Top Ten Easy-to-Grow Vegetables
Whether you're a beginner or an old pro but with less time to invest in your vegetable garden, you'll find something to grow here! Start from seed (check out The Garden Scoop on Seed Starting) in winter or plant plants in Spring. If planting seed, always read and follow the information on the back of the packet for best results.
Green beans - there are Pole beans, which need support as they can grow to 6 ft, and Bush beans, which are upright plants growing to about 2 ft x 2 ft. Pole beans are harvested throughout the growing season and are great for smaller areas. Bush beans have a shorter period of harvest, but you gather more at a time making them good for canning and freezing. Plant when the soil has warmed. Late May, early June.
Peas - same as above with Pole or Bush style. Sugar Snap are the most widely planted a the pod is also edible (or choose to let the peas inside grow more fully and harvest the peas inside). Easy to start with seed or by plant. A cool season vegetable, you can start planting as soon as the soil is thawed and workable.
Lettuce - a cool season vegetable, start these from seed for more variety. You can direct sow as soon as the soil is workable in April or buy starts. Harvest at will. Often referred to as "cut and come again", just take what you need and let the loose leaf varieties continue to deliver. This doesn't work for Head lettuce. Reminder: don't dig in wet soil.
Radishes - another cool season crop that you can direct sow from early April to May. Loosen (till) the soil down 6 inches and harvest 3 to 5 weeks later. They can get woody if left too long in the soil.
Asparagus - a perennial vegetable that can produce for up to 15 years! With that in mind, your soil is important. Asparagus grows best in pH of 6.5 to 7.0. It can grow in any type of soil so long as it drains well. Plant from crowns and begin harvesting after 2 years. Harvest from early May to late June for the best flavor.
Rhubarb - another perennial vegetable, often used in baking: pies, breads, cakes and sauces too. Most varieties grow fairly large. 'Chipman's Red' is a more compact variety growing to about 2 ft x 2 ft.
Garlic - plant cloves in soil that is loose to about 6 inches in Fall about a week after a killing frost in Minnesota. Cover with straw or leaf mulch. Harvest the following June/July after you've cut back the scapes (edible) and the foliage has browned. Hardneck varities are the easiest to grow in our area.
Tomatoes - the most popular home garden vegetable. It's much easier to plant plants from your favorite garden center. Vining or bush style, Gertens has a lot of variety. As a heat-loving plant, get them in your garden once the soil has warmed to between 60 and 70 degrees. Disease resistant varieties are a great option if you've had issues before. Check Gertens varieties and you'll find plenty.
Herbs such as Rosemary, Cilantro, Dill, Parsley and lots more are easy to grow. Give them full sun. Start seeds in winter (Gertens also sells a large selection of plants in Spring that you can plant directly in your garden) Plant after all danger of frost is over and the soil is warm. Warning: Mint needs to be planted in a container ONLY. It spreads prolifically and is a perennial.
Zucchini - yes, we went there. Many people have a friend or neighbor who has plenty. That's why zucchini is SO easy to grow, it's prolific. As a vine crop, it needs space. Grow it up on a trellis to save space. Start from seed or plant a Gertens starter plant. Another summer squash for a small space is Patty pan or Golden Scallop.