15 Easy Vegetables to Grow, Even If You've Never Gardened Before

Some vegetables practically grow themselves, and they're the perfect place to start if you're new to gardening. These 15 easy vegetables to grow tolerate beginner mistakes, produce reliably and taste far better than store-bought.

Cool-season crops (spring and fall)

These grow best in cool weather and can handle light frost. Plant them in early spring or late summer for a fall harvest.

1. Lettuce: sow seeds every couple of weeks for a continuous harvest. Pick outer leaves and the plant keeps growing.
2. Radishes: among the fastest crops. Many varieties are ready in about a month, which makes them great for kids.
3. Spinach: loves cool weather. It bolts (goes to seed) when it gets hot, so plant early.
4. Peas: sow directly as soon as the soil can be worked in spring. Give climbing varieties a trellis.
5. Kale: extremely hardy. Its flavor actually sweetens after a light frost.
6. Green onions: plant sets or seeds and snip as needed.

Warm-season crops (after the last frost)

These need warm soil and air. Plant them after your last spring frost date.

7. Zucchini and summer squash: famously productive. One or two plants can be plenty for a family.
8. Bush beans: no trellis needed, quick to produce and easy to grow from seed.
9. Cherry tomatoes: more forgiving and productive than large slicing tomatoes. Read how to grow tomatoes.
10. Cucumbers: grow them up a trellis to save space. See how to grow cucumbers.
11. Peppers: slow to start but productive once the weather heats up.
12. Swiss chard: tolerates heat and cold and keeps producing for months.
13. Potatoes: plant seed potatoes in spring and dig up a treasure in summer. They also grow well in large containers and grow bags.
14. Beets: you can eat both the roots and the greens.
15. Herbs like basil: technically not a vegetable, but basil is easy and pairs perfectly with your tomatoes.

Tips for success with easy vegetables

• Choose disease-resistant varieties when possible. Seed packets and plant tags often list resistance codes.
• Don't overplant. Zucchini and cucumbers can overwhelm you. Start with one or two plants.
• Plant at the right time. See our guide to vegetables to plant in spring and fall.
• Harvest young. Smaller vegetables are usually more tender and flavorful.

How much space do you need?

A single 4-by-8-foot raised bed can hold a surprising amount: two tomato plants on one end, a row of bush beans, a few lettuce and spinach plants, and herbs. Grow vertically with trellises for cucumbers and peas to get even more out of a small space.