Easiest Seeds To Grow For Beginners
When I first started gardening I had no clue you could start vegetable seeds in July. Did you know there are easy vegetable seeds you can start in July?! And they just happen to be the easiest seeds to grow for beginners, too!
I used to purchase my veggie plants in May, watch them grow all spring and summer, then I’d pick the bounty in August or September. I’d then wait patiently for the next year so I could repeat the process.
If you’re anything like I was, then you’re missing out! There is a whole world of succession planting out there for you to dive into. But instead of doing that, we are going to keep it simple. Because really, why overcomplicate things?
Today we are going to talk about the easiest vegetable seeds you can grow in July for beginners . I’m talking popping seeds directly in the soil and walking away. Okay so you actually have to water them every day, maybe twice a day if it’s really hot and you haven’t had rain. But really, it’s super easy!
Let’s talk about my favorites and why they’re my faves – – 1) We actually eat them and 2) They are very successful with very little skill. My kind of garden!
Easy Vegetable Seeds to Grow in Summer for Beginners
My go to easy vegetable seeds in the summer are carrots, sugar snap peas, beans (lots of types but I prefer bush beans) and zucchini.
There is a general rule of thumb that you want to plant seeds twice as deep as the seed. So when all else fails, go that route. To plant zucchini, beans and peas, simply press the seed into the soil about 1″, cover with dirt, and water. Keep the soil moist until the seed germinates a.k.a. until it starts to show a little green set of leaves above the soil surface.
Sugar Snap Pea Seeds
You can space about 1″ apart and you’ll need a trellis/obelisk. Most peas want to climb something. They are pretty cool to watch and my kids will eat these straight out of the garden.
Bean Seeds
Beans, on average, claim to want about 18″. I space mine more like 9″, but I’m not saying that’s right, it’s just what I do! Also, the rabbits eat these, so keep that in mind (I may have lost all but 1 plant to rabbits).
Zucchini Seeds
Zucchini get huge! Like 3′. So give your zucchini several feet. I usually overcrowd mine and have to rip a plant out. I decide who gets whacked based on my needs at that time. Survival of the fittest!
I like to put 3 seeds in the ground a few inches apart just so I can guarantee myself I’m getting at least 1 plant. If all 3 grow, sometimes I’ll move the extras to an open spot in the garden. However, most people will recommend just cutting the weakest/smallest seedling out. Zucchini aren’t known to like their roots messed with, so it’s safest to leave the biggest/strongest looking seedling and cut out the rest. However, I transplant them with no problems.
Carrot Seeds
As for carrots, I usually plant these about 1/4″ deep in rows about 3″ apart. Once they come up I’ll start to thin them (pull out the extras) because carrots need about 1″ to grow, so they can form into a carrot.
Radish Seeds
I guess I should add that a crazy simple and quick vegetable to grow, especially for beginners, is radish. They are super fast and satisfying to watch grow. The down side is they are crazy disgusting. I apologize if you enjoy them. Watching my kids spit them out with horror was actually amusing as I too may have had radish pieces flying from my mouth. Holy moly are they gross! I’ll try to be an adult and like them – – next year. But if you want success, radish is a winner! Gross, but a winner.
Easiest Seeds to Grow for Beginners at Home
These are some of the easiest seeds to grow as beginners, and right in your own backyard. The most important thing to remember is to water your seeds after planting until they emerge from the ground. Then it’s not as crucial. I’m notorious for skipping water days, but if I really want a seed to survive I will water every day…mostly.
So next summer, hold onto some vegetable seeds and start your second (or third if you’re really on it!) crop of plants in July. You’ll be amazed at the growth!
And guess what – – we can start lettuce in August! I’ll keep you posted when I plant my lettuce seeds.
Let me know if you grow successions of veggie crops. I’d love to know your favorites! Any radish lovers out there?
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