Starting a vegetable garden from scratch may seem daunting, but some vegetables are easier to grow from seed than others. Growing your own vegetables from seed can be a rewarding and satisfying experience. Not only is it cost-effective, but it also allows you to control the quality of the produce because more seed varieties are available than transplants from a nursery. Blog posts are coming soon on growing tips for specific crops.

Soil preparation

Transformational gardening method: In your raised bed use our microbe-rich compost as your soil. Aged composted manure has been already added. Plant seeds and seedlings with microbe-rich worm castings. It’s gentle and powerful, so adding extra is fine.  Remember to use our “No till, No dig, No pull” rule when planting seeds and seedlings. No need to fertilize during the growing season. See more details in our Transformational Gardening Basics blog post and our 2 posts on planting seeds – Planting Seeds & Seedlings: Beginners and Planting Seeds & Seedlings: Next Level.

If you plant into conventional soil you will need some of our microbe-rich compost and worm castings. Make the holes and seed furrows extra large and fill with a mixture of half microbe-rich worm castings and half microbe-rich compost.

Biodiversity planting helps prevent pests

Healthy happy plants are more resistant to disease and insect pressures and produce larger harvests. Harness the forces of nature to protect your garden from pests and diseases by using biodiversity planting and succession planting. Create a healthy ecosystem above and below ground.

Consider creating an edible landscape that includes crops, native plants, flowers and shrubs. Avoid monocultures (filling a space with only one crop). Instead, create several small areas for tiny plants like carrots in a bed instead of one large area with all your carrots.

We use succession planting to grow more food in limited space. We fill any empty spaces with new seedlings or seeds. But make sure the space allows sun for the seedlings and space for the adult plant.

Planting a mix of crops can help improve soil health, prevent disease, and attract beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. Consider planting a mix of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers to create a diverse and beautiful garden. View our blog post about Biodiversity Planting.

Careful utilization of space: Be mindful of how much space and sun each plant needs to grow properly. Some crops, like tomatoes and squash, can take up a lot of room in your only raised bed and are best planted in large cloth containers. Small plants like lettuce, radishes, beets and carrots can be planted in smaller spaces between medium-size plants like kale, collards, basil and swiss chard.

Trellises, vertical gardening, and other space-saving techniques to maximize your growing area.

Easiest veggies to grow from seed

There are many vegetables that are relatively easy to grow from seed, and the specific ease of growing may depend on your climate, soil, and other factors. However, here are ten common vegetables that are generally considered to be relatively easy to grow from seed:

Radishes are an excellent choice for beginners, as they are one of the quickest-growing vegetables. They can be grown in spring or fall and mature in just 25-30 days. Radishes prefer loose, well-drained soil and require full sun or partial shade. To plant radish seeds, simply sow them directly into the soil about ½ inch deep and 1 inch apart. Keep the soil moist and thin out the seedlings when they are about 2 inches tall. Radishes are typically eaten raw, sliced or diced in salads, and are also great for snacking. Plant with 1/3 cup of worm castings.

Lettuce is another easy vegetable to grow from seed. There are many varieties of lettuce to choose from, all with their own specific flavor. Consider planting several different types for a salad full of color and texture. It can be grown in the ground or in containers and prefers well-drained soil and partial shade. Lettuce seeds should be planted about ¼ inch deep and 6-8 inches apart. Keep the soil moist, and the seeds should germinate within 7-10 days. Harvesting lettuce can be done by either cutting the entire head or just picking off the outer leaves as needed. Lettuce is a versatile vegetable that can be used in salads, sandwiches, and wraps. Plant with 1/2 cup of worm castings.

Green beans are a great choice for novice gardeners, as they grow quickly and are relatively low-maintenance. Try both bush beans and pole beans (vines need a trellis). They prefer well-drained soil and full sun. To plant green bean seeds, sow them directly into the soil about 1 inch deep and 2-4 inches apart. Keep the soil moist, and the seeds should germinate within 7-10 days. Once the plants start producing, you can harvest the beans every 2-3 days. Green beans can be eaten raw or cooked, and they are a great source of fiber and protein. Plant with 1/2 cup of worm castings.

Cucumbers are a popular vegetable to grow in the summer months, as they thrive in warm weather. They prefer well-drained soil and full sun, and they require a trellis or other support to climb. To plant cucumber seeds, sow them directly into the soil about 1 inch deep and 2-3 feet apart. Keep the soil moist, and the seeds should germinate within 7-10 days. Once the plants start producing, you can harvest the cucumbers every few days. Cucumbers are typically eaten raw in salads or as a snack, and they are also great for pickling. Plant with one cup of worm castings.

