Starting your own garden can be exciting and rewarding, especially for first-time gardeners. We’ve discussed planning your garden’s layout in this previous blog post. It’s time to choose which vegetables to grow for the upcoming gardening season. The good news is that many vegetables are easy to grow and perfect for beginners. In this post, we will introduce 7 beginner-friendly vegetables along with their growing instructions and pests you should expect that will help you feel confident and ready to start gardening:
1. Lettuce
Lettuce, a versatile and easy-to-grow vegetable, is a must-have for every garden. With a variety of types to choose from, it can thrive in almost any location, making it an ideal addition to your garden.
Planting Lettuce
Boost your lettuce germination by soaking the seeds in cool water for 16–24 hours in a well-lit area before sowing. Keeping the environment moist is the key to ensuring the soil never dries out. (1) Once the roots have developed and branched out, transplant the lettuce seedlings to your garden. Space the seedlings about 25 cm apart in rows. Store-bought rooted lettuce can be kept in water for a few days to encourage root growth and then moved into containers or pots.
Caring for Lettuce
Light: A partially sunny spot is best for summer varieties, but it’s also essential to keep them cool to avoid leaves from wilting under the sun.
Water: Lettuce needs a lot of water to remain healthy and produce sweet-tasting leaves.
Temperature: Lettuce prefers cool temperatures between 10–20 degrees Celsius.
Fertilizing: Apply a mixture of 1 teaspoon of Nurture Growth Biofertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
Harvesting Lettuce
There are 2 ways to harvest lettuce: harvest the leaves from the outside first, and continue to harvest leaves as needed, or harvest the whole heads by pulling them up entirely from the ground. Remember, it’s crucial not to pick from the center of the lettuce, as this part is vital for the lettuce head to continue growing.
Common Problems and Pests for Lettuce
Lettuce is susceptible to many pests, including Aphids, Cutworms, Slugs, Snails, Whiteflies, and animals like rabbits, mainly when grown in outdoor garden beds. Try companion planting or spraying mild insecticidal soap onto the leaves to avoid common pests. Lettuce could also start bolting when it’s in warm temperatures. When lettuce bolts, the plant produces a central stem, leaving the unharvested taste bitter.
2. Kale
Kale is an easy-to-grow leafy green in the cabbage family and is available in multiple varieties. Like lettuce, kale continues to grow when harvested, making it another popular leafy green to plant.
Planting Kale
Kale grows well in larger spaces and raised garden beds as they need lots of space for their leaves to expand outwards. If planting seeds, sow ¼ to ½ inches deep into well-drained light soil. After about 2 weeks of growth, thin out the seedlings and space them between 8 to 12 inches apart (2). If you transplant kale, plant them so the roots are approximately ½ inch deep or the root ball is level with the top of the soil, and space them out between 18 to 24 inches apart.
Caring for Kale
Light: Ample sunlight is needed to speed up growth, but must have afternoon shade, or the leaves may wilt.
Water: Regular watering is vital to keep the soil moist and helps keep the leaves crisp and sweet.
Temperature: Kale thrives in cooler temperatures. 16-21 degrees Celsius is ideal, though growing in the frost will sweeten the leave.
Soil: Add mulch to the soil to keep weed growth to a minimum and keep the soil cool.
Fertilizing: Apply a mixture of 2 teaspoons of Nurture Growth Biofertilizer to the soil before planting them and continue to fertilize regularly every two weeks.
Harvesting Kale
You will know it’s time to harvest kale when the leaves grow to about the size of your palm. Removing any damaged or yellow leaves first and starting your harvest with the oldest leaves is essential. Like lettuce, do not pick from the center of the plant, as this part helps to continue plant growth. Instead, harvest from the outside and pick inwards.
Common Problems and Pests for Kale
Kale is prone to pests that are common with the cabbage family such as slugs, aphids, and cabbageworm.
