10 Vegetables Every Beginner Should Grow, According to Garden Experts

Kale

Kale is incredibly hardy, so it's one of the best vegetables to grow for beginners. While the leafy green prefers colder temperatures, it can still grow in the heat of summer, albeit at a slightly slower pace. In the winter, though, it can survive even below-freezing temperatures. "Don't crowd your kale seedlings," advises Luay Ghafari, founder of Urban Farm and Kitchen. "Give each seedling at least 1 square foot of space to grow." He also recommends covering the crop with netting to deter pests like the white cabbage butterfly.

• Zones: 7 to 10
• Size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Radish

Radishes are easy enough to grow, and they're ready for harvest usually after just three weeks. "The seeds can be directly sown outside in the spring," says Ghafari. "You don't have to start them indoors or fuss with grow lights." As an added bonus, radishes are great companion plants, because they can naturally repel pests. Planting them in a line will also create a natural barrier to deter insects.

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; will tolerate a range of soil types as long as it's slightly acidic

Potato

Potatoes are a garden staple for a reason—they're easy to grow, and they can be cooked into a myriad of dishes. They're best planted in early spring, but you can start them indoors earlier, too. "They're a straight-forward plant to grow and harvest," says Laura Irish-Hanson, horticultural educator at the University of Minnesota Extension. "The biggest issue beginner gardeners have is with rotting from overly wet soils."

• Zones: 3 to 10
• Size: 1 to 4 inches wide x 2 to 3 feet tall
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Garlic

Garlic requires patience, but it's not difficult to grow, so long as you're willing to wait. It takes about nine months between planting and harvesting, according to Irish-Hanson. "But it's a truly easy and fun plant to grow," she says. "Plant and mulch the cloves in the fall, then watch in the spring as the garlic pops up."

Since garlic has a naturally pungent smell, it will deter most pests, too, so beginner gardeners won't have to worry as much about their harvest spoiling. They can even be grown indoors.

• Zones: 1 to 5 for hardneck garlic, 8 to 12 for softneck garlic
• Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide
• Care requirements:  Full sun; well-drained soil

Snap Pea

Peas will need vertical support to grow; they can be sewn directly outside when the soil is ready in the spring, says Ghafari. After about 60 days, they'll be ready to harvest—watch for when the pods start to flatten. If done correctly, all of the peas within will be plump and delicious.

• Zones: 3 to 11
• Size: 1 to 3 feet wide x 1.5 to 6 feet tall
• Care requirements: Full or partial sun; well-drained soil

Asparagus

Asparagus is a beloved vegetable—it's both incredibly hardy and incredibly delicious. Irish-Hanson refers to it as an "easy choice" for novice gardeners who want to grow a perennial vegetable. "It needs little care other than ensuring the area stays weed-free," she says. "This will stop weeds from overtaking young shoots in early spring."

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 4 to 8 feet tall
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Green Onion

Onions are relatively easy to grow, but green onions are even more straightforward. "They're simple to start from seed and are ready to harvest in as little as 40 days," says Irish-Hanson. "They can even overwinter in warmer areas, but they'll likely form flowers after going through the cold season."

• Zones: 6 to 9
• Size: up to 3 feet tall
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Beans

Both Irish-Hanson and Ghafari recommend beans of all types for beginners. "There are so many wonderful beans to try growing!" says Irish-Hanson. "Pole beans grow vertically, while bush beans grow without the need for trellising or support."

Ghafari recommends the latter in particular, noting that you can simply plant the seeds in early summer, and you'll have a fruitful harvest in just a few weeks. "Beans are a fairly quick crop," Irish-Hanson adds. "You can plant seeds a few times during the growing season for a continuous harvest."

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Size: 2 to 3 feet wide x 2 to 15 feet tall
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Swiss Chard

Irish-Hanson loves Swiss chard because it's easy to grow and adds a beautiful splash of color to your garden. "You can choose from a variety of warm colors like red, pink, and gold," she says. "They grow well in a range of soil pH and tolerate some warmer temperatures that cause other greens to bolt." Swiss chard is ready to harvest about 50 to 60 days after planting.

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Size: 9 to 18 inches wide x 8 to 24 inches tall
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is a great beginner pick for those who live in northern regions where the ground freezes in winter. "It can be successfully grown in various soil types and conditions, and it will multiply year after year," says Irish-Hanson. "Not only are the stalks delicious raw or in baked goods, but the plants also add a great coarse leaf texture to the garden." Plant it in early spring, and it can then be harvested for up to eight years.

• Zones: 2 to 8
• Size: 3 feet wide x 2 to 4 feet tall
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil