Do you fancy trying your hand at growing your own fruit and vegetables, but not sure where to start? Whether you have a small balcony or an allotment, these easy-to-grow vegetables are perfect if you are a beginner just starting out.
How to Grow Vegetables for Beginners
You should decide whether you want to buy plug plants (young plants grown in modular trays, ready to be planted out) from the local garden center or start them from seed. Buying plug plants is the easiest method, but costs more, while starting them from seed is a little more involved and often costs less. Most garden centers will stock plug plants listed here, and all of them will stock the seeds. It comes down to personal choice.
Before you rush out and plant your vegetable plants into the garden, you need to know your last frost date. While some vegetable plants will tolerate a frost, others won’t. Look up your average last frost date and plant accordingly.
Easy Vegetables to Grow for Beginners
These crops are some of the easiest to grow and will reward you with plenty of homegrown food. When you choose what to grow, pick something that you enjoy eating; there’s nothing worse than growing your own fruit and vegetables if you don’t like eating them.
Courgettes
Courgettes produce abundantly, and one plant can supply you and your family with fresh courgettes throughout the summer months. They are tender plants and do not tolerate cold. You can sow them around 4-6 weeks before your last frost date and keep them somewhere warm to germinate and grow on. Once the risk of frost has passed, plant them into your garden and keep them well watered. To harvest the courgettes, simply twist or cut them off the plant with a sharp knife. For more information on how to grow courgettes, follow this simple guide.
Potatoes
Beginners find it easiest to grow potatoes in large containers or bags on the patio. Simply add compost to the bottom of the container and place 2-3 seed potatoes and cover with more compost. When the shoots appear, cover them with more compost and repeat the process until you’ve reached the top of the container or bag. First early potatoes can be harvested in as little as 10-12 weeks.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are pretty forgiving, and even if neglected, they will reward you with some fruit. The easiest way to grow tomatoes is to buy plug plants, and once the risk of frost has passed, plant them out into tomato grow bags. Bush varieties require little care while cordon or indeterminate varieties will require staking and pruning the offshoots. Tomatoes are hungry plants and will require regular feeding and watering.
Runner Beans
Runner beans are really easy to grow and will provide you with plenty of fresh pods throughout summer and into early autumn if the conditions are right. They are fast-growing so sow them after your last frost date and give them sturdy support as they require. Harvest the pods when they are around 15cm long and still tender.
Beetroot
Of all the root vegetables, beetroot is probably the easiest to grow. Sow your beetroot seeds into the ground from March to July, and make sure to keep them well watered, and after 8 to 10 weeks, they are ready to harvest. Beetroot is available in all sorts of colors and great in salads or pickled.
Onions
The easiest method to grow your own onions is to plant them as sets. Onion sets are small bulbs that have been harvested prematurely, which can then be planted into the ground to grow into full-size onions. Plant the sets into the ground in spring and keep them well watered. When the foliage starts to yellow and flop over, they are ready to harvest.
Easy Vegetables To Grow – Word of Warning
Even though growing these crops is easy, things can still go wrong. Even the best and most knowledgeable gardeners will struggle to grow some of these some years. It’s important to keep trying and have fun.
