Easy Growing Vegetables: Time-Tested Favs For Every Garden

Q: What does a 'drill' refer to in gardening?

It is a shallow trench or furrow made in the soil where seeds are sown. It’s typically used for small seeds that need to be planted at a consistent depth and spacing.

You know, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of growing your own vegetables. It’s like bringing a little piece of nature right into your backyard. And let me tell you, I love easy growing vegetables!

Have you ever dreamed of stepping outside your door and picking a basketful of fresh food you grew yourself? If so, you’re not alone—and the good news is, it’s simpler than you might think. With a few easy growing vegetables, even a small patch of soil can turn into a bountiful kitchen garden.

Here are some of my favorite easy wins to grow in the garden – because the easier it is to grow the veggies, the easier it is to get them into the kitchen and on the plate, or in the canning jar.

Easy growing vegetables example with carrots, bush beans and beets fresh from the garden.

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Whether you’re a seasoned hand or just getting your feet wet in the dirt, these vegetables are a joy to grow and even better to eat. Let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into some favorites that have earned their place in home gardens for generations.

Why Start With Easy Growing Vegetables?

Growing your own food doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. Choosing tried-and-true, easy growing vegetables means you’ll have a greater chance of success, less stress, and a harvest you can truly enjoy. It’s a wonderful way to teach the next generation where their food comes from and to connect with nature right in your own backyard.

I’ve always believed that growing food should bring more peace into your life, not more worry. That’s why I lean on these tried-and-true crops to get a good start every year, and I’m happy to share them with you.

Beans: A Garden’s Best Friend

If you’re looking for an easy win, beans are hard to beat. Whether it’s bush beans or pole beans, they’re among the easiest growing vegetables you can plant. They don’t ask for much—just warm, sandy soil, some sunshine, and a little care.

Beans are one of my absolute favorites. Bush beans, pole beans – you name it! I just can’t resist the variety. Plus, I always end up saving too many seeds, so I need the space.

If you live in the city or are short on space, pole beans are perfect for those tall fences or even trained up sunflowers. They love to climb fences, teepees, or even tall sunflowers. Watching them twist their way up and fill out with blossoms is one of the simple joys of the summer garden. And let me tell you, they can be quite ornamental. Imagine making arches with tree limbs and training your beans over them. It’s like a beautiful, edible tunnel!

Bush beans are more compact, perfect for garden beds or containers, and give you a quick, reliable harvest.

Beans love rich, warm, sandy soil. So, make sure to dig deep and work the soil thoroughly. And remember, don’t plant beans until the soil has warmed up. Early digging helps bring insect eggs and larvae to the surface, where birds can feast on them. Adding a little lime to the soil is also helpful.

Bush beans should be planted in drills , or shallow trenched rows, about eighteen inches apart, while pole beans need three feet between rows. Bush limas need even more space – about three feet. If your pole beans get too tall, just pinch off the ends to control their growth.

There are so many types of beans! Bush beans include dwarf snap beans, wax beans, and bush limas. Pole beans include pole limas, wax beans, and scarlet runners. The scarlet runner is especially beautiful, with its bright red flowers.

Quick Tip: Plant your beans after the soil has warmed up, and don’t forget to pinch off the tops of pole beans once they get tall enough. This helps keep them manageable and encourages more pods.

Beets: A Sweet and Simple Delight

Now, let’s talk about beets. Another gem on the list of easy growing vegetables is beets. These earthy roots thrive in well-prepared, sandy loam and are just as happy in a backyard patch as they are on a big homestead.

Beets shouldn’t be transplanted, and they need about a foot between rows. You can plant them as soon as the weather settles, and young beet tops make great greens. When harvesting, pinch off the tops and root tips with your fingers to avoid “bleeding.”

Old-Time Tip: While beets love rich, sandy loam, fresh manure can be harmful, so be careful. If you only have fresh manure, dig a trench, put a thin layer of manure at the bottom, cover it with soil, and plant above it. By the time the roots reach the manure, it won’t cause any harm.

