Minuca Elena – GreenUpside – Learn how to grow a green garden with us!

The best vegetables to grow in your garden will depend on a variety of factors, such as the climate you live in and the amount of space you have. Vegetables are a great addition to any garden, and they can provide you with fresh, healthy food. However, some of them are generally easier to grow than others. If you're looking to add some fresh veggies to your garden, you may be wondering what are the best options. In this article, we'll share some of the best vegetables to grow, regardless of your location or gardening experience. We'll also provide some tips on how to ensure a successful harvest. To compile this expert roundup we asked Minuca Elena to reach out to 60 gardening bloggers and ask them the following question: What are the best vegetables to grow? We received a lot of great responses that you can read below. We hope you find it helpful! Kate Russell – The Daily Garden The best vegetables to plant are those suited to your USDA Hardiness Zone, soil texture, and taste buds. There's no sense trying to grow pineapples in Wisconsin clay, especially if you don't like pineapples. Growing vegetables suited to your soil and climate translates into less work and bigger harvests. It's also a good idea to focus on the vegetables that might cost a little more in the store, or that don't handle shipping and storage well. With those criteria in mind, here are my top ten: Basil Tomatoes Cilantro Artichokes Purple cauliflower Endives and other leafy greens Peas Summer squashes: yellow straight and crookneck, zucchinis Parsley 'Bright Lights' Swiss chard Davin Eberhardt - Nature of Home My two favorite vegetable crops to grow are garlic and asparagus. These are perennial plants that you plant once and provide years of harvest. For example, asparagus patches have been known to survive for 20 years. You don't have to worry about seeds being out of stock, tilling soil, etc. Just get the essentials correct, plant, and ensure the plants receive the right amount of light and water throughout the year. The best time for planting garlic is in the fall with garlic cloves. But, first, ensure you select the correct variety, which comes in two main types, hardneck, and softneck. Most home gardeners choose a hardneck variety. Asparagus takes a while to get established (around three years) but then provides for years. You can speed up the process by purchasing asparagus crowns. These are the one to two-year-old roots of an asparagus plant. Stock in most areas may be limited or unavailable for crowns, but you can mail order them. Then, just soak them in water for around an hour before planting. These perennial crops will also benefit the soil. For example, not tilling creates a healthy environment for fungi and other beneficial microorganisms in the soil food web. Also, they add organic matter and improve soil structure and water-holding ability. Leading to building topsoil and helping reduce carbon in the atmosphere. Douglas Dedrick - Green Pal In my experience, leafy greens are where it's at. For one kale is essential when it comes to a solid vegetable garden. Kale, at least the standard green curly variety, is very easy to grow, and grows rather quickly. Mustard greens are another easy-to-grow vegetable that is useful to have on hand. My next go-to in a solid vegetable garden is basil and a lot of it! While it can be finicky it's an excellent plant to have on hand, and it's not a cheap one to get at the grocery store either. I know it's a bit cliche, but every vegetable garden needs tomatoes, and they go hand in hand with the basil. Cucumbers are also another great, easy-to-grow plant. I have found that the “straight 8” variety does particularly well and grows with little attention required. Just put the seeds in and watch it grow. The next thing you know you will happen to stumble upon a cucumber and wonder how long it had been there. These are some of the staples that I add to my vegetable garden each year. I have found that with the exception of basil, they rarely disappoint. Don't forget to let a couple of plants go to seed so you can have some to share with your neighbors, as well as for planting next year. Simon Barker - Grow Your Yard If you are looking for a unique vegetable to grow, then consider growing cucumbers! Cucumbers are a completely underrated vegetable, unfairly so! Not only are they a great vegetable for beginners to get their hands dirty with, but they're packed full of healthy vitamins, vitamins B, C & K to name a few, not to mention their rehydration abilities. One of the other reasons growing cucumbers is my personal favorite is the sheer size they can reach once fully grown. I don't want to brag, but I've been known to regularly harvest cucumbers that are up to 2 feet long! So, if you're looking for a fun and rewarding vegetable to grow, then I urge you to consider the humble cucumber. Trust me, you won't be disappointed! Jim Kurczodyna - From Scratch Farmstead Our favorite vegetables to grow are winter squashes. They store amazingly well, make for an energy and nutrient-rich source of food, and can be used in many dishes. Thick-skinned winter squash kept in cool, dry areas can preserve and stay fresh for months. We are still enjoying squash nearing the end of summer that we harvested the prior fall. The caloric energy winter squash offers is superior to many other vegetables. Nutritionally they provide Vitamins A, B6 & C, antioxidants, fiber, magnesium, and potassium. Plus, seeds can be roasted for a tasty treat along with even more fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals! Winter squash have a wide array of culinary uses. We love to roast them and use as a side or in a hash. They’ll make the perfect creamy and warming soup or stew. Or, we’ve found them to be a great replacement for noodles or tortillas in lasagna or enchilada casserole. Our favorite way to grow winter squash is in a three sisters companion planting system alongside corn and beans. These three storage crops allow for truly year-round, local and seasonal eating! Mary Jane Duford - Home For The Harvest Tomatoes are my all-time favorite vegetable to grow. I like the specialty varieties that are best when homegrown. Every year I make room for big Brandywine heirloom tomatoes, striped Green Zebra open-pollinated tomatoes, and tiny SunGold hybrid cherry tomatoes. Lettuce is also fantastic to have in the garden. There are so many varieties available in seed packets that aren't available at the grocery store or even the farmers' market. Some of my favorite types of lettuce to grow are Buttercrunch, Marvel of Four Seasons, Black Seeded Simpson, Tom Thumb, and Parris Island Cos. Lastly, I always grow some annual herbs in my vegetable garden. Some herbs like parsley and cilantro are always so much better when they're very fresh. Fresh herbs can also be expensive to buy, so it's nice to have a few plants right in the backyard. Most annual herb plants are compact and easy to tuck into your garden without taking up too much space. I always grow Italian parsley near my tomatoes, as it's perfect for cooking with and also makes an excellent companion plant for many garden veggies. The easiest cilantro variety to find seedlings for is often Santo cilantro, but there are also some other varieties like Calypso and Caribe that are easy to grow at home from seed. I find that the variety of each vegetable really makes a big difference in choosing the best vegetables to grow in your garden. I keep an updated list of my favorite vegetable varieties so I don’t forget any of the best-tasting veggies! Brody Hall - The Indoor Nursery Tomatoes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow, and they are very versatile. You can use them in salads, sauces, or eat them fresh off the vine. There are plenty of heirlooms tomato varieties to choose from. If you're chasing a nice large, fleshy variety, Ace 55-VFs or Bonny Bests are a good place to start. Or for something a touch different, try some Black Russians or Brandywines. Zucchini is another easy vegetable to grow. These vegetables grow quickly and you can harvest it at different sizes depending