Easy Wins First: What to Grow Year One

May 28

Start simple, grow confident, and enjoy your first harvests fast

Starting a garden can feel a bit like jumping into the deep end. There’s so much advice out there—zone maps, seed catalogs, companion planting, soil amendments—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed before you even put a shovel in the ground.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to do it all at once.

If this is your first real growing season, skip the pressure and focus on one thing: early wins. The kind that make you smile when you see the first sprouts. The kind that get dinner on the table in a matter of weeks. The kind that make you say, “Hey, I can do this.”

Let’s talk about how to plant your way into that confidence.

Start Small, Start Fast

When you're just beginning, the goal isn’t to grow every vegetable under the sun. The goal is to grow something successfully—and enjoy the process while you’re at it.

The best crops for beginners are:

Quick to mature
Low-maintenance
Tolerant of small mistakes
Productive in a variety of conditions
Sound good? Let’s dig in.

The Go-To Beginner Crops

1. Lettuce

One of the easiest, fastest-growing plants around.

Grows well in containers or beds
Ready to harvest in 30 days or less
Loves cooler weather—perfect for early spring and fall
Bonus tip: Try a “cut and come again” variety so you can harvest multiple times.

2. Radishes

The ultimate quick win.

Some varieties mature in just 3–4 weeks
Great for teaching kids patience... and payoff
Don’t take up much space

Try this: Plant them between rows of slower-growing crops to maximize space.

3. Green Beans (Bush Variety)

Reliable, productive, and fun to pick.

Don’t need trellising (unlike pole beans)
Grow well in full sun
Harvest just weeks after flowering

Watch out for: Slugs and aphids early on—easily handled with neem oil or a soap spray.

4. Herbs (Basil, Parsley, Cilantro)

These give you results fast and taste like victory.

Perfect for pots or beds
Harvest leaves often to encourage bushier growth
Ideal for sunny windowsills, patios, or greenhouse corners
Tip: Basil loves heat. Wait until danger of frost is gone before planting outdoors.

5. Zucchini

Zucchini is famously generous.

One plant can feed you and your neighbors
Fast-growing and beginner-friendly
Just give it full sun and decent soil

Space saver: Choose compact “bush” varieties if your garden is small.

Know Your Zone

Before you plant, make sure you know your USDA growing zone. It tells you:

When your average last frost date is
Which plants will thrive in your region
How long your growing season is

Find your zone here: USDA Hardiness Zone Map

This helps avoid heartbreak—like planting tomatoes in early April in Montana and watching them freeze in May.

Don't Forget the Pollinators

If you're growing anything that flowers (like beans or zucchini), you'll want pollinators nearby.

Add a few low-maintenance flowers like calendula, nasturtium, or marigolds
Bees and butterflies will help you get bigger harvests
They also make your garden look vibrant and alive

Bonus? Many pollinator flowers are also edible and help with pest control.

Start with Wins, Not Worries

You don’t need a 1-acre homestead or a master gardener certificate to get started.
Start with:

A few good containers or one raised bed
A handful of high-reward crops
A little daily attention (and forgiveness if you forget)

Each small success builds your knowledge—and your harvest. Before you know it, you’ll be planting with more confidence, fewer doubts, and a lot more homegrown joy.

Final Thought

Gardening doesn’t have to be complicated to be rewarding. In fact, the simplest things are often the most satisfying—like pulling your first radish from the soil or adding homegrown cilantro to a pot of soup.

This season, give yourself the gift of easy wins. You’ll be glad you did.