Starting a garden can feel overwhelming. With all the different choices, it can be difficult to know what are the best fruits and veggies to grow for your climate, budget, and space requirements.
If you need additional gardening expertise or more support to help you put in your new fruit and vegetable plots, contact At Home Pros. With a bit of information about what kind of service you’re looking for and where you live, our team can provide you with a list of prescreened lawn and garden professionals in your area.
The first decision you’ll need to make is whether your plants will be grown from seeds that you start yourself or if you will use transplants from the garden center. Here are some aspects of each method to consider as you get started.
Seeds vs. transplants
Starting your fruits and vegetables from seeds is a cheaper method and offers more variety of choice. After all, transplanting seedlings can be a risky business, and some species don’t survive the process.
If you start from seed, you can sow the seeds directly into the ground. Sowing your seeds directly into the ground is the best method for growing peas, squash, beans, corn and melons, which don’t survive transplanting as well as other types of plants.
Although you can get great seedlings from reputable sources, growing your own plants from seeds means you control the process from start to finish, ensuring that you’re using the healthiest plants from the start.
Here is a list of 10 fruits and vegetables that are easy to grow in a home garden. Also included are some helpful tips on how to grow each of these delicious types of fruits and veggies as well.
1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a popular choice for home gardeners because they are relatively easy to grow and produce a lot of fruit that you can use in many different ways. They also come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, so you can easily find one that suits your taste. Tomatoes need full sun and well-drained soil, and they should be planted in the spring after the last frost.
Whether you like the big, beefy types of tomatoes or the tiny, multi-colored ones, you’re sure to find a type of tomato to suit your palate and your ability, as these cheery fruits are a cinch to grow for beginner gardeners, whether in plots or large containers.
2. Lettuce
Lettuce is another easy-to-grow vegetable that is perfect for beginners. It doesn’t require a lot of space, and it can be harvested throughout the growing season. Lettuce needs full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil; it should be planted in the spring or fall.
If you love to eat salad, growing lettuce is a fabulous way to use your garden in your daily diet. If you sow the seeds and make sure you water them on a consistent schedule, you should have baby lettuce in about a month.
3. Carrots
When you think of a vegetable garden plot, you often think of fresh carrots being pulled right from the earth. Carrots are root vegetables that are packed with nutrients. They’re also easy to grow and can be harvested in about two months.
Seeds need to be kept moist for the first couple of weeks until they germinate, so you need to water them daily for strong plants. Loose soil is ideal as it will give your baby carrots enough room to grow.
Carrots need full sun and well-drained soil. Thin your seedlings a few times to make sure you pick the largest, healthiest plants for your garden.
4. Peas
You can plant peas just about as soon as the soil can be worked. Peas are a cool-weather crop that is perfect for planting in the spring. Two weeks before the last frost is an ideal time to start your peas.
Peas are a good source of protein and fiber, and they can be eaten fresh, frozen or canned. To keep your house stocked with fresh peas all through the season, sow different varieties of peas so that each crop has a different maturity date.
Sow the first round of seeds, and keep planting every few weeks. Peas need full sun and well-drained soil. They should be planted in the spring after (or even just before) the last frost.
5. Potatoes
Potatoes are a starchy vegetable that is a staple in many diets. They are easy to grow and can be harvested in about 90 days. Potatoes need full sun and well-drained soil, and should be planted in the spring or fall.
Many people don’t know it, but harvesting potatoes can be one of the most fun and gratifying tasks a home gardener can undertake. Potatoes grow in the roots of the plants, so you can gather them in the dirt, like uncovering buried treasure.
6. Squash and zucchini
Summer squash, zucchini and other varieties are versatile vegetables that can be eaten cooked or raw, straight from the garden soil. Many types are good sources of vitamins A and C, and you can harvest squash and zucchini in about 90 days.
Squash needs full sun and well-drained soil, and it should be planted in the spring or summer. Make sure to give these plants lots of space to thrive and soon you will have more squash and zucchini than you know what to do with.
7. Raspberries
A tasty treat that can be used as dessert or popped in a salad, raspberries are a wonderful addition to any home garden, regardless of your skill level. These plants love well-drained soil and full sun, and you should grow them in separate beds as they can spread out.
Birds and butterflies love raspberries and blackberries as much as your family does, so you will have lots of visitors throughout the growing season. One plant produces a lot of fruit, and adapts well to beds or large pots.
8. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a refreshing vegetable that is perfect for salads, drinks or sandwiches. They are easy to grow and can be harvested in about 50 days, but you should prepare the soil beforehand by making sure that it is full of nitrogen. Cucumbers need full sun and well-drained soil. Plus, cucumber vines like to climb, so plant them next to a fence or trellis in the spring or summer.
9. Cabbage
For many home gardeners, summer is over too quickly to grow cool-season cabbage. If you start your cabbage plants from seeds, however, you can plant them midsummer for a fall cabbage harvest. You can even make your own sauerkraut by planting a red variety.
10. Garlic
You can plant garlic in either the spring or the fall, but the crops you plant in the fall tend to yield bigger, better garlic harvests. Garlic likes cold weather, so be sure your garlic is exposed to plenty of chilly days so that the cloves won’t separate into independent heads of garlic. One good garlic harvest should be enough to last you well into the winter.
If you’re thinking about starting a garden soon, you can plant any of these fruits or vegetables as they are some of the easiest to grow for beginning gardeners. And if you think you might need a little more help, contact At Home Pros to be connected to the best gardening services in your area.