Zucchini is another vegetable that is easy to grow from seed, and it produces a lot of fruit. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun, and it requires a lot of space to spread out. It doesn’t grow vertically like other squash. To plant zucchini seeds, sow them directly into the soil about 1 inch deep and 2-3 feet apart. Keep the soil moist, and the seeds should germinate within 7-10 days. Once the plants start producing, you can harvest the zucchini when they are about 6-8 inches long. Zucchini is a versatile vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes, including pasta, stir-fries, and grilled skewers. Plant with one cup of worm castings.

Carrots are easy to grow from seed if you learn to plant the very tiny seeds. They prefer loose, well-drained soil and full sun. Carrot seeds are small, so it's important to space them out properly. Use a hoe to create shallow furrows in the soil, about 1/4 inch deep. Or make holes with your finger in the seeding area. Create several 10 inch diameter carrot areas around the bed and don’t plant all the carrots in one place. Sow the seeds thinly, about 1 inch apart, and cover them with a light layer of soil. Water gently and keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate, which can take up to two weeks. Save some work and time watering the seeds by covering them with a board or tile until they germinate to stop evaporation and to prevent heavy rain from washing them away. Check daily for germination. Remove the board as soon as the first seed germinates. Plant with half and half mixture of compost and worm castings.

Beets are simple to grow and a satisfying way to add fresh and nutritious produce to your diet. Beets are a great source of vitamins and minerals and can be grown in almost any soil type. They thrive in cool weather and can be sown in the spring or fall. Select a spot that receives full sun or partial shade, with well-drained soil. Sow the seeds directly into the garden bed 2 to 4 weeks before the last expected frost in your area. Plant the seeds 1/2 inch deep, 1 inch apart, and in small areas about 10 inches in diameter. Don’t plant all your beet seeds in one place. Water them regularly, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Thin the seedlings to a spacing of 3 to 4 inches when they are 2 inches tall. Plant with 1/3 cup of worm castings.

Swiss Chard is delicious leafy green, more tender than kale. Soak the seeds overnight prior to planting to hasten germination.  Sow seed ⅓ to ½ inch deep. Sow seeds 1 inch apart; later thin seedlings to 6 inches apart; use the thinnings in salads. Space plants 8 to 10 inches apart in a staggered pattern. Allow a food diameter space to grow to full size. Chard grows best in full sun but can tolerate light shade.

Spinach is rich in vitamins, spinach is grown very similarly to lettuce. Fast growing in a month. Pick leaves when they reach the length you prefer. They are cold tolerant and like cold temperatures. Sow about 5 inches apart. Get a larger crop with much less work if you plant the seeds in November for germination in the spring. Harvest before the warm weather starts to avoid leaves “bolting” and turning bitter.=

Peas once planted require very little attention other than light watering. Harvest regularly to encourage production and you will be pleased with the results! Peas are best direct-seeded right in the ground and do not like their roots disturbed. But transplanting is possible, if you start seeds in biodegradable pots; you’ll transplant the pot and all into the garden and the pot will disintegrate. To speed germination, soak seeds in water overnight before planting. Sow seeds 1 inch deep (slightly deeper if soil is dry) and about 2 inches apart. Do not thin. Pea roots, like those of other legumes, fix nitrogen in the soil, making it available for other plants. Bush peas can reach 18 to 30 inches tall.  Pole types can grow at least 4 to 6 feet tall. Both types benefit from support (especially bush peas above 2 feet and all pole peas).

“Grow Your Own Food” blog posts

See the full list of our Grow Your Own Food blog posts. Each post is assigned ”tags” which are under the post title. If you need a quick answer to a gardening question give us a call or send a text to our customer support team – support[at]deep-roots-project.org AND 708-655-5299.

Deep Roots online store

See our online store for details about prices, ordering and delivery of raised beds, planter boxes, microbe-rich compost, worm castings, leaf mulch and more. We don’t sell traditional soil, since we use 100% compost as our growing medium. Our online store has 2 sections – (1) raised beds and planter boxes and (2) compost, worm castings, fertilizer.

Please contact our customer support team before placing an order online so we can assist you with the details and answer your gardening questions. You can pay by credit card in the store or by check.

(708) 655-5299 and support[at]deep-roots-project.org

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