More and more people are turning to gardening. Not only because a lot of people want to stay busy, growing your own food is becoming a necessity to some with rising prices and shorter supplies.
The problem is: You don’t know which vegetables to grow.
But here’s good news: There are a lot of vegetables you can always grow, even if it’s your first time!
What Are The Best Vegetables To Always Grow?
What are the best vegetables to always grow for a first-time gardener?
Let’s take a look at the top 10 easy vegetables to grow for new gardeners.
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Lettuce
Romaine and looseleaf are the best fresh lettuce varieties to plant in containers, especially if you have a small space. They need less growing space than stalk or head salad greens.
When growing a leaf lettuce in a pot, the ideal soil mix to use should contain a combination of compost or peat, perlite, and soil to keep them from drying out.
Sow the seeds shallow, no more than one half inch deep in the soil. Also, keep the soil moist, but not wet for your leafy greens.
Chives
This mini onion-flavored plant is ideal to start by seed in a pot or a raised bed.
When planting, sow the seeds at a depth of 1/4 inch, with at least 4 to 5 inches apart.
It will take the seeds about 10 to 15 days to germinate and can grow up to 12 inches long.
Chives grow nicely inside a sunny windowsill, but if growing outdoors, during winter or a chance of frost, bring the pot indoors.
Basil
Do you love pesto? Good news! Basils are easy to grow in pots, perfect for container gardens and first time home gardeners. It can be grown from seeds or young seedlings.
Place the pot in a spot with full sun then water it weekly, especially during the dry weather. Add more extra compost or fertilizer for the herbs to thrive.
Tomatoes
Whether you’re planting them from seeds or from young seedlings, tomatoes can be grown in pots or in ground outdoors.
Grape and cherry tomatoes, and other different varieties, are good for your patio, while tiny Tims and small fry are best for growing in containers for vegetable gardening.
Homegrown tomatoes love the heat so the best way to grow them is to only water them when they show wilt. If you want to grow in containers a larger tomato plant does well in a large, half-barrel container, add mulch after four to six weeks to give the soil some time to warm up.
Pepper
Hot chili peppers and sweet bell peppers do not only add visual appeal to any culinary dishes, they can also add a pop of color to any patio garden.
Peppers can easily grow in pots or garden beds as they grow upright and produce good yields without taking up much space.
Snow Peas
One of the biggest advantages of growing snow peas is that the pod of the plants are edible!
When planting snow peas, select a sunny location. Plant the seeds in a well-drained soil at a depth of 1 inch, at least 3 to 4 inches apart.
As the vines grow, you need to add a support, like a trellis or a tomato cage in the container, for the growing process.
Radish
This quick-growing vegetable is so easy to grow from seeds. They also grow well in full sun, in any pot sizes with less space, perfect for your first vegetable garden.
Although radishes do not require fertilizing, to avoid bolting, avoid letting the soil dry out. Sow seeds at a depth of one-half to one-inch deep.
Bolting is a horticultural term for when a plant prematurely develops a flowering stalk (in a natural attempt to produce seed) before the crop has been harvested. The plant shifts its energy from growing the desired crop to reproduction instead – its final hoorah, if you will.
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Zucchini
Zucchini plants do not need a lot of room to grow! If you’re short on space, there are dwarf varieties that grow well in pots.
When planting zucchini, use a lightweight potting loose soil and avoid using a regular garden soil. Plant 2 to 3 seeds in the center of the pot then water the rich soil and maintain the soil moisture until the seeds sprout in about 1 to 2 weeks.
Once the seeds sprout, thin them and only keep the strongest seedling. They should also have a lot of sun, at least 10 hours a day, and support the vines using stakes or tomato cages.
Asian Greens
Asian greens are one of the most nutritious vegetables to plant. They contain vitamins A, B, C, E, and K.
And the best part? You can grow them any time of the year!
To produce the best results, sow the seeds at least 6 inches deep, 8 to 10 inches apart. Keep the healthy soil moist and water them at least twice a week and make sure they have partial sun.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are similar to zucchini when it comes to structure and care. There are a lot of varieties to choose from, but those with smaller fruits are easier to take care of in pots and containers.
When growing cucumbers, make sure to provide them with full sun and plenty of water. Add a trellis or a tomato cage to support the vines.
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Keep in mind that if you want to grow vegetables easier, a great way is to buy a bigger pot. The bigger containers can hold more soil which can hold more water. This means less watering for you, which makes it a good choice.
Growing vegetables does not require a lot of experience. Even beginner gardeners can start maintaining their own garden with these vegetables. These vegetables will not only add a pop of color to your patio or window, you can also eat the crops once they start growing.
Growing vegetables is easy and fun, so make sure to plant one of these young plants from this list of the easiest vegetables to start with.
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