5 Vegetables Easy To Grow From Seed When You Are A Beginner
Have you thought about growing your own vegetables? It’s easier than you think to start them from seed. Of course, opting to buy young plants gives you a head start (especially if you have a short growing season) and quite possibly more produce, but there is nothing quite like cooking a meal with vegetables you have grown from scratch!
Here is a shortlist of must-try crops to be successful on your first attempt at growing them.
1. Beans
Beans are invincible! Viable seeds have a very high germination rate. Whether you prefer to grow a climbing variety (such as climbing beans) or a dwarf variety, get your harvesting basket ready (and prepare to eat beans for weeks on end). The secret is to keep picking: this will encourage the plants to produce more.
Beans are typically heavy feeders so fertilizing is essential. If you don’t have time to apply a weekly soluble fertilizer (tomato feed works wonders), use a pelletized slow-release when planting. Protect plants from harsh winds and only plant out young seedlings well after the danger of last frosts as passed. In my growing zone (7–8), this is typically after May, 15th.
A couple of reliable favorites: Scarlet Emperor (runner beans), Borlotto Lamon (climbing beans), Kinghorn Wax (dwarf French butter beans), Kelvedon Wonder (dwarf garden peas).
2. Courgettes & Squashes
Members of the Cucurbita family (courgettes, squash, pumpkins, gourds) have to make this list as they are incredibly easy to grow. If vegetables had nicknames, zucchinis would be: the workaholics.
Courgette plants can keep producing 3 to 4 fruits per week until early October if your climate is mild enough. Their bushy habit makes for easy picking.
Pumpkins are from the same family and are equally fuss-free to start from seed. Pumpkins and Winter squashes will be ready later in the season but store well and can be used both to decorate your home for Autumn and in delicious recipes. Select varieties with high yields to reap the best rewards!
Top tip: I found it best to start the seeds in trays outdoors rather than direct sowing in the ground: it’s easier to keep them moist enough to ensure good germination. Plant out plants when seedlings have 3 true leaves.
3. Kale
Kale is part of the cabbage family and is very rewarding to grow as you can keep picking leaves from the plant throughout Winter. The variety Nero di Toscana has never disappointed so far!
Seedlings are quick to appear and can be started early on in the season. Make sure to allow plenty of space (30cm | 1ft) between plants as they will grow incredibly bushy.
Kale is a winter cooking staple, two words: crispy Kale. Also a great ingredient for winter soups.
Top tip: If you grow your vegetables (or other plants) in containers, make sure it has a drainage hole at the bottom. This will avoid excess water accumulating around the roots and prevent them from rotting.
4. Radishes
This easy-to-grow-from-seed-crops shortlist could not be complete without radishes!
Radishes are extremely gratifying to start from seed as they grow very rapidly: you can get a crop after 18 days for the fastest growing varieties. Great project for kids.
Bonus: you don’t need a lot of space to grow them, a sunny window seal will do!
Top tip: When growing vegetables in a container, make sure to use a compost mix rather than garden soil. The latter dries out quickly and is not packed full of nutrients. You can find compost/potting mix at your local garden center or supermarket.
5. Lettuce
Lettuce is another crop which can be grown successfully in a small space (they will be very happy next to the radishes on the sunny window sill). There is nothing like fresh lettuce!
The trick here is do something called succession sowing: sow a new crop every two weeks to ensure a fresh continuous supply. That’s also a great way to try different varieties. Spinach and Swiss Chard are equally easy to grow and prefer partial shade.
A couple of reliable favorites: Merveilles des quatres saison (round lettuce, can be sown from spring to autumn), Swiss Chard Fire Fresh F1, Lollo Rossa (red lettuce great to add color). Selecting a spicy leaves mix is also a good choice to bring flavor (especially if it contains arugula).
Top tip: Lettuce, spinach and Swiss chard will bolt (seed-heads will form changing the taste of the leaves) if exposed to too much heat and direct afternoon sun. A partly shaded area is recommended.
A last word of advice: stay away from tomatoes! Whilst their flavor is much improved when growing your own, they are relatively fussy plants which require near-constant pruning to prevent them from overgrowing.
