Tomatoes
The classic home crop. Choose bush (determinate) types for pots and vining types for beds with sturdy support.
- 6–8+ hours
- 18–24 in (45–60 cm) apart
- Deep and even; avoid wetting leaves
- When color is full and fruit gives slightly
Vegetables
Vegetable gardening, made straightforward
Eight dependable vegetables for home gardens, with the sunlight, spacing, watering and harvest notes you need before you plant.
Before you plant
Three things that decide your harvest
Sun, soil, and spacing matter more than any product you can buy.
Sun
Fruiting crops like tomatoes and beans want the sunniest spot you have. Leafy crops tolerate less.
Soil
Loosen the bed and mix in compost. Vegetables grow fastest in soil that drains but stays lightly moist.
Spacing
Give plants their full recommended room. Crowding invites disease and shrinks yields.
Crop by crop
Eight vegetables worth starting with
Each card links to a full grow guide with planting times, common problems, harvesting and tips.
Peppers
Heat lovers that do well in warm, sheltered spots and large containers. Slow to start, then steady.
- 6–8 hours
- 16–18 in (40–45 cm) apart
- Consistent moisture; dislikes drying out
- Green when firm, or leave to ripen
Cucumbers
Fast and productive. Growing them up a trellis saves space and keeps fruit straight and clean.
- 6–8 hours
- 12–18 in (30–45 cm), or a large pot each
- Frequent; fruit is mostly water
- Young and firm, before seeds enlarge
Lettuce
One of the quickest wins in the garden. Cut-and-come-again leaf types give repeat harvests.
- 4–6 hours; likes afternoon shade in heat
- 6–10 in (15–25 cm) apart
- Little and often; shallow roots
- Pick outer leaves as needed
Carrots
Sow direct — carrots dislike transplanting. Loose, stone-free soil produces the straightest roots.
- 6 hours
- Thin to 2 in (5 cm) apart
- Even moisture to prevent splitting
- When shoulders are visible and colored
Green beans
Bush beans need no support; pole beans climb and crop over a longer window. Both are beginner-friendly.
- 6–8 hours
- 4–6 in (10–15 cm) apart
- Steady, especially while flowering
- Pick often to keep pods coming
Zucchini
Extremely productive — one or two plants is usually enough. Give it room and airflow.
- 6–8 hours
- 32–40 in (80–100 cm) apart
- Deep watering at the base
- At 6–8 in (15–20 cm), while skin is tender
Radishes
Ready in weeks, which makes them a great confidence builder and a good crop for children to sow.
- 4–6 hours
- 1–2 in (3–5 cm) apart
- Regular; dryness makes them woody
- Promptly, before roots split
Not sure where to begin? Read 10 easy vegetables to grow at home.
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