10 Easiest Vegetables to Grow in the Backyard Garden

This list was compiled based on our gardening and growing experience in and around the Great Lakes.  All of these seeds will grow wonderfully there and many will continue that way further up north.  The criteria used had to do with the amount of work involved in the plant, it's potential growing problems, and its yield.  Nothing is set in stone and many of these can be moved around and many can be added.

10. Garlic - Garlic is such a fascinating plant to grow.  The seeds are planted about a half inch into the soil in the winter or fall with a harvest appearing in the summer.  They will produce a vigorous amount of seed for next year.  The best thing is they require very little spacing constraints, allowing them to be planted within just a couple of inches of each other.

9. Herbs - The fun thing about most herbs are that they can be scattered.  Try experimenting with various herbs, sowing some just below the soil, other right on top, and some deep.  You will receive a variety of harvest that many gardeners dream of!  Especially of ease are Chamomile, Wormwood, Dill, and Oregano.

8. Tomatoes and Peppers - These ones will take a little patience as they must be planted before the summer to ensure they produce fruit (because they are so slow).  Sow several seeds on a mound to ensure germination and thin out accordingly as they reach the proper size.  Both are vigorous producers and more than pay for themselves with such great harvests!

7. Beets - Beets are very similar to turnips in the way they are planted.  The only issue would be potential pests bothering with the leaves, even then, they still produce vigorous roots to eat.

6. Cucumber and Squash - The fun thing about these two is that they just require a little mound of soil before planting.  Gathering some quality soil to make a mound up to a foot high, and 3 feet wide, sow seeds, watering every other day.  In just a month the gardener usually has more than they needed! For an equally easier and arguably tastier treat try the Lemon Cucumber!

5. Peas and Beans - These exciting little wonders can be planted in small holes aligned in rows in the garden.  They do wonders on a trellis, fence, or netting but if planted together in rows they will work together and support each other.  Virtually no pests to worry about on these little guys!  Try the Little Marvel and

4. Onions - Just below the surface (1/2 an inch) onion seeds require little to no work, just watering.  Depending on the size of onion the gardener is growing spacing will be from 2-4 inches apart.

3. Carrots - Depending on the size carrot used, they can be spaced an inch to several inches apart, placing a couple of seeds in each hole, only about 3/4 of an inch deep.  They mature quickly and progressively require less and less watering.  For added variety give the Little Fingers a try!

2. Radishes - These simple little seeds are placed 1/2 an inch below the surface at the most and should be spaced about 1 inch apart.  The wonderfully easy thing about these is that they can be grown multiple times throughout the year.  They are ready to pick in just a couple of weeks!  They rarely ever have pests either!

1. Lettuces - Lettuce is the easiest garden seed to grow by far!  They are best planted just below the surface, either systematically in rows or scattered in a specific area to enjoy a great mix at a time!  They love cooler days of summer and morning watering.  With lettuce there are little to no pest to worry about and the gardener will receive a bountiful harvest once a week if planted in May.  Check out some of our favorite gourmet lettuces, Grand Rapids, Prizehead, Black Seeded Simpson, Parris Island Romaine, Royal Red.

If you have any specific questions about growing anything available in the Turtle Island Botanicals web store, just ask!  We are always more than willing to help out!