Top 10 Easiest Vegetables to Grow from Seed

The seeds that made our list of the easiest vegetables to grow are ones that will easily germinate without special care, such as scarification or stratification. These vegetables are also simple to grow and will have a reliable harvest.

You can plant all of these vegetables outdoors without starting indoors. Direct sowing seeds outdoors can simplify gardening for beginners.

If you want to learn more about starting seeds indoors, our complete guide will help you get started.

And if you need some extra motivation, read this post on Why You Should Be Growing from Seed.

Lettuce is the #1 vegetable we recommend to new gardeners. Within six weeks of planting, you can be eating a fresh, crisp lettuce leaf. Lettuce seeds are quick to germinate, and there are many different heirloom varieties. The wide range of colors, textures, and flavors is an excellent reason to grow lettuce from seed. 

You can start lettuce seeds indoors and then transplant seedlings outdoors. But the easiest way to grow lettuce is to plant seeds outdoors in early spring or fall.

Loose-leaf lettuce varieties allow you to start harvesting sooner. Our Green Salad Bowl Lettuce grows quickly and is perfect for new gardeners.

Plant beans if you want a bountiful harvest your first year growing from seed! From one bean seed, you can grow a plant that will produce enough beans for several meals.

Beans are easy to direct sow and are adaptable to different kinds of soil. They will sprout quickly, and in only seven days, a small bean sprout will push through the soil.

Learn more about growing beans and how they can even improve your garden soil.

There are many heirloom varieties to choose from in both vine and bush bean types. Bush beans are typically quicker producers. Contender Bush Bean is a reliable producer that has been around for generations.

Swiss chard seeds will easily germinate and quickly grow. This healthy vegetable grows well in containers and can be grown on a balcony. You don’t have to wait for the leaves to get large to harvest. The small leaves at around 3 inches are tender and sweet.

Start Swiss chard seeds indoors or outside as long as the temperature is about 50ºF for seed germination. Rainbow Swiss chard is both beautiful and easy to grow. Add it to your containers or raised beds for a beautiful, edible landscape.

Radishes are excellent to start when you have cool weather and are anxious to get something in the ground. They’ll begin sprouting about six days after they are planted, and you can be eating them in 25 days. Your radishes can be tucked in with other spring vegetables or harvested before you put out your summer plants.

You could plant several kinds of different heirloom radish varieties and find your new favorite. Our top pick is Champion Radish for that classic look and flavor. 

Learn more about growing radishes.

Peas are another one of those plants to get going in the early spring.

When you’re tired of the cold and snow, you can plant peas as soon as the soil is no longer frozen. They are easy to grow from seed, and Sugar snap peas are perfect for beginner gardeners. Their fresh taste will convince you that you love gardening.

Peas eaten fresh from the vine are full of vitamins and natural sugar. But they start turning from sugar to starch as soon as they are picked. This is why you need to grow them in your garden.

Also, peas add nitrogen back into the soil, so they’re great to plant before you add your summer vegetables, like tomatoes and eggplant.

Try the classic Sugar Snap Pea for delicious fresh peas. 

Cucumbers are incredibly easy to grow from seed. I’ve even had them grow on their own where seeds fell between garden boxes.

Cucumber seeds are adaptable to starting indoors or direct sowing and will germinate in 7 days.

Cucumbers are a delicious summer vegetable. There are many varieties of heirloom cucumbers, from standard pickling cucumbers to uniquely lemon-shaped cucumbers. The range of colors and shapes will keep your garden from being boring.

Our top pick to start growing is Beit Alpha Cucumbers. This self-pollinating variety is known for being prolific. 

Zucchini is a famous home garden vegetable for good reason. It is very easy to sow from seed and grows all summer long. Once the ground is warm enough, you can plant zucchini squash seeds directly in the garden. The seeds will sprout and grow quickly. Harvest zucchini while they are still small for a more tender texture and better flavor.

Add variety to your zucchini garden with unique heirloom varieties. Golden zucchini, round zucchini, and grey zucchini are all equally delicious. Learn how easy it is to grow zucchini in your garden.

To get started growing zucchini, plant Black Beauty for a reliable harvest.

Beets are an easy vegetable to grow from seed because they germinate quickly. You will see little sprouts pushing up from the ground in as little as five days. Also, beet seeds are prolific because each seed you plant is actually a seed pod with several seeds.

Before the roots are ready to eat, you can pick beet greens and eat them raw or cooked. Just leave enough on the plant so it has enough energy-gathering surfaces for root development. Once they are planted in fertile garden soil, they don't require extra maintenance.

The health benefits of beets make them a popular garden staple, and they come in a range of colors. And if you’re looking for a slightly different flavor, try golden globe beets.

Known for being the most reliable beets, Deroit Dark Red are our top pick to add to your garden.

Kale is a cool-weather winner. It's perfect for beginners who want to try a fall garden or get started early in spring. You can sow kale directly in the garden or start it indoors. It grows well in both full sun and partial shade. 

When grown in fall gardens, kale keeps growing through light frosts and you can harvest individual leaves to keep it growing. See more kale growing tips. 

For a reliable classic, plant Lacinato Kale.

If you're new to growing vegetables from seed, collard greens are a great place to start. They're hardy and adaptable. Collards tolerate both warm and cool weather, making them a dependable choice for gardeners in many parts of the country. 

You can harvest the outer leaves while the plant keeps growing. We especially like Vates collards because they're compact, heat-resistant, and cold-hardy. For a beginner, there's something especially rewarding about planting one seed and enjoying fresh greens for weeks or even months.