Are you a beginner gardener? Then this article is for you. When you start gardening, you need to identify the easiest vegetables to grow from seed in bags.
Typically, growing vegetables from seed is cost-effective and produces better results. This article discusses some of the easiest vegetables for beginners to grow from seed.
Growing Vegetables from Seeds or Transplants – Which is better?
Is it better to plant with transplants or seeds? Every plant is different. Some are best grown using transplants, while others are best grown using seeds.
Note that it is totally fine to grow plants using purchased transplants. In fact, transplants enable you to grow crops faster. This is because you won’t be starting from scratch.
Some of the best plants you can grow from transplants are peppers and tomatoes. Nevertheless, you need to purchase transplants from a reliable manufacturer. Otherwise, you may have trouble growing healthy plants.
Some gardening experts report that growing from seed is the best. Below are some of the advantages of growing from seeds.
- Cost-effective: Planting with seeds is a cost-effective option.You won’t have to purchase seeds from the store more often than not. For instance, you can scoop out the seeds from another melon fruit when growing melons. So, if you are a commercial farmer, growing from seeds will be much cheaper for you.
- Versatility: When growing from seed, you have a wide range of seeds to choose from. Remember, every plant comes in different varieties. Finding certain plant varieties in your local garden store may be hard.
- Generally, some vegetables do not grow well using transplants; so, you’ll have to grow them from seeds. Occasionally, transplants can get damaged while transporting them to the garden. On the other hand, it is rare for seeds to get damaged or not survive until germination when the external factors are conducive for planting.
- You can closely monitor plants when you grow them from seed from the start. Consequently, it will be much easier to identify the problem if something goes wrong.
Easy vegetables to grow at home for beginner gardeners
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Lettuce
One of the easiest plants to grow from seed is lettuce. You can sow lettuce seeds anywhere in your outdoor or indoor garden. The best thing about growing lettuce is that you’ll obtain a plentiful harvest.
Even so, you need to expose this plant to the right growing conditions. You can grow lettuce all year round. However, make sure you protect it from too much sunlight during winter. Ensure the plant receives sufficient sunlight; otherwise, it will grow slowly.
There is a broad spectrum of lettuce varieties you can grow in your garden. Consider growing different varieties at the same time. When growing lettuce, you need to conduct frequent pruning for best results.
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Green Beans
Green beans are relatively simple to grow since they can grow in poor-quality soil. This is because they are able to fix the nitrogen content in the soil. There are many varieties of beans.
Some thrive best in hot regions, while others in cooler areas. For instance, asparagus and lima beans are very simple to grow in hot regions. On the flip side, it is very simple to grow snap beans in cool regions.
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Peas
The next simple plant to grow from seed for beginners is peas. Peas are not only delicious, but they are also simple to grow in your garden. Ensure you select the best pea varieties for the best results.
Note that you have to sow and plant peas 14 days before the last spring frost. Consider sowing pea seeds in the right depth and use different varieties at different dates. This way, you’ll be able to obtain a continual harvest.
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Radishes
One of the main advantages of growing radishes is that they mature faster. You can harvest this crop 24 days after planting. When planting radishes, ensure you prep the soil during spring.
Then, sow the seeds while observing a space of 2 inches between each seed. Slightly cover the seeds with leaf mold, compost or potting soil to promote faster growth.
Always consider growing radishes with carrots. These crops complement each other perfectly. It would be best to mix radish seeds with carrot seeds before planting. Since radishes grow quickly, they will come out first and create room for carrots.
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Carrots
Carrots are pretty simple to grow. However, you need to grow them in loose soil. This is because carrots are root plants, and they need to penetrate the soil.
So, if the soil is not loose, carrots won’t reach their full growth potential. There are many varieties of carrots. Always go for the ones that are highly resistant to pests and diseases.
For best results, never forget to thin carrot seedlings. This prevents overcrowding in the garden, enabling the carrots to grow to their maximum potential. Remember that you don’t want to harvest short and deformed carrots.
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Cucumbers
Another vegetable that is simple to grow is cucumber. Cucumbers need potassium and nitrogen to thrive. For best results, ensure your cucumbers receive enough sunlight. Also, grow them close to a fence since they need support.
Alternatively, plant them next to corn. Corn will enable the cucumbers to trap the heat that they need. Not to mention, corn serves as a perfect windbreaker.
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Kale
Kale is highly nutritious and grows in a wide range of climatic conditions. They are simple to grow since all you need to do is to sow them into the soil and monitor them until they mature.
With kale, you can always eat the flowers and buds. You can grow kale from early spring to early summer. Remember to always get rid of pest that attack kale. Prune kale frequently and enjoy the semi-harvest produce in your kitchen.
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Swiss Chard
As a beginner gardener, Swiss Chard is one of the best vegetables to grow. This vegetable belongs to the beet family and is highly nutritious.
You can grow it in both cool and warm climatic conditions. Another advantage of growing the Swiss chard vegetable is that it offers exceptional aesthetics in your garden.
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Beets
Beets are not only delicious but also easy to grow. There’s nothing as satisfying as eating your own beets from the garden. If you plan to grow this vegetable, sow the seeds observing a distance of four inches apart.
Once the beets get to the size of a tennis ball, you can start harvesting. Fortunately, you can always start harvesting the leaves before the beets mature. Beet leaves are edible and delicious.
Thus, these plants enable you to reap two harvests. Nevertheless, you need to ensure that your beets receive the right amount of light, nutrients, and warmth. Also, do your best to protect the beets from pests and diseases.
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Summer Squash (Zucchini)
Although zucchini plants need lots of space to grow, they are relatively simple to grow. All you need to do is plant them in quality soil and expose them to enough sunlight.
Also, ensure you plant them three to six feet apart, depending on the variety, to enable them to grow to their maximum potential.
When you do this, you’ll reap an abundant harvest before you even know it. Nevertheless, you need to make sure you water the soil at all times to protect the plants from mildew.
Simple vegetables to grow
At present, there is a broad spectrum of vegetables that are easy for beginners to grow from seed. Some include radishes, kale, and cucumbers. Plants have different requirements.
Therefore, before you decide to plant a specific vegetable, ensure you understand all its requirements. This way, you’ll determine whether you can handle it.
However, if you are a beginner gardener, always go for simple-to-grow plants like the ones mentioned in this article. Ultimately, evaluate your budget, requirements, and preferences before deciding on the type of plant to grow.