17 Easiest Vegetables To Grow From Seed - A Beginner's Path To Garden Success!

You still have plenty of time to plan and plant your spring veggie garden! Let’s start with the easiest vegetable crops to grow from seed. These 17 productive and abundant crops germinate from seed quickly and have reliable, no-fuss seedlings. They’re also easy to nurture in your backyard garden – even if you don’t have a luxurious growing setup or a spacious backyard.

Dried pumpkin seeds in a small bowl atop a wooden table.

So – get ready to dig in.

Let’s plant an epic veggie garden!

17 Easiest Veggies To Grow From Seed

We grow some of these reliable garden crops from seed nearly every year. It doesn’t get any easier than these!

1. Acorn Squash

Raw organic golden acorn squash ready to cook and eat.

Acorn squash is an often-neglected garden gem with nutty flavor and versatile culinary uses. Its adorable, symmetrical shape makes it a delightful addition to any garden table. It also has a decent shelf life and can often last around two months if cured and kept in a cool, dark cellar. Plant acorn squash seeds after the last frost in mounds of rich soil.

Mature Height: 1 to 2 feet. Vining spreads 6 to 10 feet.
When To Plant Outside: 1 to 2 weeks after the last frost.
Time Until Harvest: 70 to 100 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 3 to 10. Grown as warm-season annual.

These tasty gourds are lovely for sweet and savory dishes. Split and roast them with maple syrup and cinnamon – and your acorn squash will transform from a humble garden offering to a centerpiece-worthy treat.

2. Spinach

Wicker basket stuffed with delicious spinach from the backyard garden.

Spinach is a prolific cool-season crop that loves cooler temperatures – so it’s perfect for spring and fall gardens.

The tender leaves contain vitamins A, C, and K, antioxidants, magnesium, and iron. Spinach can also tolerate partial shade and can be harvested in around 30 days.

Mature Height: 6 to 12 inches.
When To Plant Outside: 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost. It thrives in cool weather.
Time Until Harvest: 30 to 60 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 2 to 9. Best in spring or fall.

For a quick, flavorful side, try garlicky sautéed spinach. Heat olive oil, toss in minced garlic until fragrant, then add fresh spinach and a pinch of salt. Cook until just wilted, and finish with a squeeze of lemon.

3. Pumpkins

Lovely orange and green pumpkins harvested from the backyard garden.

Pumpkins have many hidden benefits that gardeners can overlook. Pumpkins are among the easiest plants to start from seeds! You can sow them directly outdoors without fuss or start them indoors in growing or peat cups. While their vines tumble for up to 20 feet – they take up very little space in the garden soil – and are great candidates for the corner of a raised garden bed.

Mature Height: 1 to 2 feet. Vines can sprawl 10 to 20 feet.
When To Plant Outside: 2 weeks after the last frost.
Time Until Harvest: 90 to 120 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 3 to 9.

Pumpkins are also delicious and surprisingly versatile in the kitchen. They’re perfect for homemade pies, bread, soups, ravioli, stir-fry, and roasted with your favorite meats or veggies.

4. Kale

Delicious kale leaf cabbage growing in the garden.

Kale deserves a spot on this list because it’s one of the easiest-to-grow superfoods! It is incredibly cold hardy and thrives in the spring or fall. Sow kale seeds 1/4 inch deep around spring or late summer for an extended harvest. The leaves become sweeter when temperatures dip, offering a garden treat deep into fall or early winter.

Mature Height: 12 to 36 inches.
When To Plant Outside: 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost or in late summer for fall.
Time Until Harvest: 50 to 75 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 3 to 10. Tolerates frost.

Kale is another crop with many culinary uses. You can use your garden kale to make homemade chips, dips, soups, stews, smoothies, salads, sandwiches, and stir-fries.

5. Zucchini

Rustic wicker basket stuffed with delicious zucchini from the garden.

Zucchini is another veggie that’s a piece of cake to grow from seeds. Zucchini seeds sprout quickly in warm soil. Sow some in your raised garden beds, or a 20-gallon grow bag. Before you know it, you’ll harvest these delicious gourds daily – with plenty to share!

Mature Height: 2 to 3 feet.
When To Plant Outside: 1 to 2 weeks after the last frost.
Time Until Harvest: 45 to 60 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 3 to 10.

There’s no such thing as leftover zucchini! Try some grilled with Mediterranean herbs, roasted with garlic and lemon, sautéed with cherry tomatoes and basil, baked into cheesy fritters, spiralized as zucchini noodles with pesto sauce, or pickled for a tangy snack.

6. Butternut Squash

Beautiful butternut squash growing in the garden.