on how you want to use them. Like tomatoes, there are many zucchini varieties. The best include Black Beauty, Green Machine, or for something different, the rounded Eight Ball. Peppers are another great choice for beginner gardeners. They grow well in warm weather climates and can add great flavor to a variety of dishes. If you're looking for flavor without the heat, Alma Paprika Chili adds a sweet, black pepper taste. If you require a cold-tolerant variety, Chili Erotico will do the job. Or if you're looking for a variety with a good touch of spice, you can't go past the Thai Dragon or the Jamaican Hot chili varieties. Charlotte Wiggins - Gardening Charlotte It depends on what kind of soil and light you have. Get a soil test at your local Extension office to better decide what will grow best in your soil conditions. If you are a beginning gardener, start with herbs such as basil, rosemary, parsley, and chives. These are excellent to flavor dishes. Depending on your USDA Hardiness zone, some vegetables may not grow in your area because they need a longer growing season so check your hardiness zone as well. In terms of favorite vegetables, lettuce, radishes, and onions are favorite cool weather crops. For hotter growing conditions tomatoes and peppers are favorites assuming you have the growing season they need. Susan Brandt - Blooming Secrets There is nothing better than having fresh vegetables harvested from your own backyard as they are more flavorful. Vegetables can be grown in-ground or in containers on your patio or deck. They need to have 8 hours of sunlight. There are vegetables that do better in cooler weather and others are heat lovers. Here are my picks for the best vegetables to grow: Carrots Carrots are a cool weather plant and are a great source of vitamin A. Carrots taste sweeter as it gets cooler outdoors. They are fast growers and are not demanding when it comes to soil conditions. They do not take much space and can be grown in containers. Spinach Spinach is packed with nutrition value including iron, calcium, and vitamins. It is also low in calories. Spinach is a cold-weather vegetable that is best grown in the fall. When the daylight hours get longer, it will bolt. Tomatoes Tomatoes are heat-loving plants and are full of antioxidants. They can be grown from seeds or buy starter plants. There are many varieties to choose from like Beefsteak, which is a larger tomato that weighs a pound or more or smaller ones such as Cherry tomatoes. Smaller ones tend to grow and ripen faster. Lisa Mazzuca - My NJ Garden In my opinion, the best vegetables to grow are the ones that give you a continuous harvest over a long period of time. Instead of planting a carrot or cabbage where you harvest it once and then need to plant something else in its place, I suggest planting vegetables that will allow you to harvest multiple times from a single plant. Leaf lettuce, as opposed to head lettuce, lets you pick a few leaves from each plant almost every day while it keeps producing and pushing out new leaves during cool weather. Vegetables like bush beans, peas, cucumbers, and zucchini will keep developing new fruit for many weeks as long as you continue to harvest when they start to produce. Chenell Tull - Seeds and Grain In my opinion, tomatoes are some of the best vegetables to plant in your garden. Growing tomatoes teaches you a lot about how to take care of plants, as tomatoes will visibly show you when they need a little water. Tomatoes you've grown in your garden taste much better than the ones that come from the grocery store, and not just because of how much work you put into them. There are a lot of types of tomatoes that all have varying flavors and uses; there really is something for everyone. From cherry to beefsteak tomatoes, and heirlooms to more "basic" varieties. Some of my favorites are Paul Robeson, Sun Gold Cherry, and Kellogg's Breakfast. Onions are a great vegetable to add to your garden as well. They can handle almost any growing conditions. They don't take up much room and can be grown between most plants, so it's not hard to find a place for them in your garden. Other great options are kale, spinach, and lettuce - all of which are pretty simple to grow, and can reduce your grocery budget quite a bit. Deborah Niemann - Thrifty Homesteader If you were only going to grow three vegetables, I'd go for the "salsa garden!" That means tomatoes, peppers, and onions. If you are a new gardener, these three are also some of the easiest to grow because you can buy starter plants for tomatoes and peppers at any garden center, and you get a lot more variety. Most places sell several different sizes and colors of tomatoes, as well as peppers that vary from mild, such as bell peppers, all the way to spicy like jalapeno and super spicy like habanero. When starting onions from "onion sets," which look like little baby onions, you can't lose because you just press them into freshly turned dirt just below the soil surface, water once or twice a week, and you'll grow onions. If you are growing these three vegetables, they are also used for pasta and pizza sauces, as well as chili, so they never go to waste. Kathi Rodgers - Oak Hill Homestead The best vegetables to grow are the ones you like to eat, and that grow well in your climate. The vegetables that grow best in my garden are tomatoes and sweet potatoes. Both grow very well here in the Southern U.S. Tomatoes are my favorite summer vegetable to eat as well as to grow. They are available in so many different varieties, sizes, and colors, especially if you start your own plants from seeds. They are all delicious in their own way. I grow a colorful variety of them each year. Watching the tender seedlings grow into seven-foot tall plants and the little green fruits swell and change color is very rewarding. Sweet potatoes grow like crazy in our hot Southern summers and the vines are very attractive. They need minimal care, aren’t bothered much by insects, and produce very well. Because they grow underground, harvest is always fun and a bit suspenseful, wondering how big your harvest will be. Sweet potatoes can be prepared in many ways from side dishes to desserts. They store well and will feed you over the winter and beyond. Then you can start new slips from some of the tubers you harvested and plant them for next summer’s crop. Rodger St. Hilaire - Gardening Boost When it comes to home-grown vegetables, there are plenty of great options to choose from. However, some vegetables are easier to grow than others and may be more suited to your climate and soil conditions. Here are a few of the best vegetables to grow in a home garden. Tomatoes are a classic choice for home gardeners, and for good reason. They're relatively easy to grow and can be used in a variety of recipes. Plus, there's nothing quite like the taste of a freshly-picked tomato straight from your garden. If you're looking for a tasty and versatile vegetable to grow in your garden, tomatoes are an excellent option. Another great option for home gardens is peppers. Peppers come in a wide range of colors and sizes, so you can find one that suits your taste. They're also relatively easy to grow, and make a great addition to sauces, salads, and other dishes. If you're looking for a vegetable that's both tasty and interesting, peppers are definitely worth considering. Finally, consider adding some leafy greens to your garden. Greens like lettuce and spinach are packed with nutrients, and they're incredibly easy to grow. Plus, they can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to sandwiches. Jill Taylor - Happy Farmyard The best vegetable to grow depends on your personal preferences and growing conditions. Some vegetables are more difficult to grow than others, so consider that before making your decision. Certain vegetables are better suited for different climate conditions. For example, leafy greens like spinach do well in cooler climates, while root vegetables like potatoes prefer warmer weather. Ultimately, the best vegetable to grow is the one you will enjoy eating the most! If you are looking for a nutrient-packed vegetable, then consider growing kale. Kale is full