3. Tomato
Tomatoes are an excellent choice for first-time gardeners because they are relatively easy to grow and require minimal care. Their fast-growing nature also allows gardeners to see results quickly, boosting confidence and providing a satisfying harvest.
Planting Tomato
There are two ways to grow tomatoes: directly from the seed or through starter plants from nurseries. If you start tomatoes from seeds in the winter, plant them about 4 weeks before the last frost date (9). Prepare or harden off your tomato seedlings outdoors and 2 weeks after the last frost date, transplant to a sunny garden or balcony. Before planting, make sure the soil is mixed with our biofertilizer to ensure it is packed with essential nutrients. Dig the holes about a foot deep and plant your seedling or starter plant at least 2 feet apart or in separate containers. Add support stakes or trellis if you are growing vine tomatoes.
Caring for Tomato
Light: Tomatoes need plenty of sunlight for quick growth.
Water: Water regularly for moist soil and increased root development.
Temperature: Tomatoes like warm weather and mild levels of humidity.
Fertilizing: Apply a mixture of 2 teaspoons of Nurture Growth Biofertilizer to the soil before planting tomatoes and continue to fertilizer regularly every two weeks.
Harvesting Tomato
Tomatoes will be ready to be harvested when they are bright in colour, depending on their variety (orange, yellow, purple, or another rainbow shade) and their size will vary. If you pick them unripe, it’s important not to place them on a sunny windowsill to ripen them as they will rot instead.
Common Problems and Pests for Tomatoes
Blossom-end Rot: Caused by calcium deficiency which occurs because of fluctuations in moisture. Apply mulch to prevent evaporation.
Early or Late Blight: A fungal disease due to persistent damp weather. Controlling humidity or destroying infected leaves are the best measures to save an infected plant.
Fusarium Wilt: A fungal disease that causes the yellowing and wilting of plants.
Cracking: Occurs when the skin of a fruit cracks due to uneven watering or moisture from extreme weather conditions.
Mosaic Virus: Distorts leaves and causes new growth to be narrow and twisted. The leaves become mottled with yellow, white, or dark green spots, creating a mosaic-like pattern. It’s spread through pests like aphids, and the damaged plant must be destroyed.
4. Pepper
Peppers come in sweet or hot varieties. If they get enough sunlight, they can be grown indoors or outdoors. They grow well in containers and garden beds and do not need much space.
Planting Peppers
If you are sowing peppers by seed, allow them to grow indoors into seedlings for about 10 weeks before transplanting them from nursery planters. The seedlings should be planted about an inch deep in warm soil. Pinch off early shoots to encourage better and bushier growth. Some varieties need additional support, like stakes or trellising.
Caring for Pepper
Light: Pepper needs lots of sunlight for healthy growth and ripe fruits.
Water: Use deep water, approximately 1-2 inches every week. It’s ideal to let the soil dry out between watering.
Temperature: Peppers prefer warmer weather as they grow much faster compared to cooler temperatures.
Fertilizing: Apply a mixture of 2 teaspoons of Nurture Growth Biofertilizer to the soil before planting them and continue to fertilizer regularly every two weeks.
Harvesting Peppers
All pepper varieties can be harvested as soon as they reach a usable size. Since most varieties change colours when they reach maturity, you can wait up to 2 to 4 weeks for peppers to fully ripe shades of yellow, orange, red, and even purple. Mature peppers are also sweeter and have a higher Vitamin C content. Rather than pulling from the stem, it’s imperative that peppers should be harvested using scissors to avoid stress. Consistently harvesting your peppers will encourage the plant to produce more fruit throughout the season.
Common Pepper Pests and Problems
Cutworms: Affect younger plants at the stem. Check your local garden center for cutworm collars.
Aphids: Spread viruses and cause more mature plants to develop crinkled leaves. Plant nasturtiums away from peppers to trick aphids into attacking nasturtiums.
Blossom-end Rot: Caused by calcium deficiency.
