Best Veggies for Beginning Gardeners

Growing your own vegetables is rewarding and a great way to provide you with healthy and delicious fresh produce. But if you're new to gardening, it can be hard to know where to start. With so many different vegetables to choose from, it's important to pick ones that are easy to grow and maintain. I have trouble with deer in my yard, so I grow all my veggies in pots. These are my top picks for the best vegetables to grow for beginners:

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables (or fruits, depending on who you ask) to grow, and for good reason. They're easy to grow and produce a bountiful harvest. Tomatoes can be grown in a pot on your balcony/porch or in your garden. Just make sure they have plenty of sunlight, water, and support, and you'll be rewarded with juicy, delicious tomatoes all summer long.

Radishes

Radishes are a great vegetable to grow if you're short on space or time. They grow quickly, often in as little as three weeks, and can be grown in containers. Radishes come in a variety of colors and sizes and can be eaten raw or cooked. They're also a great addition to salads.

Green Beans

Green beans are another easy-to-grow vegetable that are perfect for beginners. They grow quickly and don't require much maintenance. Green beans can be grown in containers or in the ground, and they're a great addition to any meal. Plus, they're packed with nutrients, making them a healthy choice.

Arugula

Arugula is a great addition to any salad and only takes about 50 days to be ready to harvest. Arugula is one of the more expensive greens in the grocery, but you can easily grow your own. Harvest the leaves when they are about two to three inches long. Cutting the leaves will stimulate the plant to produce more leaves, giving you an abundant supply all season long.

Lettuce

Lettuce is an easy-to-grow vegetable that's perfect for beginners. It grows quickly and can be grown in containers or in the ground. Lettuce comes in a variety of colors and flavors, and it's a great addition to salads, sandwiches, and wraps. Plus, it's packed with nutrients, making it a healthy choice.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are not able to tolerate the frost so don’t plant too early in the spring. Your cucumbers can be started indoors for an earlier start and transplanted into the garden or container after the first set of true leaves have developed. Fifty days later you will be enjoying fresh cucumbers. You can allow the cucumbers to spread on the ground–or for ease of picking, provide a trellis. Cucumbers also come in varieties specifically for growing in containers. Don’t forget to plant some for late-season harvest. Just watch that frost date!

Beets

Beets are very cold-tolerant, with some varieties even able to handle a light frost. Beets are ready to harvest in about 60 days, but if you prefer, harvest earlier for baby beets. Also, the beet greens can be harvested and added to soups or salads. Use the outer leaves and always leave four or five leaves to help develop the root. In warmer zones, beets can be grown throughout the winter.

Growing your own vegetables is rewarding and a great way to provide you with healthy and delicious fresh produce. By choosing easy-to-grow veggies like these, you'll be well on your way to a successful garden in no time!