Growing your own vegetables doesn’t have to be a daunting project filled with delicate plants and strictly regimented care schedules. Having a garden should be a joyous experience that allows you to truly connect with the Earth while providing healthy, wholesome food for your table. Listed below are easy vegetables that are ideal for those who want the satisfaction of growing their own food without a lot of hassle.
Zucchini
Zucchini is a prolific grower that can feed an entire family with only a couple of plants. The plants are well suited for warmer soil, and they thrive in containers as well as in the garden. When planting zucchini keep in mind that they prefer a lot of sunshine, plentiful moisture, and well-draining soil. Plant seeds or young plants in the late spring, making sure that you give them plenty of space to spread out. You can expect to begin harvesting 40 to 55 days after planting.
Peppers
Peppers are easy to grow and don’t require a lot in the way of special attention. Because the plants are relatively small and tend to bush, they do quite well in small backyard gardens as well as containers. Peppers prefer warm weather, so plant seedlings and seeds after the last frost in an area that gets plenty of sunlight. Peppers also prefer moist, well-draining soil with a little compost for additional nutrients. If you plant sweet peppers such as bell peppers or banana peppers, you can expect to begin harvesting in 60 to 90 days. Hot peppers take a little longer, reaching maturity in 90 to 150 days.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a great addition to a low maintenance garden. They do well in containers as well as the garden, and the only things they require are water, plenty of sunshine, and a stake or cage to give the plant stalk support to keep your fruit off the ground. Plant your tomato seeds or young plants in late spring after the last frost in a nice sunny spot with well-draining soil.
While all tomatoes are easy to grow and maintain, the easiest plants to manage are cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, and grape tomatoes. Most tomato varieties are ready to harvest in 55 to 90 days.
Green Beans
There are a large variety of green beans, and all of them are easy to grow, requiring little more than regular water. Some varieties do need a trellis or pole for support, but bush beans need no support and they also do well in containers. It’s best to plant your seeds or plants in a sunny spot to reap a full harvest, but green beans will also produce a decent harvest in partial shade. Plant beans when the soil is warm and there is no danger of frost, and add compost to the soil for an abundant harvest.
Typically, you can expect to begin harvesting bush beans 50 to 55 days after sprouting and pole beans 55 to 60 days after sprouting.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are another prolific producer that likes plenty of room to sprawl. They’re very easy to take care of, only requiring regular water and a reasonable amount of sun. Young plants are susceptible to frost, so plant seeds or young plants in the late spring when the last frost has passed. For larger varieties, you might want to provide a trellis or stakes to keep your produce off the ground. Bush cucumbers are a good alternative if you have limited space or would prefer to plant in containers. Most cucumbers are ready for harvest in 60 to 80 days, just don’t wait too long to pick them or they will develop a bitter flavor.
Carrots
While carrots are easy to grow, there are a few things that you will want to consider when getting ready to plant them. Carrots need to be planted in soil that is free from rocks in order to avoid crooked produce. They need deep, well-draining soil to prosper, along with a steady source of water. Carrots can also be grown in containers so long as the planter is deep. Even some of the shorter varieties such as Short and Sweet still require deep soil in order for them to reach their full potential. It’s best to plant your carrots in full sunlight, but they do tolerate some shade as well. Carrots are ready to harvest when their tops break the soil line, usually around 75 days after planting.
Broccoli
Broccoli doesn’t require a lot of fuss in order for it to thrive. It can be planted in both spring and fall and is quite hardy in cool weather. Plant your broccoli seeds or young plants in fertile soil that receives a good amount of sunshine and water regularly. Include a small amount of compost when planting to boost the soil for good root nutrition. Broccoli can be planted in containers so long as the planters provide enough room for the plants to grow. Typically you need about 12 inches of space between plants to encourage healthy growth. If you plant from seed, you can expect to harvest approximately 100 to 150 days from planting. If you plant seedlings, produce reaches maturity 60 to 80 days after planting.
Radishes
Radishes are extremely easy to grow, and they grow quickly. You can plant radishes in containers as well as the garden. They grow well in cooler weather, so plant them during the early spring or fall in well-draining, damp soil. Radishes are ready to harvest four to six weeks after planting.
You don’t have to have a green thumb or go to a lot of trouble to have a bountiful garden. With the vegetables listed above, you can have fresh produce with minimal effort at your fingertips.
—
Outside of writing for EverythingBackyard, I love to spend all the time I can outdoors and find every excuse to leave my house. I write about everything from backyard DIY projects to gardening. If you can’t get a hold of me I am probably on a trail or a boat.
Leave a Reply