Garden Blog

5 Easy Plants to Grow for Beginners

Starting out can feel overwhelming, but there are some pretty easy plants to grow for beginners. Let’s take a look at 10 plants that are great for beginner gardeners.

Easy to Grow

#1 Basil

Basil is first on my list to grow for beginners because of its versatility. It can be grown on your windowsill in the kitchen, in South Central Pennsylvania where the climate is humid, and even in the dry Valley of Arizona where it reaches over 100 degrees in the summer. I would know, I have tested all 3 of these myself.

Specifically, I prefer Dark Opal Basil. Unlike other varieties, the taste doesn’t change much once the plant has started to flower. This is especially important in hot climates where plants blot (go to seed) quickly with the heat.

Basil is also simple to harvest from. Pinch off the biggest/oldest leaves, rinse, and use fresh or dry for later. The process of pinching leaves will also encourage the plant to keep producing.

Bonus: It smells lovely and will attract pollinators to your garden.

Pictured above is Thai Basil, black licorice lovers will enjoy this variety. It was not my cup of tea, but not to worry. There are so many different varieties of basil you are sure to find one you love. Lime basil is one of my personal favorites for flavor.

#2 Radishes

Next up are radishes. Some varieties can be harvested in as little as 21 days! Imagine having something to eat from your garden in under 1 month. This makes radishes a very encouraging plant to grow for beginner gardeners.

Radishes don’t take up much space and can be grown in pots or tucked in amongst other plants. If you only have a patio for growing, this is a great place to start honing your garden skills.

#3 Leafy Greens

Things like lettuce and spinach are also quick growers. Even better, you can eat them as microgreens – meaning you can pick them before full growth. Did you know you can grow microgreens in a tray right in your kitchen?

Bonus Tip: Lettuce is my secret to preventing weeds and soil erosion. I use it as a living mulch…find out more in this blog How to Prevent Weeds in the Garden.

#4 Beans

Did you know that you can plant dry beans from the store and they will sprout? Beans are by far one of the fastest sprouting plants I know of – typically popping out of the ground in just 3 days.

Even more cool are the varieties they come in – have you ever seen multi-colored bean pods?! My household favors Dragon Tongue Bush Beans and Rattlesnake Beans.

Beans are also great at self-pollinating – they don’t need a whole lot of help from pollinators. This is perfect for the gardener who is struggling to attract bees to the garden like I did my first season in PA.

One last reason I love beans for beginners, they are so easy to save seeds from. Just let the pods dry on the vine and then shell out the beans. Those are your seeds.

Seen above is a Moonshadow Hyacinth Bean plant growing over my fence. It produces lovely bright fuchsia colored pods. These aren't your run of the mill beans to say the least. The pods can be toxic if picked too early, so I would not recommend in a garden with kids or pets. — Seen above is a Moonshadow Hyacinth Bean plant growing over my fence. It produces lovely bright fuchsia colored pods. These aren’t your run of the mill beans to say the least. The pods can be toxic if picked too early, so I would not recommend in a garden with kids or pets.

#5 Tomatoes

I know what you are thinking, tomatoes…. that sounds a bit advanced – don’t you have to start the seeds inside? Yes, but let me explain.

While tomatoes take more preparation depending on your climate – they are one of the most forgiving plants. Tomatoes tolerate having their roots messed with very well. Unless you are just down right aggressive with them, they will survive most jostling. This makes tomatoes great for gardeners who have never started seeds inside before.

Other bonuses: They are heat tolerant, can be hand pollinated, and it is pretty obvious when their fruit is ready to be picked.

Garden Hack: You could purchase a starter tomato plant for your first go at it.

Overall Easy To Grow Thoughts

These 5 plants aren’t the only easy things to grow, but it is a good start. Always keep in mind that you want to focus on things you will actually eat. If you hate beans with a passion, try something else that is a short variety.

Also, don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. The garden is one big fun experiment. The worst that can happen is you learn something new.

If you liked the radishes but they were too spicy, try a different variety and grow them when it is cooler.

Perhaps the tomatoes you grew were too acidic, try a yellow, white, or orange variety next time.

Maybe your leafy greens weren’t frost hardy, plant different varieties in succession the following year.

That is the beauty of the garden, no two seasons are ever the same. Happy Planting!

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