Butternut squash offers sweet, nutty flesh that improves with storage after harvest. You can store them for at least a few months – and up to six months. The vines grow and stretch laterally like pumpkin plants while occupying very little garden space, making them perfect for growing bags or raised garden beds.

Mature Height: 1 to 2 feet. The vining habit can spread widely – up to 15 feet.
When To Plant Outside: 2 weeks after the last frost.
Time Until Harvest: 80 to 110 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 3 to 10.

Butternut squash is perfect for roasting with brown sugar and cinnamon, puréeing into creamy soups, mashing with butter and nutmeg, baking into pies and tarts, sautéeing with sage and garlic, or grilling as a side dish.

7. Beets

An epic beet crop harvest sitting on the green grass.

Beets give you two vegetables in one – sweet roots and nutritious greens. Each beet seed ball contains multiple plants, making them economical and prolific. Sow directly in the garden every few weeks for continuous harvests. You can also thin seedlings for baby greens in salads.

Mature Height: 12 to 18 inches.
When To Plant Outside: 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost or in late summer for fall.
Time Until Harvest: 50 to 70 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 2 to 10. It grows best in cool weather.

These ruby jewels paint your salad plate, palate, and sometimes your fingers with their earthy sweetness and regal hue.

8. Cucumbers

A large green cucumber growing in the backyard garden.

Cucumbers grow quickly from seed and deliver refreshing crispness all summer long. Plant seeds in warm soil after frost danger passes. Give them a trellis for straighter gourds and space-saving vertical growth. Regular harvesting encourages plants to keep producing.

Mature Height: 1 to 2 feet. Vines may reach 6 to 8 feet.
When To Plant Outside: 1 to 2 weeks after the last frost.
Time Until Harvest: 50 to 70 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 4 to 11. Warm-season crop.

You can enjoy raw cucumbers as a snack, in salads like Tabbouleh, pickled with dill, mixed with yogurt for tzatziki, or as a refreshing addition to sandwiches and wraps.

9. Turnips

A wooden box stuffed with delicious turnips and radishes from the garden.

Turnips are handy in the homesteader’s kitchen, and the plants mature quickly. They’re often ready for harvest just 30 to 60 days after planting. Their sweet roots develop best in cool weather, making turnips ideal for spring and fall gardens. Sow seedlings directly in the garden and thin them occasionally to allow proper root development.

Mature Height: 12 to 18 inches.
When To Plant Outside: 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost or late summer.
Time Until Harvest: 30 to 60 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 2 to 9. Cool-weather crop.

Turnips are powerhouse kitchen gems! Eat them roasted as a side dish, boiled or steamed with butter, mashed like potatoes, pickled in vinegar, sautéed with garlic, added to soups or stews, in salads, or grilled on a vegetable skewer.

10. Green Beans

Wicker basket with yummy green beans freshly harvested from the backyard garden.

Green beans are another speedy crop that sprints from seed to yummy harvest in around 50 to 60 days. They’re instantly gratifying for impatient gardeners. You might also find that your homegrown, crisp, fresh flavor bears no resemblance to store-bought versions! Plant seeds after soil warms and harvest frequently for continuous production.

Mature Height: 1 to 2 feet for bush types. Pole beans reach 6 to 10 feet.
When To Plant Outside: 1 to 2 weeks after the last frost.
Time Until Harvest: 50 to 65 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 3 to 10.

Homegrown green beans are best when steamed until tender, roasted with olive oil and Parmesan, sautéed with garlic, pickled in vinegar, served raw in salads, added to stir-fries, or made into green bean casserole.

11. Swiss Chard

Colorful rainbow chard plants growing in the garden.

Swiss chard astounds with its ability to produce from spring through fall with a single planting. The rainbow-stemmed varieties bring ornamental value alongside their tender, spinach-like flavor. Plant seeds directly in the garden, harvesting outer leaves while the center grows.

Mature Height: 1 to 2 feet.
When To Plant Outside: 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost.
Time Until Harvest: 50 to 60 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 3 to 10. It tolerates heat and cold.

Swiss chard is perfect in fresh homemade salads, added to pasta dishes with Parmesan and lemon, used in soups like lentil or sweet potato soup, stuffed into tacos with beans, or folded into omelets or frittatas.

12. Tomatoes

Delicious green and red tomatoes growing in the garden.

One of the best advantages of growing tomatoes from seed is that there are over 10,000 cultivars – so you can experiment endlessly! For a head start, germinate seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. The first sun-warmed tomato of summer provides a taste celebration worth the entire gardening season.