of vitamins and minerals, and it is relatively easy to grow. If you want a vegetable that tastes great, try growing tomatoes. Tomatoes are delicious and can be used in a variety of recipes. If you are looking for a vegetable that is fun to eat, then try growing carrots. Carrots are crunchy and full of flavor, and perfect for snacking on. John Thomas - Backyard Garden Geek I live in Texas, so my favorite garden vegetables are those that produce consistently, resist pests and plant diseases, and provide my family with plenty of delicious veggies. Three of my favorites are collards, okra, and onions. They don't get the kind of hype that's typically reserved for tomatoes, peppers, and other much-loved varieties, but they're well worth a space in your garden. Collard plants are excellent additions when the summer turns to fall. If you live in a region with milder winters, you can even keep them alive through colder months, and they can continue producing for you well into the spring and summer. In fact, I've got a collard plant in my backyard that I planted last fall. It's been growing strong for months, and it's nearly 4 feet tall! If you live in a region with hot summer months, then okra should be your new go-to summer vegetable. Okra plants love hot weather, and they're incredibly productive, so you'll need to harvest okra nearly every day to keep up. Fried okra and spicy pickled okra are two of my favorite side dishes, and if you've got as few as 7-8 plants in your backyard, you'll be able to feed your family all summer long. Onions are great because, once you get the hang of it, they're just so easy to grow. You'll need to check to determine whether short-day or long-day onions grow best in your region, but once you've figured that out, pick up some onion sets from a local garden center or an online retailer, bury them according to the package directions, and fertilize them well every 2 weeks or so. If you do that, you'll see small bulbs forming in no time at all, and after they've been in the ground for 4-6 months, you'll have an amazing harvest. Melvin Cubian - PlantIn The best vegetables to cultivate are the ones that are easy, fast-growing, require low maintenance, and allow you to harvest the highest yield. Directly sown plants are an excellent choice when starting a vegetable patch that is less time demanding. Most leafy and root vegetables, such as lettuce, kale, leeks, onions, garlic, shallots, radish, beets, parsnips, and carrots, can be sown directly in well-prepared soil. Salad greens have a short life cycle, about 6-8 weeks. Sow it in 1-2 weeks intervals, and you will maximize the harvest throughout the season. Likewise, many vegetables, including the family of cucurbits and beans, are easy to grow and can be planted directly in the ground. For example, start planting seeds of cucumber, squash, zucchini, pumpkin, beans, or peas in April-May, and you'll reap your hard work from mid-summer to autumn. Jennifer Green - Positive Bloom The best vegetables to grow in the garden would be the ones that are packed with nutrients but are also beginner-friendly and easy to grow. Your main focus should be on green veggies such as lettuce, beans, peas, zucchini, cucumbers, and kale. These vegetables are filled with vitamins, minerals, and fibers that are super beneficial to your health, but you also won’t break a sweat when growing them in the garden. Juicy tomatoes are also an all-time favorite, and you can even grow them in pots and containers! We must not forget about the root vegetables as well – onions, potatoes, radishes, carrots, and beets are must-have vegetables in every garden. Since these veggies grow underground and we can’t exactly track their growth, it would be best if you provide them with well-drained and nutrient-rich soil. Bear in mind that almost all root vegetables should be grown in raised beds except for potatoes, which thrive in hills. Plant some of these veggies, make sure that they get enough sun and water, and enjoy having fresh vegetables from your own garden! Zach Morgan - Fantastic Gardeners It’s really helpful to know which vegetables to grow, especially if you’re a beginner. Growing your own produce is less expensive and a healthier option compared to what’s sold in the supermarkets. Researches show that today’s store-bought produce is 37% less nutritious than it was in the past when people grew it themselves. The easiest vegetables to grow are carrots. They rarely get pest problems, grow well in loose, sandy soil and only require weeding and watering. They can also be grown during cooler periods of the year because they tolerate frost. The second best vegetables to grow are cucumbers. They’re one of the most commonly eaten vegetables. However, for them, you’ll have to prepare a little in advance. You’ll have to amend the soil with a fertilizer high in nitrogen and potassium to support the plant’s large yields. If it’s possible, plant the cucumbers in the sun next to a fence so it’ll serve them as a support for climbing. They’re heat-loving, so you'll need a bit more space to grow them. Another one in the top three best vegetables to grow is potatoes. Almost everywhere around the world, they’re a very popular food source, so you’ll definitely benefit a lot if you have the space to grow them. Similar to carrots, they grow under the soil and tolerate colder weather. Erinn Witz - Seeds and Spades My must-grow vegetables are these: 1. Leafy Greens These are almost always cut-and-come-again crops, meaning that you can harvest individual leaves and the plant will continue to produce more for several weeks or longer. Plus, leafy greens are packed with nutrients, can be eaten raw or cooked and are low-maintenance plants that are perfect for beginners. Here are my favorites: -Kale -Swiss chard -Mizuna -Lettuces of all kinds 2. Green Beans Here's another crop that you can harvest several times over the course of the growing season. Green beans come in bush bean and pole bean varieties. Bush beans are best for people who have less space or want to keep their garden more tidy and manageable. Pole beans typically produce greater harvests, but they're climbers, so you need a little more room to add them to your garden. Training them on a trellis or fence is ideal. 3. Tomatoes The beauty of growing tomatoes yourself is that you can choose interesting, delicious heirloom varieties you'll never see on a grocery store shelf. And nothing beats the flavor of a homegrown tomato fresh from the garden! Tomatoes are prone to several problems- including diseases and pests. But the reward is so high that even beginning gardeners owe it to themselves to at least try their hand at a couple of tomato varieties. Kelly Lawrence - Swipe Garden 1. Snap beans For new gardeners, snap beans are a reasonable option. Snap beans are quite easy to raise, do not require much care, and are resistant to many diseases and pests. What you need to do is to water them regularly and leave them in full sun. There are two varieties of snap beans that you can consider: bush and pole. For growing in containers, bush beans are more convenient because you won't need to bother with rigs for them. 2. Bell peppers If you're looking for a veggie that's easy to grow in the tropics, peppers can't be missed. All kinds of peppers are quite easy, but surely bell peppers will be a healthy choice for your family. Bell peppers are heat-loving, so make sure it's grown in direct sunlight. To grow bell peppers, dig about 4-6 inches of soil for best drainage and compost it. Remember that you will be watering regularly and fertilizing every month! 