10 Vegetables Easy to Grow

If you’re new to the world of vegetable gardening, it’s always a good idea to boost your confidence with a few easy plants. The following 10 veggies aren’t 100 percent foolproof, but they’re easy to grow without a lot of fuss.

1. Carrots need plenty of sunlight and deep, loose soil. Clumpy or rocky soil may produce short, deformed carrots. This cool weather crop can be planted about three weeks before the last expected frost in spring.
 

2. Radishes are the ideal veggie for beginner gardeners. They grow fast, and you can plant another crop every couple of weeks. Harvest radishes when they’re young and crisp; don’t wait until they’re bitter and woody. 

3. Zucchini is easy to grow, and a couple of plants will provide enough squash for everybody in the neighborhood. For the best flavor and texture, harvest zucchini when they’re small. Zucchini needs well-drained soil and lots of sun.
 

4. Green beans are fun to grow but wait and plant seeds when the soil is warm -- at least a week after the last frost in spring. Vining types are more prolific, but they need a sturdy trellis. Bush beans require less space and don’t require a trellis. 

5. Cucumbers need warm temperatures and plenty of sunlight, but once established, they grow like crazy. Cucumber plants can sprawl over the ground, but they do best with some support. 

6. Garlic bulbs are planted in fall, about six to eight weeks before the first average hard freeze. Harvest garlic when most of the leaves have turned brown, generally in mid- to late summer of the following year.

7. Spinach is a cool weather plant. Plant spinach seeds in spring, then grow another crop in fall. Soil likes rich soil, so add a bit of compost before planting.

8. Peas tolerate light frost, so plant them in early spring while the weather is cool. A trellis isn’t absolutely required, but support will make the peas easier to pick and keep the plants from resting on damp soil.

9. Winter squash such as acorn squash or pumpkin is just as easy to grow as summer squash, but unlike summer squash, winter squash can be stored over the winter. 
 

10. Swiss chard is an eye-catching, cool weather plant with big, colorful leaves. Plant seeds in spring, two to three weeks before the last average frost, and then plant another crop in late summer.