Fungal infections: Causes yellow or dark spots on the leaves and lead to plant rot.
5. Zucchini
Zucchini squash thrives in the summer and is easy to grow, harvest, and use in the kitchen. As a member of the squash family, it will need quite a bit of space to grow.
Planting Zucchini
Plant the seeds about an inch deep, 2 feet apart. Alternatively, they can be planted in mounds in clusters 3 to 5 feet apart. If you plan to grow this when the weather is cold, plant the seeds indoors about 2-3 weeks before the last frost date. Prepare the soil with a mixture of Nurture Growth Biofertilizer before planting seeds to add nutrients for root growth. Zucchinis are heavy feeders and need as much help as possible for healthy growth.
Caring for Zucchini
Light: Zucchinis need a sunny spot that is also sheltered from the wind.
Water: Consistent and regular watering is vital for better-quality fruit. The soil should remain moist 4 inches into the ground.
Temperature: Zucchinis don’t prefer cold or a lot of heat. They do well in mildly warm or cool temperatures.
Fertilizing: Apply a mixture of 1 teaspoon of Nurture Growth Biofertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
Harvesting Zucchini
It’s important to watch your zucchinis when they are near their harvesting date. Generally, zucchinis are to be harvested when fruits are 5-7 inches long. However, they tend to grow fast overnight, significantly when rain has fallen the night before. They are the most tender when young, so it’s best not to let them over-ripe on the plant. Like most plants, it’s best to practice cutting from the steam instead of pulling them off the plant.
Common Zucchini Pests and Problems
Squash Bugs: Look at the underside of the leaves and pick off the eggs.
Powdery Mildew: A type of fungal disease that is a common problem that can be avoided by watering the plant’s base.
Blossom-end Rot: Caused by calcium deficiency, which occurs because of fluctuations in moisture. Apply mulch to prevent evaporation.
Squash Vine Borers: Feed on stems, causing them to rot and wilt. Use row covers as protection.
6. Carrot
Carrots are a great option if you are itching to plant as soon as the snow starts to melt. They grow well in cool weather and are compact, making them perfect for beginner gardeners with limited space in raised beds, containers, or garden plots.
Growing Carrots
You can begin planting carrot seedlings or sowing carrot seeds as soon as the soil can be worked on in the Spring or two to three weeks before the last frost (3). It’s important to space out your carrot seeds to give their roots room to grow. Plant seeds 1/4 inch below the soil’s surface as evenly as possible between 2-3 inches apart. Tomatoes are the perfect companion plant for carrots as they provide shade to carrots, which are sensitive to heat. They also offer a natural repellent to insects called solanine, which kills insects that could potentially harm the carrots (4).
Caring for Carrot
Light: Even though the roots are growing underground, the foliage needs full sun to partial shade for the carrot roots to multiply and develop their sugars. It needs 6-8 hours of sun a day, with little shade in the afternoon (5).
Water: Water your carrots with at least one inch of water weekly. Mulching will help conserve water and keep the soil cool.
Temperature: Carrots grow best when nighttime temperatures reach 12 degrees Celsius and daytime temperatures reach 24 degrees Celsius on average.
Soil: Carrots thrive in loose, well-drained soil. It must also be free of rocks and clumps, as this will affect the growth of the carrot
Fertilizing: Since carrots are grown for their roots, don’t go overboard with nitrogen fertilizer, which mainly aids foliage growth. Feed our Nurture Growth Biofertilizer every two weeks after the carrot tops have emerged.
Harvesting Carrots
Since carrots grow underground, it is harder to tell when they are ready to harvest. Based on the variety, you can know if they are ready when the top of the diameter reaches a certain amount. You can also check your seed packets just to be safe! The true test is to lift one of the carrots and give it a taste. Immature carrots will be bland because they cannot develop their full sweetness. Often, sweetness develops when the crop has been through frost. Remove the leaves immediately after harvesting. The leaves will continue to take energy and moisture from the roots, leaving them limp and lessening the sweetness of your carrots (5).
