There is a space in front of your house that can be transformed into your dream vegetable garden. However, you worry about choosing the right vegetables to grow. Will the selected plants suit the size of your garden?
Are you ready to turn your garden into a treasure trove of healthy and delicious food?
Should You Plant Vegetables From Transplants or Seeds?
Sometimes it is more convenient to buy an already young plant (“transplant”) and plant it in your garden.
There are plants that grow better that way than when you plant them yourself from seed. For example, tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers, as tender vegetables, belong to this group.
When it comes to planting from seed there are obvious advantages, such as:
- Seeds are much more versatile than transplants.
- Crops that do not tolerate transplanting best, such as melons, corn, peas, beans, and squash, are best grown from seed.
- The seeds are cheaper. They can be stored somewhere in your house for years before you decide to use them.
- By planting from seed, you can be sure that your plant is healthy from the very beginning.
List of the Best Vegetables to Grow in the Garden
There is nothing better than vegetables you have grown yourself in your garden. So you can be sure your food does not have pesticides or any additional harmful substances that you find in vegetables from the store and that it is 100% organic.
The list of vegetables that follows is by no means definitive. Here are suggestions that can encourage and inspire you to plant. However, the best vegetables for your garden are the ones you and your family like to eat the most.
1. Lettuce
Lettuce grows well when planted from seed. It can grow very nicely in pots. Cooler temperatures suit this plant best. The harvest should be when the leaves are few centimeters long.
Lettuce is rich in vitamins A and K, it also contains iron and folate. People mostly use lettuce for salads, and it can also be found in sandwiches or soups.
Planting time: for fall harvest, early spring or late summer.
2. Tomatoes
Tomatoes can grow in a smaller space, even on your balconies. You can plant the seeds yourself or buy a transplant, the plant will thrive. Tomatoes like warm weather. It takes 12 weeks to harvest.
People love to eat tomatoes, raw or cooked (in dishes, and sauces). According to the classification they are fruits, but they are used as vegetables.
Tomatoes are rich in vitamins C, B1, E, and carotene. They contain also manganese, potassium, iron, and copper.
Planting time: when the frost has passed.
3. Beans
There are many types of beans. It is best to choose bush beans or pole beans. Bush beans are green and grow on a bushy plant. They are suitable for containers. Pole beans have a climbing habit and require a lot of space.
Plant them by directly inserting the seeds into the ground. Transplants are not recommended.
Beans contain a lot of protein, fiber, antioxidants, complex carbs, copper, manganese, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, and zinc.
Planting time is after the frost.
4. Peppers
The world of peppers is rich in many sweet and hot varieties. They thrive best at high temperatures. Peppers can grow in raised beds, or containers. It is best to use a transplant.
My recommendation is bell peppers. This type of pepper is very rich in nutrients.
Planting time is after the frost.
5. Herbs
You can grow herbs in pots or containers. The best is to plant them from seeds.
It is very gratifying to have fresh herbs with which you can spice up your lunch.
Types of herbs easy to grow are sage, mint, thyme, chives, cilantro, parsley, and dill.
Planting time is the middle of spring.
6.Cucumbers
Cucumbers generally like heat. It is desirable to provide them with some structure for vertical climbing (cage). That way it won’t take up a lot of space in your garden. You can also plant them near the fence which will be a climbing structure.
Planting cucumbers near corn has some benefits. The corn stalks will preserve the heat needed by the cucumbers.
The best choice is to plant cucumbers from seed.
Planting time is after frost.
7. Summer Squash-Zucchini
There are many types of zucchini. It is best to plant them from seed. They are best suited to heat. Keep in mind that summer squash need more space because they grow on vines. Only one plant can give a big harvest.
They are rich in vitamins A, B1, B6, B2, also in Mg, folate, potassium, copper, Ca, Phosphor, zinc, niacin, and protein.
8. Garlic
You should definitely have this vegetable in your garden. Known for its anti-inflammatory effects, it can be used against respiratory infections as a natural remedy. It is often indispensable in dishes because it gives that specific spicy taste.
There are several types. Softneck garlic has multiple overlapping layers and has about 20 cloves. Hardneck Garlic has large cloves and has a more intensive flavor than previous.
