Gardening for Beginners: 10 Easy to Grow Vegetables and Herbs

If you’re new to gardening, choosing what to grow can feel overwhelming. With so many vegetables, herbs, seeds, tools, and techniques to learn, it’s easy to wonder where to begin.

The good news? You don’t need to grow everything to be a successful gardener. Starting with a few reliable, easy-to-grow crops is one of the best ways to build confidence and gain experience. As you plant, care for, and harvest these beginner-friendly vegetables and herbs, you’ll learn valuable gardening skills that will help you grow more each season.

Getting Started

Before choosing what to plant, pay attention to a few important factors that can make the difference between success and frustration: 

• The soil. Make sure you give plants the best start possible by planting them in good soil. 
  • For my best soil tips and my favorite soil recipe, check out this article.
• Whether to plant seeds or transplants. For the best chance of success, follow the listed recommendations.
  • Read my guide on how to determine whether to plant a crop from seed or transplant for more information.
• When to plant. Planting at the right time will influence your success (or failure) more than any other factor. Learn the zone and frost date for your area. 
  • I’ve created a flower planting guide and a vegetable, herb, and fruit planting guide to help take the guessing out.
• Watering. This is the part that trips up most new gardeners in the desert. Before you plant, it’s worth reading up on how to water raised bed gardens correctly so you’re not guessing once the heat hits.

If you’re just getting started with gardening, this beginner’s guide is a great place to begin. It brings together my most helpful resources for new gardeners and walks you through the first steps to creating a thriving garden. I also recently created a course designed to help new gardeners plant their first raised bed in just 30 days. You can use the knowledge from this article and apply it in the course to create your first dream garden. Learn more about it here.

#1: Radishes

Read this article for more information about how to grow radishes. 

Radishes sprout easily, grow quickly, and are a perfect first seed to grow for new or young gardeners.

• Plant radishes from seed.
  • Get my favorite radish seeds here.
• Radishes prefer cool weather. Plant radishes 2 to 3 weeks before the average date of the last frost in spring. 
• In the low desert of Arizona, plant radishes beginning in September through April. 

#2: Beans

Read this article for more information about how to grow beans. 

Beans are fast growers and do best in warm, moist soil. 

• Plant beans from seed.
  • Get my favorite bean seeds here.
• Look for disease-resistant and stringless varieties. 
• Plant beans after last frost date, when soil begins to warm in the spring.
• In the low desert of Arizona, plant beans from March 15 through April and again from July 15 through mid-September.
• Pick beans often to encourage more production. 

#3: Peas

Read this article for more information about how to grow peas. 

Peas are easy to grow in your garden, and because they normally grow vertically, they provide a high yield in a small growing area.

• Plant peas from seed.
  • Get my favorite pea seeds here.
• Look for disease-resistant varieties.
• Plant peas 4-6 weeks before your last frost date in the spring. 
• In the low desert of Arizona, plant peas from September through February.

#4: Bell peppers

Read this article for more information about how to grow peppers. 

Bell peppers need warm weather to do well. 

• Plant peppers from transplant. 
• Plant peppers once soil temperatures reach 65℉ – usually a few weeks after your frost date. 
• In the low desert of Arizona, plant peppers in the early spring and again in July. 
• Pepper limbs are brittle; provide support to prevent breakage.

#5: Basil

Read this article for more information about how to grow basil. 

One of the most popular herbs to grow, basil is a warm-weather fragrant herb whose flowers attract native bees.

• Plant basil from seed or transplant. 
  • Get my favorite basil seeds here.
• Try different varieties. 
• Prune basil often to encourage a bushy plant and prevent flowering. 
• Plant basil in the spring when nighttime temperatures are above 70℉.

10 Easy to Grow Vegetables and Herbs (cont.)

#6: Swiss chard

Read this article for more information about how to grow Swiss chard. 

Swiss chard grows well in sun or shade, and in mild winter areas can be grown year-round. 

• Plant Swiss chard from seed or transplant. 
  • Get my favorite Swiss chard seeds here.
• Plant Swiss chard 2-3 weeks before your last frost date. 
• In the low desert of Arizona, plant Swiss chard from mid-September through February.
• Try colorful varieties. 
• Harvest leaves from the outside for a perpetual harvest. 

#7: Garlic chives

Read this article for more information about how to grow garlic chives. 

Garlic chives are one of the simplest herbs to grow. The leaves, buds, and white blossoms are all edible. 

• Plant garlic chives from seed or transplant. 
• Plant in the spring. In mild winter areas, garlic chives can also be planted in the fall. 
• Feed at the beginning of each season. 
• Divide plants every 3-4 years. 
• Plants may die back in a freeze, but come back in the spring.

#8: Garlic

Read this article for more information about how to grow garlic. 

Although garlic requires several months to grow, it is simple to grow and great for beginners. 

• Garlic is grown from garlic cloves.
• Plant garlic in late fall, and harvest midsummer. 
• Feed garlic once during the growing season with fish-emulsion. 

#9: Summer squash

Read this article for more information about how to grow summer squash. 

This warm-season crop is a heavy producer. Give it plenty of room and water. 

• Summer squash grows best from seed.
  • Get my favorite summer squash seeds here.
• Plant in the spring after danger of frost has passed.
• In the low desert of Arizona, plant mid-February – April and again from mid-August – September.

#10: Beets

Read this article for more information about how to grow beets. 

Beets are easy to grow, come in many sizes, shapes, and colors, and are grown for their roots as well as greens.

• Start beets from seed. Each beet seed contains 2-3 beets. Thin seedlings when beets are about 3 inches tall. 
  • Get my favorite beet seeds here.
• In cool areas, plant beets 1 month before the last spring frost. Beets tolerate a little frost and near-freezing temperatures.
• In the low desert of Arizona, plant beets from the middle of September through the beginning of March.

Learn how to start a garden in this guide.

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