7 Easy First Time Gardener Vegetables to Grow

If you are brand new to gardening, you might just need a little help choosing veggies that are easy to grow your first time out. This post will give you a list of first time gardener vegetables that you can grow with success.

Use this guide as a starting point on how to start a backyard garden that will continue to grow as your skills do year after year.

Be sure to grab the Companion Vegetable Garden Checklist fro free, below!

This list will help you grow a successful garden. First time gardening vegetables.

Growing the food your family enjoys eating is a great way to start living a homesteading lifestyle. Going outside your kitchen door and gathering up the makings for a delicious salad is, to me, the meaning of summer.

On top of that, there is nothing more soothing to the soul than the sight of bright red tomatoes growing on the vine. That is what called me to the garden so many years ago. And that feeling never gets old.

The problem is that what starts out as excitement and good intentions can quickly turn into burnout and overwhelm. Because not all vegetables are created equal, and that means that some veggies are easier to grow than others. To help you out a bit, I have a list of easy and delicious vegetables that will be perfect for any beginner gardener to grow.

First Time Gardener Vegetables

To make things even easier, I will go over each of them to give you tips on how to plant, grow, and harvest everything this growing season. Follow along and prepare for an amazing harvest of fresh produce you can enjoy all summer long.

Vegetable # 1. Tomatoes

Whenever you think of a garden, tomatoes are usually what you think of first. There are so many varieties, colors, and flavors they are staples to any summer garden. Once planted, tomatoes will do most of the work on their own. You only need to watch for pests and add support to keep the fruit fresh and water consistently.

How much to plant:

This used to be so much easier to answer back when there were fewer varieties to choose from. But with so many different options comes so many different results. That means this number is going to be very broad.

The best way to measure a harvest is in pounds and that is how we are going to approach things here. An average plant can produce anywhere from 10-25 pounds of tomatoes in a growing season. With some varieties giving less and others giving much much more. To find the exact number, you will want to research the specific variety of plant to truly know what you can expect.

A good rule of thumb is to have 1-3 plants per person in your family.

But again this will depend on who is eating them and how much they love them. If you are planning to preserve your tomatoes, then you will want to plant a few more to ensure you have enough to can or freeze.

Should you plant seeds or plants?

If you are a brand new gardener, then it is best to purchase plants that are ready to go directly into the ground. When shopping, you are looking for a nice, sturdy stem with lush deep green leaves with or without blossoms. If the plant looks healthy, then it should be perfect for your garden.

SLCG PRO TIP: You can grow plants for your garden by starting seeds indoors about six weeks prior to planting. Look for the planting date in your area and count back about 8 weeks to give you the seed starting date.

The key is choosing the date so they are the correct size and age when it is time to plant your garden. You can read my step-by-step guide here: HOW TO START TOMATO PLANTS INDOORS

tomato seedling just popping through the soil

How to plant tomatoes:

Here’s the thing about tomatoes: they hate the cold. Because of this, you will want to be sure to plant long after the threat of frost has passed.

When planting you want to do so deep putting 2/3’s of the plant into the ground. You can “pinch” off any leaves that fall below this measurement. The reason for planting so deeply is tomatoes have the ability to sprout additional roots above the stem. You will want these extra roots to really strengthen up your plant so it can better hold the weight of the tomatoes.

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Do not be deterred by going so deep for your tomato plants. Large plants will look quite small once planted, which is good. Remember you need the strength below the ground where the roots are, so you can have a healthier plant above the ground.

As the plant grows, you will want to add support to keep things from getting too heavy. Most gardeners use tomato cages, and I find these work very well. You can also use garden stakes if you do not have cages. Whatever support you choose to use, put them in the ground the day you plant your plants. Trying to add support after a plant has started growing will risk breakage to the stems.

a young tomato plant with a support stake near by

How to grow:

Tomatoes need to be watered regularly and consistently without overwatering. To know if your plant needs to be watered, stick your finger into the soil near the base of the plant. If it feels dry, water; if the soil is wet or damp, don’t. Always water very close to the ground to keep from splashing any soil up onto the leaves. This will help to prevent any soil-born diseases from harming your beautiful plants.

What to watch out for:

If you see the leaves of your tomato plant turning yellow or that the tomatoes themselves are turning yellowish, then there is a good chance that they are lacking Nitrogen. To correct this, you can add fish meal or soybean meal to the soil around the base of the plant.

How to harvest:

Most tomatoes mature around 60-75 days after planting. When your tomatoes are the color and size you are looking for, it’s time to harvest.

To do this, pick off the fruit or twist them to loosen them enough to pick. If they will not release easily, you can use your other hand to support the plant allowing you to pull a bit harder. If you plan to preserve your tomatoes, be sure to do so right away. You want to can the freshest fruit, so always pick the day you plan to can.

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Vegetable # 2. Snap Beans

Beans are one of those fun plants to grow. They require little work because they pretty much grow themselves. Also, a single plant can yield a large amount of beans for your family.