3. Leafy greens High productivity and efficiency; that's what leafy greens are all about. The leafy greens and lettuce families are popular because they are extremely easy to grow even without direct sunlight, so this would be a good choice for areas with cool, low-sun climates. Furthermore, most have a shallow root system, so growing them in containers is still guaranteed. When you need them, you need to cut a branch and leave it to continue to grow! There are many varieties of leafy greens: lettuce, spinach, kale, and chard are all gardeners' favorites. Kelly Martin - Urban Garden Gal 1. Radishes are one of the best vegetables for gardeners to grow because they’re so fast growing. You’ll only have to wait about 30 days after planting the seeds to harvest radishes from your garden. Radish seeds can be planted directly in the garden in spring after the risk of frost has passed. The seeds should be planted about half an inch deep and spaced 2 inches apart. Radish seeds only take about 3 to 4 days to germinate, but it may take a little longer if the soil is still cool. If you plant the seeds too close together you can always thin them out later, by removing the smallest seedlings. Radish seeds can also be planted in between other slower-growing vegetable plants like squash or cucumbers. The radishes will be ready to harvest by the time the other plants are starting to spread out. If you live in an area with a long growing season you can make successive plantings of radish seeds so you’ll have a steady supply throughout spring and summer. Radishes can be harvested when they're about one inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. Radishes have a spicy, zesty taste when eaten raw, but they can also be cooked to reduce the intensity of the flavor. Ashley Christian - Homestead Sweet Home The best vegetable is potato. Potatoes are easy to grow in 5-gallon buckets with holes drilled on the bottom and provide an excellent source of life-sustaining carbohydrates. We can live for quite some time without fruits and vegetables. But in a survival situation, if we had buckets of growing potatoes we could easily take on the go, we’d have the fuel needed to secure clean water, shelter, and heat. Potatoes are also prolific producers and can give you a reliable harvest throughout most of the year. During the winter months, bucket potatoes could be brought indoors under grow lights or in a greenhouse, providing you with food year-round. Potatoes also store well for many months in a root cellar or even buried in a bucket of sand, so you can grow an abundance for yourself, your loved ones, and have extra to share with neighbors and friends who may not be as prepared as you are. Ken Johnson - SkyPerma The best vegetables to grow are lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, kale, and beets. This is so because most of these vegetables take very minimal time to grow which means you can benefit from a faster harvest time. Apart from the quick time these take to grow they can also be started inside and then transplanted when it grows enough to go into the ground. Craig Wilson - Gardener’s Dream A living for some, a hobby for others. A garden staple is always vegetables as there is nothing better than fresh vegetables that you grew in your own backyard. You don’t need a massive backyard to grow your own vegetables, all you need are some plant containers, some time and effort, and a few good sprouts. Beans are some of the best vegetables to garden. With so many different varieties and bean plant versatility, beans work in large outdoor gardens and indoor pots. Bush beans are great for indoor planting as they are more compact than some other varieties. I would say there’s nothing better than a meal with a side of fresh string beans on a warm summer day, so beans are the vegetable to grow. Herbs are also one of the best vegetables to grow. Not only is it enjoyable to snip some leaves off and add them to your meal, but it’s also significantly cheaper than buying herbs at the store. You can grow herbs both indoors and outdoors and you can grow them from a seed or a transplant. For annual benefits, pick perennial herbs such as chives, thyme, and sage. Sam Adkins - The Traditional Housewife If you can only grow one vegetable it should be microgreens, specifically broccoli microgreens. I truly believe that microgreens can change the world with their quick growth and high nutritional content. Most of us have some sort of vitamin or mineral deficiency. Whether it's from the lack of nutrients in the soil or the lack of actually eating our vegetables. That's where microgreens can come in and fill in those gaps. They are super easy to grow, you don't need a lot of space and they are done in a couple of weeks. Not to mention, they pack a serious nutritional punch. Studies have found that broccoli microgreens have 40 times more nutrients than their mature vegetable counterparts. That means that just a couple of spoonfuls of these little greens can give you the nutritional equivalent of eating an entire head of broccoli. If that's not enough to convince you, microgreens are also incredibly versatile. You can add them to smoothies, use them as a salad topping, or even create a microgreen pesto. The possibilities are endless. So, if you're looking to up your vegetable game, I would highly recommend growing microgreens. Micaela James - Mama In The Wild The best vegetables to grow will depend on each family's preferences. It is best to grow vegetables that you will enjoy eating! You will also want to consider factors such as space, how much you want to harvest, and how much time you have to work in the garden. The following vegetables work for most families: beans, zucchini, and tomatoes. 1. Beans grow quickly and prolifically. Zucchini are also quite prolific and the only serious pest to watch out for is the squash bug. Tomatoes, while not the easiest plant to grow, are delicious homegrown, and a favorite for many. All these plants can also be grown in containers which makes them great for those low on space. If you have a larger garden space, pumpkins and potatoes or sweet potatoes are also great vegetables to grow from home. 2. Sweet potatoes and pumpkins are vining plants, so you will need space but they are absolutely delicious homegrown, and easy to grow. Potatoes are easy to grow in containers as well but to make it worth your while you may want to plant several plants. To decide on the best vegetables to grow for your family consider space, what you like to eat, and what the plant needs to thrive. Then you are on your way to a delicious and productive garden! John Ehrling - Garden Savvy The best vegetables to grow are broccoli, cauliflower, string beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. All these vegetables are nutritious, packed with fiber, and versatile in the kitchen. They can be enjoyed roasted, baked, boiled, blended into soups, grilled, and turned into sauces. These are the perfect vegetables to plant if you want to spread out your growing season, ensuring you have something fresh to harvest each month. Most vegetables cannot survive frost. So, broccoli and cauliflower should be started indoors a few weeks before the last frost. Check your local weather station for your town's frost dates. Two weeks after the last frost you can transplant your broccoli and cauliflower outside. One benefit of these two plants is they’re less likely to attract pests since many insect eggs have not hatched this early in the season. String beans and peas should be assisted by a trellis and be planted during the late spring so they can be harvested during the summer. However, these dates can vary based on your growing zone. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant need abundant sun and warmer temperatures. These should be planted during the summer and harvested in the fall. Michael - Garden Gate Magazine The most rewarding vegetables to grow are lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, sweet corn, eggplants, broccoli, radishes, potatoes, peas, green beans, zucchini, Brussels sprouts, beetroot, and Swiss chards, to name a few. There are distinct reasons that make each of these vegetables the best to grow in your garden. For example, lettuce is great because it’s easy to grow (and it grows super fast, too), easy to harvest, requires little space in your garden, and can be planted any time of the year (although planting lettuce in colder months is encouraged for best results). Other easy-to-grow vegetables include carrots, potatoes (you can’t go wrong with potatoes), peas (absolutely hassle-free), green beans, and beetroot. Personally, I’ve grown potatoes in a large gardening bag, as the only requirement for growing potatoes is soil deep enough to accommodate the growth. But potatoes require some patience, taking about 10-20 weeks to grow, and the best time to plant potatoes is last week of February all through March. Pam Farley - Brown Thumb Mama When you open a seed catalog or visit the garden center, the choices can be overwhelming. There are literally thousands of plants to choose from—how do you know what to pick? Gardening should be fun and not stressful. Here’s how to get started. Grow what you’ll eat! This is the most important rule! Think about the vegetables and herbs you buy at the store every week. Are you buying bunches of basil? Gobs of green onions? Those are the plants you should grow. Once you’ve decided on what you're growing, you can see if it’s easy for a beginner to grow or if you’ll need help from an experienced friend. A $4 packet of seeds or a starter plant from the garden center will pay for itself with your first harvest. Here are the easiest vegetables for beginners to grow. They’ll all grow well in containers or planted directly in the garden. 