The Best Crops for Beginning Gardeners

Beginner-Friendly Vegetables

Some of the best crops for beginners are also incredibly delicious when homegrown.

Peppers and Tomatoes: Many gardeners I know got started with tomatoes and peppers. These resilient veggies are easy plants for new gardeners that help establish good habits of regular watering and feeding. They thrive with proper care and plenty of sunlight, whether in a container on your patio or in a small garden bed. Plus, the rewards are amazing!
Leafy Greens: Kale, lettuce, spinach, arugula, and Swiss chard make up our Leafy Greens Seed Collection. They grow quickly and are simple to maintain, even in small spaces and containers. Microgreens are also beginner-friendly crops with a super fast turnaround.
Root Vegetables: Some of our favorite root veg for new gardeners include radishes, carrots, and beets because they’re quick to mature and tolerant of different conditions. They’re also great for learning about soil texture and spacing.
Beans or Peas: Remember your school days of watching a lima bean grow? Beans and peas require minimal upkeep but will reward novice gardeners with quick growth and high yield. They’re also a fun intro to trellising and other types of simple support.
Cucumbers, Squash, and Zucchini: These vining crops are great for new gardeners with outdoor space. They produce high yields and rapid growth. There are even dwarf varieties of cucumbers and squash that will grow happily on patios or in containers.

Herb Gardens for Novices

Nothing is as flavorful as freshly picked herbs, but they’re hard to find and ridiculously expensive at the grocery store. If you only have space and energy for one type of garden, make it an herb garden. The rewards are immense.

Basil: Pair those tomatoes with a pot of basil! There are many lovely basil varieties that just need a sunny windowsill or garden bed and regular watering to thrive. These easy-growing plants teach beginners the basics of pruning, too.
Chives: These herbs can tolerate less light than many other plants, so chives can be grown indoors or outdoors with ease. They’ll come back year after year without you having to do much of anything. Our Chives Collection gives you two tasty options for twice the fun!
Parsley: Hardy and resilient, parsley is another herb that’s perfect for pots or garden beds. This moderately cold-tolerant herb can survive chilly weather or be brought indoors if your winters are particularly harsh. Parsley reseeds easily, providing a steady supply of fresh garnish and flavor.
Mint: Vigorous and fast-growing, mint’s only drawback may be its enthusiastic nature and easy spread. However, I’ve never found that to be a problem, as it can easily be contained in a pot to prevent it from taking over the garden.
Cilantro: Easy to grow in cool weather, cilantro provides fresh flavor for salsas and garnishes. It does tend to bolt in the heat of summer. To continue to enjoy cilantro year-round, plant it in succession or even try growing it indoors.
Lemon Balm: A fragrant, calming herb, lemon balm is easy to grow from seed and thrives in containers or garden beds. As a member of the mint family, it spreads aggressively given the right conditions.
Oregano: Drought-tolerant oregano is another beginner-friendly herb that everyone should grow. It’s a perennial in warm climates and adaptable to various growing conditions.

Growing Your First Flower Garden

Some people just want to grow food, but don’t neglect the soul food of beauty. Flowers brighten up your garden with a splash of color and also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which can in turn improve the productivity of your vegetables and herbs.

Marigolds: These hardy, vibrant flowers brighten up the garden while protecting vegetables from pests like aphids and nematodes. Marigolds also make excellent companion plants for tomatoes and peppers.
Zinnias: Colorful and cheerful, zinnias are low-maintenance flowers that seem to thrive on neglect. They prefer sunny spots and are excellent for attracting pollinators. They also make great cut flowers.
Sunflowers: With a wide range of colors and sizes, sunflowers are a reliable, kid-friendly favorite. Leave some blooms up after the season is over to feed the birds! Sunflowers also are great for cut flowers.
Calendula: These simple, pretty flowers thrive in various conditions and have a long blooming period. If your summers are hot like mine in Alabama, you may find your calendula stops blooming in June or so. Mine surprised me with a second show after the weather cooled off this October.
Nasturtiums: Easy to grow nasturtium produces edible leaves and flowers with a peppery flavor similar to arugula. They’re also great companion plants, drawing pests away from vegetables and attracting hummingbirds to your garden.
Cosmos: These flowers may look delicate, but don’t be fooled. Cosmos seeds are easy to start and the plants are tough! These drought-tolerant flowers thrive as long as they get plenty of sunshine.
Pansies: Colorful pansies provide a cool weather option that provides some of the year's first blooms. These cold-hardy, low-maintenance plants are ideal for containers and garden beds alike.

Starting a garden is a fun adventure that can lead to a lifetime of rewards. Picking beginner-friendly seed varieties can help novice gardeners experience quick success, helping them develop confidence as they learn. Whether you’re starting your first garden or gifting seeds to inspire someone else, there are many versatile, resilient options for every type of garden. Our vegetable, herb, and flower seed collections are curated with the new gardener in mind, and we’ve even designed our seed packets to give you at-a-glance info with all the most important details on the back. Shop our seed collections today and start growing!