Common Carrot Pests and Problems
Nematodes: A type of microscopic worm that can become a problem later in the season, causing badly deformed roots. To avoid pests, grow your carrots under row covers or garden fabric.
Animals: Deer, groundhogs, rabbits, opossums, and several other animals will eat the tops of the carrots. They may dig deeper to reach the carrot. Adding fencing is an effective method.
7. Radish
If you want to grow something quick and easy, consider radishes. They are an excellent choice because they are often ready to harvest in just 3 to 4 weeks, which means you can see the results of your efforts almost immediately!
Growing Radish
Radishes thrive in cool weather and can be grown in small spaces, making them ideal for gardens, containers, or windowsills. They are planted as soon as the soil can be worked on in the Spring. Ensure the seeds are planted ½ inches deep and 1 inch apart in the row (6). Begin to thin the radishes when the roots start expanding.
Caring for Radish
Sun: Radishes prefer full sun but grow well in partial shade, too. In hot climates, they will prefer full shade at the height of summer (7).
Water: Having damp soil is key, so consistent watering is encouraged. Adding mulch will help conserve water and keep the soil cool.
Temperature: Radishes grow well under cooler temperatures.
Soil: Loose, well-drained soil free of rocks and weeds.
Fertilizing: Feed our Nurture Growth Biofertilizer every two weeks during the growing process.
Harvesting Radish
When you see the tops sticking out from the soil, you will know your radish is ready to harvest. Pull radishes when young and tender because if left in the ground for too long, they get too tough to eat. Wash the radishes and place them in the refrigerator. They will keep for 2 to 3 weeks or until the next planting is ready for harvest (8).
Common Pests and Problems for Radish
Since radishes mature so quickly, there are usually no diseases.
Start Growing!
Starting your garden can be daunting, but it all starts with planning. If you want to grow a vegetable that requires minimal care and fast results, consider growing radishes, lettuce, tomatoes, and spinach. If you want to enjoy your harvest earlier in the season, Carrots and kale are easy to start but they should be planted when the soil is ready to break through in the Spring.
Using our biofertilizer in the soil before planting seeds will ensure it is packed with the necessary nutrients for your vegetables to grow. For a full list of fertilizer amount applications, check it out here. As the garden season approaches, it's time to decide which vegetables to cultivate. Choosing the right crops can make all the difference! What will you plant to ensure a thriving garden this year?
Ready to get your garden started? Check out our biofertilizer designed to give your plants the best start. Get started on their gardening journey!
About the Blogger:
Freda is a Toronto-based social media and digital marketer. New to the plant world, she is looking forward to learning all the tips and tricks on how to keep her plant babies thriving! If she's not walking her maltipoo Leo, you can find her practicing yoga or enjoying live music.
References:
Garden Guide: How to Grow Lettuce From Seed. https://sustainablegardeningnews.com/grow-lettuce-seed/
How To Harvest Kale - 5 Easy Steps. https://harvestingguy.com/how-to-harvest-kale/
How to Grow and Care for Carrots. https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-carrots-in-the-vegetable-garden-1403472
Growing Carrots: The Beginner's Guide to Raising the Perfect Carrots. https://morningchores.com/growing-carrots/
How to Grow and Care for Carrots. https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-carrots-in-the-vegetable-garden-1403472
What Are the Best Vegetables to Grow in Raised Garden Beds? https://www.ollegardens.com/blogs/news/what-are-the-best-vegetables-to-grow-in-raised-garden-beds
Radishes: Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Radishes | The Old Farmer's Almanac. https://www.almanac.com/video/how-grow-radishes-planting-harvest
Growing Radish in Ontario - Gardening in Ontario. https://ontariogardening.ca/radish/
What to Plant in March - Seeds and Transplants for Spring Gardens. https://www.imperfectlyhappy.com/plant-in-march/
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