1. Chard It grows vigorously, provides a continuous harvest, and can survive the winter in mild climates. 2. Zucchini This garden favorite produces like crazy all summer and comes in lots of fun shapes and colors. 3. Green beans A few plants will produce loads and loads of delicious, tender beans. We eat them right off the vine. 4. Cucumber These are vining plants and will need a trellis or other support. Pick them often so they don’t get large and bitter. The staff at your local garden center will be happy to help you get your garden started! Marc Thoma - Tranquil Urban Homestead The best vegetables to grow are ones that provide quick results, especially for a beginner. 1. Radishes grow quickly and are one of the first crops in spring you can plant and harvest. They can also help loosen compacted soil so it’s ready for other crops. 2. Lettuce is easy to grow and outer leaves can be picked for several weeks. There are also many different varieties to try out. 3. Kale is a hardy crop that can withstand cooler temperatures and even frost. It’s great in stir-fries and smoothies and is packed with vitamins and is very healthy for you. 4. Beans are also easy to grow and quite prolific. There are many different varieties such as bush beans, pole beans and even drying beans (that you can store in your pantry for winter use). They also put nitrogen back in the soil for other crops you plant after them. 5. Green onions/scallions/spring onions are a staple in Asian cuisine but can also be used for many other dishes in place of bulb onions. You can harvest just a few spears or the whole plant for the white part. They also self-seed if you let one or two produce a flower stalk. Katie Krejci - The Homesteading RD 1. Kale is the easiest vegetable to grow in my opinion! It has very few diseases or pest issues and is tolerant of a wide range of temperatures. It doesn't bolt (go to seed) when it's hot out like other greens do. It also not only survives frost, but it actually tastes better when the temperatures dip into the freezing zone. 2. Green Beans (bush variety) are a classic in the garden! Bush beans are excellent for beginners because they are very pest resistant (no Japanese Beetles!) and have a compact, bushy growth so you don't have to set up any trellises or poles for them to grow up. Bush beans are best started from seed, right in the ground. 3. Lettuce is another easy green to grow from seed and grows well in a container or pot. Some varieties have a tendency to bolt (go to seed) when the temperatures soar, so if you are in a warm climate, I would recommend planning for a spring or fall harvest when growing lettuce. 4. Butternut Squash - zucchini usually comes to mind when you think of summer vegetables, but zucchini is prone to the squash vine borer and can bring heartache when the entire plant collapses mid-summer. Butternut squash is in the same family, but is resistant to the squash vine borer and is very easy to grow! Mattias Magnusson - Nordic Lavender Garlic is an ideal vegetable for gardeners of all levels. Grow for delicious bulbs or harvest tasty garlic greens continuously throughout the growing season. Plant your garlic cloves pointy side up in the Fall, before the first frost, in fertile well-draining soil and cover with a protective layer of mulch. Softneck garlic is ideal for milder winters, whereas the hard neck varieties shine in winter climates with prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures. Your garlic plants will be among the first to sprout early next year. You will be amazed how the seemingly delicate sprouts survive frost and even being covered with snow. Watch your garlic plants grow strong, vibrant leaves that are delicious to harvest and use for stir-frys, toppings, and salads. Leaving the plants to grow, you will have garlic bulbs to harvest in late spring to early summer. Wait for the leaves to start wilting and harvest within 1-2 weeks. Waiting longer will cause the covering paper to disintegrate, resulting in bulbs that fall apart. Store your harvested bulbs in a dark and cool place with good air circulation or use fresh for a taste sensation that will make you a garlic-head for life. Carrie Williams Howe - Homestead How-To In my opinion, tomatoes are (hands down) the best vegetables to grow! There are so many varieties to choose from including slicers, sauce tomatoes, and cherries perfect for snacking, so you can always find something you love. The savings and taste improvement over store-bought varieties is drastic (leading to a great return on investment). Tomatoes are delicious when fresh, but they can also be used to make some of the easiest, most useful value-added products. We grow about 30 tomato plants every year and use them to make an entire year's supply of salsa and tomato sauce which we preserve by canning. We save so much money every year with this crop alone. If I grew nothing else, tomatoes would be my choice (and if you can believe it, I didn't even like tomatoes growing up)! Marjorie Beausoleil - Ethos Seed Company Best vegetables to grow: My five top choices for vegetables to grow in a home garden would be: 1. Summer Squash Summer Squash is probably the best for new gardeners. Summer Squash like Black Beauty Zucchini or Cocozelle Zucchini gives out such a high yield that only one or 2 plants per family is usually more than enough to keep a family up on Zucchini for the whole summer. 2. Green Beans Bush beans produce high yield of fresh snap beans on easy-care plants. The plants remain tidy and are a great choice for those with limited space. Sow a few plants every 2-3 weeks for a long harvest period 3. Tomatoes Tomatoes are the queens of the garden and for good reasons! Heirloom varieties like Black Cherry and Yellow Pear are ideal for beginners and produce a high yield of tasty, gourmet cherry tomatoes. 4. Peppers Sweet or hot peppers are easy to grow provided they are given plenty of organic fertilizer as well as water. Few crops offer flavor comparable to a garden fresh pepper. 