Planting time is mid to late fall. The cloves of garlic should be placed on wet cotton wool for several days in order for them to germinate. Make small holes in moist soil, no deeper than 1 inch (3 cm). Put the germinated cloves and cover them with soil.
9. Carrots
This vegetable is rich in beta carotene, which is then converted into vitamin A in our body. In addition to improving our vision, carrots also lowers cholesterol.
In cooking, they are mostly used in soups, but also as a side dish to various dishes. Its orange color makes the plate of food look colorful and tempting to eat. There are also other color variants, from purple to white.
10. Potatoes
We all love to eat potatoes, don’t we?! French fries, baked in the oven, boiled, as an addition to other dishes, potatoes are a favorite dish for both adults and children.In gardens, it is planted at a depth of about 2 inches (6 cm). The tubers should be 9 inches (25 cm) apart in rows.
You can also grow potatoes at home, on the balcony for example. It requires a bigger container, quality seeds (tubers), and loose, well-drained and fertile soil.
Other Vegetables You Can Grow as Well
The space you have for planting can be a large garden near your house or limited smaller space in your yard or even just a balcony. This should not limit you in arranging your garden.
You have a variety of other vegetables at your disposal that might suit you better.
We will mention only a few: strawberries (actually a fruit), swiss chard, kale, eggplant, peas, spinach, scallions, radishes, pumpkins, okra, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, leaf Amaranth, asparagus, basil, and lentils.
Growing Tips
Location
Find a place in your garden or balcony where sunlight is present for at least 6 hours. Vegetables generally thrive well when exposed to sunlight.
Soil
The vegetable garden soil should be rich in organic matter (composted leaves, aged bark) and compost. This soil contains a lot of microorganisms that help the growth of your plant.
Watering
Ideally, vegetables should receive one inch of water per week (including rainfall).
In order for the water to slowly reach the roots, be adequately absorbed and hydrate the soil, it is best to use drip lines and soaker hoses. This method protects the leaves from moisture.
Otherwise, the moisture of the leaves over a long period can bring about various diseases in the plant.
Mulching
Mulching is putting inorganic and organic materials on top of the soil surface for its protection.
It helps to keep your garden healthy and weed-free. Weeds can grow very quickly and disrupt the growth and development of your vegetables.
Mulching also prevents water evaporation. Adding a thicker layer of mulch, allows the soil to be moist for a longer time, so you can reduce watering.
During the summer, mulch helps keep the roots and soil cooler and thus protects your plant from heat waves.
It also protects against many diseases and pesticides that can attack your plant.
Use natural, organic materials that are not heavy and that will break down quickly. You can use compost, hay or straw, grass clippings, newspaper, leaves, sawdust, and pine needles.
Pest Control
Only 3 percent of all insects and other organisms in the garden are harmful. If you carefully followed the previous steps, it is, in most cases, sufficient protection against harmful substances.
It is best not to use pesticides because nature mostly takes care of itself. If you are in a situation where you really want to use pesticides, do it only when necessary, and in the late afternoon.
Pesticides should not be used in the morning when beneficial insects are most abundant, as this will kill them. By doing so, you can do more harm than good to your vegetables.
Fertilizing
Be careful how much fertilizer you use. Do not overdo it! You could provoke plenty of lush green growth and reduce the number of fruits. It could also have a harmful effect on the soil and your plants.
Instead, it is better to use as much organic compost as possible, which will feed your plants in the right way.
Final Word
As you have seen, the above list of Best Vegetables to Grow in the Garden is here to inspire you, get you started and give you an idea of which vegetables you could grow.
Also, by following the mentioned gardening tips, and with a lot of love, your garden will progress and give you the sweetest fruits of your labor. And that is priceless, isn’t it?!
Do you have any other suggestions for vegetables to grow in your garden? Share your opinion that might help others. To join this discussion, please leave a comment.
Wow, how I love fresh grown, chemical free vegetables. I have had many gardens over my lifetime, Grown in raised beds, flat garden spaces as well as garden containers.
You have provided very valuable tips and information on growing vegetables.
We are currently in a ground level apartment in Vancouver, BC where the weather is fairly mild most of the year. We do not have a garden space but could definitely grow a few vegetables in pots outside our front door. You have me thinking about it again, haha. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your comment! Yes, it is best to eat vegetables that you grow yourself. It’s the most delicious. If you have little space, plant vegetables that you can grow in a smaller space. All the best!