Mature Height: 2 to 6 feet, depending on variety.
When To Plant Outside: After the last frost, once the soil warms to 60°F.
Time Until Harvest: 60 to 85 days from transplant. Add 6 to 8 weeks if starting from seed.
USDA Growth Zone: 3 to 11.

There are too many ways to eat tomatoes! Try some chopped in a fresh salad, or use them to upgrade your favorite toasted sandwich. You can also get fancy and enjoy roasted cherry tomatoes with pasta or tomato and feta-stuffed zucchini!

13. Arugula

Fresh green arugula leaves growing in the garden.

Arugula grows from seed to salad in just 21 days, offering a sophisticated, peppery flavor with minimal effort. Sow seeds directly in the garden in cool weather. You can harvest the baby leaves for a tender, sweet taste or wait for full-sized plants, which are more peppery. Succession plants are sown every two weeks for continuous harvests.

Mature Height: 8 to 12 inches.
When To Plant Outside: 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost or early fall.
Time Until Harvest: 20 to 40 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 3 to 11. It prefers cool weather.

Arugula is more than just a salad crop! Try it used in sandwiches for extra flavor, as a pesto base with garlic and lemon, sautéed with garlic as a side dish, or added to pasta dishes for a peppery kick.

14. Mustard Greens

Green fluffy pak choi leaves growing in the backyard organic garden.

Mustard greens bring bold, spicy flavor to salads and stir-fries while growing vigorously even in less-than-ideal conditions. Sow the mustard green seeds directly in your garden in early spring or fall for the most leisurely harvest. Young leaves provide a gentler flavor, while mature leaves bring more pungent heat.

Mature Height: 1 to 2 feet.
When To Plant Outside: 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost or late summer.
Time Until Harvest: 30 to 50 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 2 to 11. Best in spring or fall.

Try your homegrown mustard greens in salads with lemon juice and olive oil, stir-fried with garlic and sesame oil, used in pesto for pasta or pizza, or added to soups and stews.

15. Lettuce

Yummy lettuce plants growing in raised garden beds.

Lettuce transforms from seed to salad in 45 to 55 days – you can harvest loose-leaf varieties even sooner. Lettuce is another superb garden crop for small raised beds, containers, pots, or grow bags. Sow seeds shallowly every two weeks for continuous harvests all season long.

Mature Height: 6 to 12 inches.
When To Plant Outside: 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost or late summer.
Time Until Harvest: 30 to 60 days, depending on type.
USDA Growth Zone: 4 to 9. It prefers cool weather.

Homegrown lettuce is the best in salads and vinaigrette dressing, as a crunchy addition to sandwiches and burgers, used in tacos for added crispiness, or sautéed with garlic and onions as a side dish.

16. Okra

Yummy okra plants growing in the organic garden.

Okra thrives in hot, humid conditions where other vegetables struggle, so it’s perfect for mid-summer gardens. Plant seeds directly in warm soil and watch them rocket upward, producing tender pods within 60 days. Harvest while pods are young for the best texture and flavor.

Mature Height: 3 to 6 feet.
When To Plant Outside: 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost.
Time Until Harvest: 50 to 65 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 5 to 11. It needs warm temperatures to thrive.

Enjoy your homegrown okra fried in a Southern-style cornmeal batter, roasted in the oven with garlic and paprika, sautéed with onions and tomatoes, added to gumbo for thickening, or grilled as a crispy side dish.

17. Radishes

Colorful and delicious radishes harvested from the garden.

Radishes sprint from seed to harvest in 21 to 30 days, making them the ultimate instant gratification crop. Their peppery crunch adds dimension to salads and snack plates. Plant thin seedlings directly in the garden to allow proper root development, and harvest when roots reach marble size.

Mature Height: 6 to 12 inches.
When To Plant Outside: 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost or in the fall.
Time Until Harvest: 20 to 30 days.
USDA Growth Zone: 2 to 10. Cool-season crop.

Radishes rule raw in salads for a crunchy texture, roasted to bring out their natural sweetness, pickled for a tangy snack, sautéed with herbs and vinegar, grilled as a side dish, or used in slaws for added flavor.

Conclusion

Yummy farm veggies like tomatoes peppers and onions on a wooden table.

We know times are stressful these days – and many gardeners don’t have as much time to garden as they like. We hope our list of the 17 easiest veggies to grow from seed saved you time – and a little cash. Hopefully, you don’t have to spend as much money at the plant nursery this year. Grow your own – from seed!

What about you?

Are you going to grow a vegetable garden from seed this year?
Which veggie crops will you grow?
Did we miss any prominent veggie crops that are easy to grow from seed?

Thanks for reading.

Have a great day!