5. Lettuces They are a crop all gardeners should always grow. The plants are easy to start from seed and produce a high yield. A single packet of seed is enough to keep a small family in fresh lettuce all summer long if a few rows are planted every two weeks. When recommending vegetables to new gardeners or those with limited space, I always focus on crops that produce a high yield, give a good return on investment to the gardener, and face few pests or problems in the garden. Aaron von Frank - Tyrant Farms There is an almost infinite supply of vegetables that you can grow in your garden, especially if you're able to do year-round gardening as we do. The way we decide what to grow is fairly simple: 1) Do we like it? 2) Is it hard or impossible to find it at grocery stores or farmers' markets — or find it certified organic? If the answer to both questions is "yes," then we'll likely grow it in our garden. You should love eating what you grow and you shouldn't waste time or space growing things you can just as easily buy at a grocery store (unless you have a large amount of growing space, which most gardeners don't). Lisa Mitchell - Fluxing Well Scarlet runner beans are one of the most versatile vegetable garden plants. They can be used as edibles and ornamentals in a garden plan. They are also healthy (a good source of protein, calcium, and iron) as well as economical. I first planted scarlet runner beans in our vegetable garden a number of years ago when my husband and I realized our garden was producing much more than we could eat. Our boys were grown, so I decided to plant more annual ornamentals and flowers in the vegetable garden. I chose scarlet runner beans for their bright red flowers but didn’t pay much attention to the bean harvest. I liked the way the plants looked on our pole bean towers. The scarlet blossoms added a nice touch of color and an interesting vertical accent to the garden layout. Each fall I save the attractive shelled beans to use as seed the next year, but it wasn’t until recently I discovered they are delicious in recipes. The shelled, dried beans have a delightfully smoky flavor, perfect for using in chili or homemade baked beans. If you are looking for a vegetable that is attractive, easy to grow, and delicious in recipes, try scarlet runner beans. Martin Stepanek - Markel Gardens Picking a few vegetables out of hundreds is not an easy task. After all, everyone has different preferences and priorities. When thinking about what vegetables to grow, you need to consider the time of year, climate, and the type of ground you're going to be growing in. Take small steps to healthier living and self-sustainability by growing the vegetables mentioned below. 1. Onions and garlic These easy-to-grow bulbous vegetables are an excellent option to add flavour to any homemade dish. With very few calories, they are loaded with nutrients, helping to boost your immune system. Garlic has also been proven to have antibiotic properties and may help to prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia. 2. Potatoes Potatoes are easy to grow and drought-resistant veggies benefiting from the huge versatility of their use. Whether you opt for boiled potatoes, roast pots, chips or mash, they are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants helping to boost the immune system and control blood sugars. 3. Carrots and peas Carrots, rich in vitamin A and fibre, are a great option to include in weight loss programs and to help maintain eye health and cholesterol balance. Garden peas are loaded with perhaps the purest plant protein on this planet, helping to maintain a healthy weight. Just think how much healthier and tastier your dishes could be with these easy-to-grow veggies. Our ancestors used to include them in their meals and for a good reason. David Angelov - Plant Parenthood When I consider a beginner garden, I always think about ease of maintenance for the client. This includes weeding, watering, and pest control. A raised bed on legs works very well for herbs like parsley, dill and basil. Most veggies need full sun to grow happily, the fastest growers are tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Tomatoes need a nice loose soil to spread their roots, along with a tomato cage to support the weight of the tomatoes once they get bigger. Cucumbers also need something to climb up on to like a string or a cage as they grow vertically on a vine. These are the easiest fastest growing vegetables to grow. Asparagus is another fun perennial vegetable that is easy to grow. To harvest it, cut right at the base when it reaches only 8-10 inches tall. You can also let it grow much taller for a fine-leafed ornamental shrub. Remember, it is only edible when it is harvested small. Here is a tip to protect your vegetables in the ground from critters: Plant garlic or onion bulbs surrounding the vegetable beds, the green stalks emit an odor and a taste that bunnies and squirrels stay away from! It acts as a low, natural fence. Jean Bloom - Gardening FAQs 1. Lettuce Lettuce is recommended because it's easy to grow and monitor it. There's almost no garden without lettuce. It can grow in any season of the year. Additionally, you can grow it directly from the garden soil or use a transplant approach — all are simple and easy. 2. Radishes Radishes grow fast and easily. It can be paired with slow-growing plants since it matures within 25 days. I often try to pair it with carrots. Since it grows fast, it helps to open up the soil for carrots to shoot out easily. Bella Zinti - The Homey Space For leafy vegetables: Swiss Chard is as beautiful as it is super healthy. These lovely leafy greens have brightly-colored ribs of red, orange, and yellow, looking so beautiful and, at the same time, an excellent source of Vitamins A, K, and C, iron, potassium, fiber, and magnesium. They grow well from seeds that you can plant straight in your garden. Give them some afternoon shade during hot climates, and they will grow until the first frost, or you can pick out the outer leaves and keep growing throughout the season. For root vegetables: Garlic is easy to grow, needs very little space, and is a healthy and flavor powerhouse. If you love cooking, this root vegetable is a must for growing in your garden. It has Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, Vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, folate, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc. All these vitamins and minerals in a tiny bulb. For vegetables that are fruit: Tomatoes are, without a doubt, America’s favorite vegetable to grow. Fresh, homegrown tomatoes are the main reason people get into vegetable gardening because they do not require much space to produce, are hassle-free, and are ready to harvest in just 12 weeks. These colorful and juicy vegetables have delicious flavors and textures that you can enjoy. You can use it for salads, sauces, condiments, juicing, and preserves. It is an excellent source of nutrition, such as Vitamins A, C, K, and B6, potassium, and folate. Cynthia Drachenberg Many different vegetables are great to grow, but the best are potatoes, microgreens, and zucchini. Potatoes, specifically indeterminate red potatoes, keep growing as their shoots are hilled with additional soil. These potatoes are ideal for barrel gardens or other tight quarters where you need to maximize your harvest without taking up too much room. Another plant that is an excellent choice for any garden is microgreens. With their quick growth cycle and relatively small footprint, these sprouts have tremendous nutrients to offer. Unlike other plants, microgreens take up very little vertical space, allowing you to maximize your crop yield and add variety to your dishes. Finally, zucchini is an ultimate garden staple. Whether grown in warmer climates or cold northern regions, zucchini plants are known for their exceptional yields and hardy nature. Cultivated in nitrogen-rich soil, this veggie grows quickly and abundantly and will keep your garden well-stocked. Consider giving indeterminate red potatoes, microgreens, or zucchini a try. Not only are they all easy to grow and maintain, but they also offer an array of nutritional benefits. Sally Allsop - All That Grows 1. Carrots Carrots are easy to germinate and can be grown pretty much anywhere. If you are short on space grow something like an Atlas variety which are small and round and can be grown in shallow pots. For growing throughout the year sow Eskimo carrots. We’re still harvesting ours in November. 2. Lettuce There are so many varieties and they will grow year-round. You can use an unheated greenhouse in the winter to grow something like a winter gem and then sow summer varieties in springtime. 