Simple Crops You Can Grow Yourself

Organic vegetables are booming because of their health benefits, but organic food is not cheap. If you have a house with a garden, it's time to start growing your own vegetables. Here are a few simple crops that most people can grow.

Note: You can get good results by having a soil test done at a local nursery.

Beans

Beans can be grown with or without a support pole. Beans grow upward rather than outward, so using poles saves space. Blue Lake and Kentucky Wonder are good choices. Harvest frequently to grow your crop. Runner beans will grow upward against any fence. Scarlet runner beans are gorgeous as well as tasty. If you have plenty of space and don't want to use posts or fences, try bush beans.

Beets

Try varieties such as Early Wonder or Golden. Tender beet greens can be used in salads and tender young beets can be eaten raw. When fully ripe, they can be roasted or peeled.


Carrots grow in most soils and work well in container gardens. The Sam Bellina variety is sweet, tender, and hardy.

Green

There are many vegetables that are suitable for eating. Some of the most common ones that are easy to grow and can be used in salads and cooking are as follows

Collard Greens
Dandelion
Mustard Greens
Lettuce

There are many different varieties of lettuce with different colors and growth cycles. Aim for lettuce with fluffy leaves like New Red Fire or Little Gem. They can also be grown in containers.

Onions

Onions can be planted in sets (small onions) and grow into a hearty vegetable suitable for soups, salads, and stews.



Snap peas and snow peas are healthy, tasty, and fast growing. They prefer cooler climates and are ready to harvest in about two months.

Peppers

Bell peppers come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. They are rich in vitamins (including vitamin C) and are thought to improve a variety of health conditions, including arthritis. You can use them in Italian and Mexican dishes.

Easy varieties to try include banana peppers and miniature jingle bell peppers, both of which have a short growing cycle. Jalapeños also grow quickly, but be careful to harvest them carefully or cut them correctly, or you may burn your hands.

Pumpkin

Pumpkins are tasty, nutritious, and very easy to grow. Some of the smaller varieties with high yields include Baby Boo and Jack Be Little. If the kids want a pumpkin for Halloween, try Sugar Pumpkin, it makes the best pie.

Radish

This red and white salad vegetable is easy to grow from early spring to late summer and is best eaten when young. They grow quickly and are easy to harvest. Varieties such as Cherry Bell and Easter Egg are recommended.

Spinach

Spinach is a superfood and is one of the best crops to grow along with lettuce. It prefers a cool climate and sandy soil.

Tomatoes

Cherry and grape tomatoes are very easy to grow and beautiful to look at.

Choose your favorite one from this list and grow it. Enjoy the harvest.