Starting a garden this year, but don't know what to plant? Let me share 20 easy to grow plants to add!

Learning to Grow a Garden

As part of our yard makeover plans, I picked up supplies at the store.

The cashier saw all that was in my cart and mentioned how she wished she could start a food garden, but she didn't have a green thumb.

I nodded, I completely understood her feelings. I used to a person who kept a cactus because it was the only plant I felt I could keep alive.

Fast forward a few years and now I'm hunting through seed catalog picking out what we're going to grow. It didn't happen overnight, but it wasn't as hard as I had thought.

I told the cashier what helped me was building confidence and practicing gardening skills with easy to grow plants.

If you're in the same boat, I hope I can help you prepare for an awesome years of gardening without a ton of hassle.

Easy Herbs, Veggies, and Fruits to Plant

Savory Herbs

Make your meals come alive by adding fresh herbs from your garden!

It’s an incredibly easy way to boost the flavor and make your meals more interesting.

With just a few snips of herbs, you can take your ordinary dishes and turn them into something special that your family and friends will enjoy.

Pick a few of your favorites below so you can have something special to add to your cooking and make your meals pop!

• Rosemary
• Mint
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Basil

I want to just add that we love mint, and actually have several varieties in our backyard but we keep them in spaces where we don’t mind them taking over.

With our hot sunny summers here in Raleigh, we’ve found that cilantro and basil love to have a bit of shade.

Hardy Vegetables

There are plenty of fantastic benefits to including vegetables into your garden.

First, having fresh vegetables just a few steps away from your kitchen can make it much easier to maintain a healthy diet.

Second, you have convenient access to fresh produce, save you time that would otherwise be spent on buying groceries. It also is a money saver, allowing you to put your hard earned money towards other things you enjoy.

Finally, growing your own vegetables can also be a rewarding experience, as it gives you a sense of accomplishment knowing that you are growing your own food. It can be a great way to connect with nature and enjoy the great outdoors.

• Carrots
• Green Beans
• Spinach
• Cucumbers
• Summer Squash
• Bell Peppers
• Radishes
• Tomatoes
• Onions

When I started gardening, I focused on growing a combination of what I liked to eat and what was easy to grow, which meant leafy greens like spinach, carrots, and sweet peppers.

As I got more space and experience, I expanded my list to include tomatoes and cucumbers and the rest.

Don’t feel like you need to start a farm; just begin with what you enjoy eating and you’ll be fine!

Easy Fruits

I’m going to admit, this was tricky for me because I wasn’t really a fresh fruit person before I started gardening. I mean, I love a good smoothie, but eating fruits was something I learned to do because I garden.

Berries by far are incredibly easy to get started with and they’ll allow you to satisfy your sweet tooth. Plus there’s something special about eating fruits from your own personal patch of land.

Growing up with the garden has also meant our girls enjoy fresh fruits as a snack by themselves. They also get a kick because they helped out with getting the garden set up.

• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Figs
• Apples

There you have it – twenty or so herbs, veggies, and fruits that are pretty low maintenance and get to enjoy.

Seeds or Seedling?

I know some people have strong feelings about this, especially those who want to go all in, but I’m more along the side of getting started is more important than getting it perfect.

If this is your first garden, I say grab a few seedlings of your favorite veggies, herbs, or fruits and get seeds for the rest.

You can grab seeds for root vegetables. Tomatoes can be less stressful starting with seedlings while growing your herbs from seeds isn't much a big deal.

You also want to consider your budget. Seedlings are usually pricier, so you may want to pick and choose carefully.

If you're looking for heirloom seeds and live plants, check any of these places out.

• Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co
• Renee’s Garden
• High Mowing Organic Seeds
• Johnny’s Selected Seeds

Thoughts on Starting Your Food Garden

How many of you growing a garden this year? What do you want to grow?