3. Squash and Pumpkins This is a great one to grow as it will give you more variety than the ones you get at the supermarket. There are so many different types. We grew Crown Prince last year and they were delicious. Danielle Jewkes - Nurtured Seed Homestead The best vegetables to grow are the ones that fit within your space, timeline, and growing zone. For example, those living in apartments will grow different vegetables than those living on ten acres of land. Apartment dwellers will not want to grow pumpkins as they take up way too much space. They would do best with things like lettuces, tomatoes, cucumbers (dwarf varieties), carrots, radishes, etc. You need to consider what vegetables you like to eat as well. Growing a vegetable that you don't like to eat, even though it is "easy to grow," is NOT the best vegetable for you to grow. For a beginner gardener growing a few of your favorite tasting vegetables would be the best vegetables for you. Say your goal is long-term storage. Then the best vegetables for you would be to select varieties of vegetables that are able to have a long storage capacity. Something like a lettuce plant will not be on your priority list of things to grow. Even though growing lettuce is one of the easier plants to grow for all growing zones. If you are simply looking to grow herbs I mention the easiest and quickest growing herbs as well as what herbs are best for teas and medicinal uses. That being said, some of the most common vegetables that people grow are: tomatoes, peppers, carrots, lettuces, cucumbers, zucchini, and kale. Emily Jones - Tomato Mentor If you're looking for the best vegetables to grow in your garden, here are five of the best options. 1. Tomatoes are a classic garden staple and one of the easiest vegetables to grow. They prefer warm weather and lots of sunshine, so they're perfect for growing in the summer months. 2. Cucumbers are another easy-to-grow vegetable that does well in warm weather. They can be grown in both gardens and containers, so they're perfect for small spaces. 3. Squash is a versatile vegetable that can be used in many different recipes. It's also easy to grow and does well in most climates. 4. Green beans are a popular choice for home gardens because they're easy to grow and produce a large crop. 5. Peas are the earliest vegetables to produce, and they do well in cool weather. They're a hardy crop that produces early and often. Anne Fletcher - Orta Kitchen Garden I very much choose vegetables that are easy to grow and that provide a good yield for the effort required. Here are my top three: 1. Lettuce I know it seems boring, but lettuce is forgiving to grow in all but the hottest weather and is great to have in the backyard. When you can't figure out what's for dinner, there's always the basis for a salad. And once you start growing your own lettuce, especially from seed, you'll discover how many interesting varieties there are. What you can eat by growing your own really is different and better than what you can buy. Not to mention a LOT less expensive! 2. Kale Kale consistently gives me the most food over the longest season of any other plant I grow. It's a super tough plant, resistant especially to cold, but also does better in drought and heat than lots of other greens. In my garden kale is "set it and forget it." I start seeds in July, plant out the seedlings in August, and harvest once or twice a week until about April. 3. Herbs Not really one vegetable! I love to always have seasonal herbs going. Fresh herbs perk up a meal like nothing else. But buying them at the store is really expensive. My top herb for summer is basil, and for the rest of the year, it's parsley. Cilantro is nice to have fresh in the garden but can be fussy to grow. Parsley, on the other hand, is about as easygoing as herbs get. Daniel Akins - Theyardable Onions Green onions in particular grow nicely even in containers. And since onions are a common ingredient in most meals, it's always good to have a few on hand. They'll make a flavorful addition to your collection of potted plants. Tokyo Long White These long, thin bunching onions are perfect for growing because they take up little room. These onions take 65 to 100 days to reach maturity and have long, white shanks with stiff, blue-green tops. These resilient scallions are resistant to smut, Botrytis leaf blight, pink root, and thrips. White Lisbon This mild, quickly expanding onion doesn't create a bulb, so it doesn't take up a lot of room. This means they can be planted closer together than other types, which is exactly what a gardener wants to hear. Young plants can be harvested after only 60 days, and mature ones after 120 days. Full sun is ideal for growing these bunching onions. Jane Windham - Cottage At The Crossroads Alliums are among some of the best vegetables you can grow in my opinion-- garlic, onions, shallots, and leeks are all considered alliums. These veggies are very low maintenance, almost 'set and forget', will be ready for harvest after the bulk of other summer crops, and have a long storage life. Alliums are staples in cooking and most recipes call for onions or garlic so why not grow your own? It's also nice that these crops mature at a different time than the bulk of summer fruiting vegetables like tomatoes and zucchini. You have a break to catch up with processing, gifting, and using up those vegetables then your alliums are ready for harvest! Violet Joy - Greeny Thumbs Here are my top three: 1. Lettuce Lettuce is relatively easy to grow and does not require a lot of space. Lettuce also has a high nutritional value, providing vitamins A and B6, and K, as well as potassium, iron, magnesium, and fiber. Not only that but since storing lettuce in the fridge is not ideal, it is always best to grow your own so that you can enjoy it at its freshest. 2. Cucumbers Cucumbers are another excellent vegetable to grow at home. They require little care and save space when grown on a trellis. Cucumbers are also a good source of vitamins C and K, as well as fiber, potassium, and water. With cucumbers, you can expect to have a harvest all year round. 3. Tomatoes Tomatoes are also relatively easy to care for and can be grown in a small space. Tomatoes are also a good source of vitamins C and K, as well as potassium and folate. Home-grown tomatoes have the added benefit of being fresher and tastier than store-bought ones. Just like cucumbers, you can expect to have a harvest all year round. Sandra Nanka - Mudbrick Herb Cottage The best vegetables to grow are the ones you will eat! Besides this, seasonality and climate will determine a lot of what you can grow. Many gardeners have success with tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini in the summertime as they grow prolifically. Root vegetables like beetroot and radishes grow fast and relatively easily. Salad green mix that you can pick as needed is another great, convenient option. Shella Oaks - Farmpertise The following are the best vegetables to grow: lettuce spinach chard cucumbers squashes carrots zucchinis tomatoes beans peppers potatoes radishes These vegetables are appropriate for novice and experienced gardeners who want to grow their food. These vegetables are extremely simple to care for and grow quickly. They don't need any particular soil to thrive. An adequate amount of water in the morning and the afternoon will do. Vegetables like lettuce, chard, spinach, zucchini, beans, squash, and radishes can be harvested between 30 to 55 days after planting. The rest on the list can be harvested from 60 to 150 days or more after sowing. Growing these vegetables has numerous advantages. For starters, it is very inexpensive. Given the increasing amount of supply in the market. Looking for ways to reduce your daily expenses and save money if possible is best. Seeds are very cheap and readily available on the market. Second, during harvest season, there is always an abundance of fresh and healthy foods on the table. Finally, it helps reduce stress, feelings of anxiety, and depression. Ryan Benoit - Sky Pots Here are my tips for growing a vertical veggie garden. Make an ornamental edible vertical garden by picking colorful varieties of lettuce, chard, and sorrel. Plant your sprouted veggies 3-4 inches apart in a nutrient-rich potting soil. When choosing pots, make sure your pots are at least 6-inches deep and have center drainage holes. Water your container veggie garden daily since the soil will dry out quickly in containers. Never let the soil completely dry out. Most vegetables will do best in 4+ hours of full sun. Grow lettuce in the spring and fall since they like cooler temperatures and will get scorched in the summer. Alex Tinsman - How To Houseplant Green beans are one of