10 vegetables to grow in your garden for beginners

1. Potatoes

Potatoes couldn't be more straightforward to grow. Plant them in soil or in a compost bag, cover the early-sprouting leaves with soil when you first catch sight of them, and harvest within a few weeks. Hey presto: never buy chips again!

2. Beetroot

The beauty of beetroot is that it can be sown directly into shallow drills in the soil and will be ready to harvest within a few weeks. A robust root vegetable with minimal labour involved in growing them successfully.

3. Chillis

Chillies absolutely thrive in pots in a warm window or in a sunny spot outside. The hardy pocket rockets will be ripe for picking until the first frost of autumn.

4. Courgette

From just a few plants, it’s possible to harvest a veritable bounty of courgettes. These humble squashes do best in fertile ground and with regular helpings of H20.

5. Lettuce

There’s an endless variety of salad leaves out there that are just perfect for first-time growers. Seed them in pots or in a vegetable patch, water when needed, and you’ll soon see the rewards of your efforts.

6. Kale

The staple of any ultra-healthy superfood smoothie. Kale can be grown in raised garden beds or containers, but don’t expose them to too much heat. It’ll have a disastrous effect on the flavour.

7. Carrots

A great source of vitamin A, these classic root vegetables thrive in soft, well-drained soil. There’s a litany of carrot varieties out there, with a whole range of flavour profiles.

8. Runner Beans

Runner beans are a hugely popular choice in UK gardens...and it’s no secret why. They’re fiendishly simple to grow. All they need is full sun and moderately-rich soil. In a matter of weeks, you’ll have handfuls of vibrant green beans, all rich with vitamin C and vitamin K.

9. Peppers

Like chillies, bell peppers require warm temperatures to grow successfully. So keep them in a greenhouse if necessary. Also be sure that the soil isn’t too moist!

10. Onions

Onions are a great vegetable to grow if you’re looking to get your kids involved. All they need to do is push them into the soil until just the tip sticks out. Wait a few weeks, until the leaves turn yellow and floppy, and they’re ready to harvest. Child’s play!

Posted on July 16th 2021