If you are new to vegetable gardening or if you want to introduce kids to this wonderful pastime, why not start simple with the vegetable plants that are the easiest to grow?
Most vegetables require a lot of sun, about six to eight hours a day, so first identify a sunny spot in your yard where you will do your planting. A raised bed is nice but not necessary.
Tomatoes
I think tomatoes were the very first vegetable I ever attempted to grow. You can purchase them as seedlings, which makes planting them a snap. Wait until the danger of frost has past, stake the plants and use mulch.
Zucchini
Zucchini is easy to grow and produces a lot of vegetables. Plant zucchini in the late spring in a location that has plenty of sun and room for the plants to grow. Although the zucchini will continue to grow, you’ll want to harvest it while the skin is still shiny.
Beans
Beans are easy to grow when you seed them in the late spring. You can either provide a support for them with string or stakes, or allow them to trail down from a planter or a raised bed. They are so much fun for kids to pick, too.
Carrots
Sow the carrot seeds in very late spring or early summer. You want to make sure that they are planted in deep, loose soil, otherwise they may develop forks. A raised bed with clean soil is perfect to grow carrots. The hardest part? After a few weeks, you’ll need to thin out the plants to give the best ones the chance to mature.
Leaf Lettuce
With leaf lettuce, you can either plant the seeds directly or start them from young plants. The most important thing about lettuce is to keep it watered. Harvest your lettuce before scorching weather arrives, and watch out for slugs and rabbits, who will want to eat your feast.
Come back tomorrow for another list of five easy to grow vegetables!
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