Easy Crops to Grow

If you've never tried gardening before, and want to give it a try, but you just don't know how to get started, we have a suggestion for you: Start by growing something you really like to eat! Find out what the requirements are for that veggie or fruit and see what you would need to grow it in your current situation--will grow indoors? in a container on the patio or balcony? in a small garden bed with or with out vertical support? And so on. Some plants will be more difficult than others. Here are a few of the easier ones that adapt well to smaller spaces:
 

Tomatoes are America's number one favorite to grow. There’s nothing like a just-picked, perfectly ripe tomato. They are especially easy when you start from plants. If you get that bumper crop, they're easy to store: can, freeze, or dry them.

Spinach is a cool season crop that can be planted in very early spring, late fall, or in our part of the world, even in winter. Don’t get greedy and wait for the leaves to get their biggest--they will probably be bitter. Cut off the outer leaves while they are still young for sweeter spinach and a longer harvest--the inner leaves will continue to produce.

Green beans are quite easy to grow and will give you a big crop (if you grow the pole varieties)! If you grow more than you can eat fresh, they freeze well. They're going to need a tripod or trellis to grow on, but they don't take up a lot of horizontal space in the garden.

Onions grow well in well-drained, loose, soil rich in nitrogen; a container or raised bed is perfect. Mulch will help retain moisture and discourage  weeds.

Strawberries are surprisingly hardy and are unbelievably sweet when they are perfectly ripe. This perennial needs full sun and to be keep well-weeded.

Peppers can be ripened for different lengths of time to get a range of colors and flavors. They all start out green and turn colors (red for most varieties) as they ripen.

Carrots and Beets -- root vegetables that thrive in loose, well-drained soil. They will take a while to mature, but they are worth it. They like sun.

Radishes grow well in the cool seasons and do well even in soil that isn’t the greatest. The germinate quickly and some varieties are ready to harvest in three weeks after sprouting. Kids and adults with patience issues do well with these. However, if you don't care for them in your salad, don't grow too many if any.