5 best vegetables to grow from seed
Best Vegetables to Grow From Seed
What are the best vegetables to grow from seed? I’ve got five favorites I recommend to most new food gardeners. What makes these five the best vegetables to grow from seed? It’s subjective, of course, and I change my mind often on this very subject. BUT… these five vegetables are great choices for food gardeners because they are EASY TO GROW, NUTRITIOUS, and help to save money at the grocery store. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced gardener, these vegetables are sure to be a hit in your home garden.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a favorite vegetable to grow for many food gardeners because they are relatively easy to grow and can produce a large harvest in a small amount of space. Also very important, fresh tomatoes can be expensive at the grocery store these days and aren’t always readily available in some places. Having a fresh supply of tomatoes in your home means not having to rely on what’s available at the grocery store.
Grow tomatoes in your backyard, in a raised bed, in grow bags or in containers. There are big 7′ tall varieties like Beefmaster, and 8″ tall dwarf varieties like Dwarf Red Robin, different shapes and sizes and colors… over 10,000 varieties of tomatoes to choose to grow! No matter where you live, what time of the year it is, or what space limitations you may have, there is a solution that will allow you to grow tomatoes at home.
I grow Dwarf Red Robin tomatoes in a 6″ self-watering plastic planter in my kitchen with a halo grow light. Outside, I grow lots of varieties including Floradade, Yellow Pear, San Marzano, Golden Jubilee and more! Tomatoes are my absolute FAVORITE vegetable (actually a fruit) to grow, and I grow them all year long!!!
Peppers
Growing peppers is similar to tomatoes, in that they are fairly easy to grow no matter what challenge you may face. There are big bell peppers, smaller poblano peppers and tiny hot peppers and everything in between! There are over 7500 varieties of peppers to choose to grow. Grow them outside, inside, on a balcony or patio. Got space limitations or want to grow a hot pepper plant on your kitchen countertop?
I grow habanera peppers in a 6″ self-water plastic pot on my kitchen countertop using a halo grow light, and you can too! I grow poblano and bell peppers on my back patio in grow bags. And I just planted some serrano pepper seeds… I’ll let you know how it goes!
Carrots
Carrots are a tasty and nutritious root vegetable that is easy to grow from seed. They are a good source of beta carotene, fiber, and other important nutrients. Carrots can be eaten raw or cooked and can be used in a variety of dishes, such as salads, soups, and roasted vegetables. And carrots can be stored in your refrigerator for weeks!
My favorite variety of carrots to grow is Danvers. Use a container that’s at least 12″ deep. This variety is resistant to lots of challenges that other carrot varieties face. They taste great and they are easy to grow!
Beans
Beans, both pole and bush varieties, are another easy-to-grow vegetable that is popular among food gardeners. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and other important nutrients and can be eaten fresh or cooked. Bush beans, as the name suggests, grow without needs as much support as the pole varieties. But most beans grow pretty quick and easy.
I like to grow bush beans next to my tomato plants, using the same tomato cages for support. My favorite bush bean variety is the Royal Burgundy but I usually grow the tri-blend sold by Burpee so there’s more of a color and taste variety.
Salad Greens
There are so many varieties of lettuce and salad greens to choose from! Buttercrunch lettuce is a favorite for many new food gardeners because it grows fast and makes great salads! Find a good variety for your plant zone plus the season you plan to grow it in… or consider growing some in a container inside your home! Lettuce and salad greens can be grown successfully indoors when using a grow light.
Tip: harvest (cut off leaves) when leaves are young for sweeter “baby greens”. Cut from the bottom and your plant will continue to grow more leaves for you! Plant lettuce or salad green seeds every 2 or 4 weeks to keep a fresh supply of greens available at all times!
My favorite way to grow greens is in large pots on my patio. See what’s currently growing on my back patio (below)! To my surprise, the first time I planted seeds from a salad greens variety pack I realized there was the most delicious types of lettuce and greens all mixed in together, including horseradish! What a fantastic spicy surprise added to the mix of different greens. Both the “Salad Bowl Lettuce” and salad greens variety mix grow fast and quite easily with an abundance of fresh leaves to cut off each day.
