick the peppers when they reach full size. You will always have a storage of bell peppers and the investment in the plant will pay itself off.
6. Zucchini
This incredibly delicious plant is easy to grow, cheap to purchase and extremely productive. Many people decide to plan zucchini because of its productivity, the only thing you need to bear in mind is that zucchini requires 2 inches of water a week, in case you don’t have a rainy period.
7. 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.
8. Carrots
Carrots are famous for its numerous health benefits as well as its unique taste. This root veggie is pest free and you can easily grow it at home. They just require a sandy soil and little attention. The growth and planting of this veggie is zero in comparison to the benefits you will get from it and for a very low cost.
9. Radishes
Gardeners love to plant radishes for their peppery flavor and rapid growth. They grow well in either containers or soil that has been worked well. Radishes thrive in ambient temperatures between 50 and 65 degrees, making them good spring and fall crops. They can be harvested in as quickly as three weeks.
10. Turnips
Another two-in-one plant, turnips are grown for both their greens and root vegetables. Turnip greens are ready for harvest when they reach 2 inches tall. Smaller turnips are milder and sweeter tasting than those that grow larger.
11. Arugula
This perennial plant adds a peppery twist to salads and comes back in the garden year after year. Plant seeds in two-week successions as soon as the garden soil is workable in the spring for a continuous harvest.
12. Potatoes
Potato is probably the most wanted and the most famous vegetable around the world. Fried, baked, mashed- people can’t get enough of them. However, home grown potatoes have a specific taste. Once you start growing potatoes in your own garden, you will start noticing the difference not just in taste, but also in benefits.