10 Easiest Plants to Grow From Seed in Your Garden (With Pictures)

Gardening can be incredibly fun, and there is something for everyone. Whether your goal is to produce food or fragrant flowers, there is no shortage of options. But what are the easiest plants to grow from seed in your garden? Keep reading as we provide you with several options.

The 10 Easiest Plants to Grow From Seed in Your Garden

1. Green Beans

Green beans and many other types of beans are easy to grow because the fruit is the seed, and they can adapt to a wide range of environments. There are two kinds of beans: those that like to climb and require a trellis or other climbing area and those that grow on a bush.

2. Beets

Beets are an easy vegetable to grow from seed in any garden, and it grows fantastically almost everywhere in the United States, able to withstand hardiness zones from 2 to 10. The only difficult thing is that it likes plenty of sunlight, so you need to plant it in an open area. You can also grow your beats in succession, adding a new row every few weeks to keep your harvest continuous all season long.

3. Carrots

Carrots are easy plants to grow from seed in all but the coldest areas of the United States. The seeds for this plant are tiny, so you will need to separate and spread them apart as they get bigger, or they will grow together and bend and twist themselves into odd-shaped lumps. Carrots can be finicky and take a long time to arrive, but they usually produce a good harvest as long as you place them in plenty of sunlight.

4. Corn

Corn is a plant where the seed is the fruit. It’s easy to grow in most of the United States, and it produces a good harvest but it can take a while to grow. It prefers bright but indirect sunlight and is more tolerant of shady areas than most other plants. The biggest downside to corn is that the stalk can be too big for small gardens.

5. Cucumber

Cucumbers are wonderful plants that grow well in many areas of America, especially in the hot regions. They’re relatively easy to grow and don’t require much maintenance The hardest part is ensuring that they get 5 hours of direct sunlight every day. Another downside is that they can attract parasites.

6. Lettuce

Lettuce can grow year-round in the southern states of America as long as the temperature stays above 60 degrees. There are several varieties to choose from, but if it gets too hot, it can go to seed, degrading the taste. It prefers well-drained nitrogen-rich soil, so you may need to add fertilizer for the best result.

7. Radish

Radishes are among the easiest plants to grow from seed, and they thrive in zones 2–11, meaning they will grow almost anywhere in the United States. The soil needs to be well-drained because too much moisture can rot the fruit before you have a chance to harvest it. You will also need to thin the radishes as they grow, or they will push into each other, forming odd shapes.

8. Squash

Squash is a plant that grows well in America, and it’s well suited to any soil as long as there is plenty of sunlight. It grows quickly and can easily take over your garden, so you will need to ensure that you give it plenty of space.

9. Swiss Chard

Swiss chard makes a great addition to any garden because of its brightly colored stems that can help make your garden more exciting to see, and it keeps its attractive appearance throughout the season. The leaves also make great additions to any salad. It’s easy to grow and is tolerant of shady areas even though it prefers plenty of sunlight.

10. Sunflowers

Sunflowers are easy to grow and are tolerant of zones 2–11, but they require plenty of sunlight and well-drained but moist soil. They can take a while to bloom but are well worth the wait because they are such recognizable flowers. It’s easy to grow them if you get plenty of sunshine on your property, but they can also attract animals that like to eat them, like squirrels, which can significantly reduce your harvest.

Related Read: What Is Hydroponic Gardening? Are There Different Types?

Summary

There are quite a few plants that are easy to grow from seed, and doing so can be more rewarding than some other methods. Once you gain a bit of experience, there are other plants that you can grow from seed. All the plants on this list should grow well in the United States, and most only require that you provide plenty of sunlight. Green beans are typically the easiest, followed by lettuce and squash, but your experience may differ.

Featured Image Credit: FotoHelin, Shutterstock