More Easy Growing Vegetables to Try

Once you’ve got beans and beets going, why stop there? There’s a whole world of simple vegetables that can fill your table and your pantry.

The Cabbage Family

This hearty group includes cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi. While cauliflower is a little fussy about frost, kale and Brussels sprouts actually love a touch of cool weather, and Savoy cabbage is forgiving if your soil isn’t perfect.

Cauliflower: Cauliflower needs rich soil and can’t handle frost. Water it often with manure water, and bend the outer leaves over the head to keep it white. Dwarf varieties are best. Kale can handle frost and needs rich soil. Plant it early, and you can even plant it in September for an early spring crop.
Kale: Plant early and enjoy a harvest that can even survive a light frost.
Brussels Sprouts: Patience pays off with these! Brussels sprouts are a favorite. They need rich soil and plenty of water. Plant the seeds in May and transplant them in late July. Kohlrabi is like a cross between cabbage and turnip. It’s easy to grow, but it needs to develop quickly to avoid getting woody. Plant it early, either inside in March or directly in the garden.
Kohlrabi: A cross between a cabbage and turnip, it needs to grow quickly to stay tender.
Savoy Cabbage: And don’t forget Savoy cabbage! It’s a great variety, especially if your soil isn’t the best. Plant it early under cover and transplant it later.

Green and yellow squash in a white garden bucket – example of easy growing vegetables in small spaces.

Carrots

Few things are as satisfying as pulling a bright orange carrot from the earth. Carrots need well-worked, stone-free soil. Long-rooted varieties do best in deep beds (about 18 inches deep), but there are lovely short-rooted types that are perfect for smaller spaces. Thin them out gradually so you can enjoy young, tiny carrots.

Friendly Tip: Don’t sow carrots in freshly manured soil—it can cause them to fork and twist.

Fresh green growing arugula after an morning rain - one of those easy growing vegetables we all love in the early season!

Cucumbers, Lettuce, Melons, and More

Cucumbers love light, rich, sandy soil and are perfect for trellises. You can start them inside and transplant them later. Plant six seeds in a small space and thin them to three plants per hill. The hills should be about four feet apart.
Lettuce rewards with a steady harvest if you stagger your planting every couple of weeks. Don’t let it go to seed, as it will become bitter.
Melons are fun to experiment with. Plant them in rich soil and thin them to two plants per hill. Pinch off the ends when they’re about a foot long to encourage branching.
Pumpkins and Squash are fun additions if you have the room, but plant them far apart to avoid cross-pollination. Plant them like melons, but don’t plant them together, as they tend to cross-pollinate. Plant pumpkins between corn hills and squash in another part of the garden.

No matter which easy growing vegetables you choose, you’ll find yourself looking forward to each morning’s garden stroll, coffee in hand, checking on your little green friends.

Easy growing vegetable king - the mighty arugula harvested and resting in a cardboard box for transport to the kitchen.

Growing a Garden Full of Joy

At the heart of it, growing easy vegetables is about more than just filling your plate—it’s about nurturing something with your own hands and reconnecting with simpler times. Whether you’re growing a few pots on a balcony or tending rows in a backyard, there’s a deep satisfaction in knowing you can feed yourself and your family from your own soil.

If you’re ready to get started, or even if you’re just dreaming and planning for now, I hope this chat encourages you to put a few seeds in the ground this season. You might just find, as so many of us have, that the simple act of gardening brings a kind of peace you didn’t even know you were missing.

I’d love to hear about your favorite easy growing vegetables—what are your go-to crops each year? Share your gardening stories and tips in the comments below!

Growing your own vegetables is such a rewarding experience. It’s like connecting with nature and enjoying the fruits (or vegetables!) of your labor. What are your favorite vegetables to grow? Share your gardening stories and tips in the comments below!

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What does a ‘drill’ refer to in gardening?

It is a shallow trench or furrow made in the soil where seeds are sown. It’s typically used for small seeds that need to be planted at a consistent depth and spacing.