the best vegetables to grow as it has the ability to grow well even in poor soil conditions because of their unique ability to fix nitrogen as it continues to grow. Green beans come in a wide range of varieties suitable for planting in different regions that have diverse climates. The other best vegetable to grow is radishes which has a surprisingly short period of growth and development. The vegetable can be harvested in less than a month (about 28 days) after planting. Their fast growth makes it possible to interplant them with other slower plants since within a short time they are harvested to give the other crop space to grow. As a gardener, nothing beats the joy of seeing plants grow and thrive before your eyes. Vegetables are even a greater delight because they reduce the cost of groceries once they are ready for harvest. The supplements can also be sold to give the gardener an extra income. These are some of my best vegetables to grow for both nourishment and the satisfaction of gardening passion. Miguel Palma - Jardin Tienda Lettuce is one of the best vegetables to grow since it is highly edible as a salad. It has high nutritional value as it acts as an antioxidant and many people know this value hence it is highly marketable. Lettuce is a common salad and sandwich ingredient in many homes and rarely will an American make a salad without this vegetable. This vegetable can be grown throughout the year since it can withstand a wide range of climatic conditions. The other great vegetable to grow is carrots. Carrots have high versatility as they can be eaten raw on their own, cooked in various meals, or used as an ingredient in salads. Carrots have a high nutritional value which makes the vegetable very marketable. The vegetable is also very easy to grow during cool seasons of the year. They occur in diverse colors and each can be used to make food more appealing. Kathy Jentz - Washington Gardener The best vegetable to grow is Okra as it is fast-growing and needs little care. It needs full sun and thrives in heat and humidity. The plant is a Hibiscus relative and the beautiful leaves and flowers are very ornamental in the vegetable garden. Further, it is easy to harvest the okra pods as they are held up at waist or shoulder height, so the gardener is not required to stoop or bend down to gather them. Some folks object to the "slimy" texture of okra, but it can actually be prepared a number of ways and even eaten raw. Pickled okra is fast growing in popularity and is not slimy at all; rather it is very crisp and refreshing. Kellan MacKay - Khela Herbs The best vegetables to grow are peas, potatoes, artichokes, salad turnips, and carrots. We think these are the best vegetables to grow because: 1) they are incredibly flavorful and nutrient-dense compared to store-bought veggies 2) you can harvest just what you need for a meal and leave the rest in the ground until you're ready for more 3) kids love these vegetables and will be happy to help grow and harvest them (You can learn more about how to get kids involved in gardening here). 4) they are some of the most essential veggies to grow organically, which is cheap to do at home, but expensive to buy 5) they are beautiful additions to the garden: peas add vertical interest when staked properly, salad turnips, carrots, and potatoes cover the soil, and artichokes double as beautiful flowers if you don't get to harvest them all 6) you will actually want to eat these vegetables because they are ubiquitous in many cultures and cuisines. Laurice Constantine - Casadar Fresh vegetables are never better than when they are picked from your own garden. This year's best vegetables to grow in your garden include juicy tomatoes, snappy green beans, and crisp cucumbers. The best part is that you don't need a big yard to learn how to start a vegetable garden! Plants can also be housed in containers on your patio, deck, or balcony. If you're feeling particularly ambitious, you can even start growing seeds indoors a month or two before planting them outdoors to get a head start. To get the best harvest possible, make sure your garden or pots get at least eight hours of direct sunlight per day. Also, keep in mind that different plants prefer different temperatures! Peas, for example, prefer cool weather and can be planted in early spring. However, if you're wondering how to grow tomatoes, these heat-loving plants must be planted after the last frost. Jen Haugen The best vegetables to grow are the ones you are interested in eating. Most people love carrots, tomatoes, peppers, and onions and these are easy vegetables to grow for beginners or well-seasoned gardeners. You can even grow them in pots. Another fun vegetable to grow is potatoes as you bury the seed potato in the ground and then months later you have a bunch of potatoes to unearth. It's like finding buried treasure. I also recommend cucumbers and squash but you will need a bit more room so they can sprawl their vines as they grow. Think of dishes you like to eat and then replicate that in your garden. If you love salads, then grow lettuce. If you love cooking with herbs, grow an herb garden. If you love pizza, then grow tomatoes, basil, peppers, and onions. Make it fun and enjoyable by relating to what you like to eat! John Dave - AgroFever There are a lot of different vegetables that you can grow, and the best ones for you will depend on a few different factors. If you have a lot of space, then you might want to grow vegetables that take up a lot of space, like corn or squash. If you have limited space, then you might want to grow vegetables that don’t take up a lot of space, like lettuce or radishes. If you have a lot of sunlight, then you might want to grow vegetables that need a lot of sunlight, like tomatoes or peppers. If you have limited sunlight, then you might want to grow vegetables that don’t need a lot of sunlight, like potatoes or carrots. So, the best vegetables for you to grow will depend on your individual circumstances. Lori Taylor - The Produce Moms Lettuce Lettuce is the easiest plant to grow. It can be directly sown in your garden bed or you can grow it indoors for transplanting. It is one of the few plants that can be grown all year long but make sure that in hot weather, you are providing it shed or harvesting it at smaller sizes. Its growth gets slow in the shade, which further means that it can be harvested for a longer duration. You can cut lettuce leaves as you want, which means you can enjoy many harvests from the same plant by snipping off the amount of lettuce you need each time. As you thin young plants, you can save the small plants to use later for salads. Kevi Tara - LEAFnJOY Whether a seasoned pro or just a beginner, vegetables can be grown by anyone that wants fresh produce at arm’s length. How about fresh salad all year round? Lettuce is one of the quickest and easiest vegetables to grow. They need bright light (full/partial sun), regular watering, and a balanced NPK fertilizer. Lettuce has shallow roots, meaning that they’re suitable to be grown indoors. However, if the temperatures are high, the leaves can quickly develop a bitter taste, so keep an eye out for that! Tomato plants (technically fruits) are a rewarding addition to any garden. The secret to growing delicious tomatoes that have a sun-kissed look and scent, is in the light. These plants need full sun, regular watering, and nutrients. They have one weakness: water on their leaves. Thus, they should be protected from rain. Peppers and chilies can easily be grown from fresh seeds and their care is easy. These vegetables are resilient to most pests, can be grown successfully in containers, and need regular watering, loads of sunshine, and a good bio-fertilizer. An eye-catching chili type is the Rocoto which grows branching like a bush and has purple flowers. There are a lot of different vegetables that you can grow in your garden, and it can be tough to decide which ones to choose. However, there are some vegetables that are generally easier to grow than others. We hope this article has helped you choose the best vegetables for your garden. You can learn about 7 good reasons to start a garden here.