The Easiest Veggies to Grow (Even If You’ve Never Touched a Plant)
You Don’t Need to Be a Gardener to Grow Something Good
If your houseplants die, your to-do list never ends, and you’re already running on fumes… you’re in the right place.
You do not have to be an expert gardener, own fancy tools, or even have a yard to start growing food.
You just need one thing: the belief that small starts still matter.
Mid-July may feel “too late” to start a garden, but it’s actually the perfect time for planting fast-growing, heat-loving veggies. Many of them can be planted in pots, patio bins, or even window boxes. They’ll grow while you’re busy being human.
And if your little one (like my Squish) is watching, they’ll learn one of the most powerful lessons we can teach: growth starts small—and so can we.
10 Steps to Grow the Easiest Veggies (Starting Right Now)
Even if you’ve never touched a trowel, here are 10 low-effort, high-reward steps to get growing today.
1. Pick One Pot and One Sunny Spot
Look for any container (pot, bucket, food-safe bin) with drainage holes and 4–6 hours of sun per day—porches, balconies, or windowsills work great.
2. Start with Fast-Growing Seeds or Starter Plants
July is perfect for:
Lettuce (baby greens harvest in 3 weeks)
Radishes (ready in ~30 days)
Green beans
Zucchini
Swiss chard
Head to a local nursery or order online. Starter plants give you a quick win, but seeds are great too.
3. Use Bagged Potting Soil (Skip the Guesswork)
Don’t stress about mixing your own soil. A bag of organic potting mix is all you need. Open, pour, plant. Done.
4. Plant What You Actually Like to Eat
Love salads? Grow lettuce + radishes.
Love tacos? Try cilantro + peppers.
Simple choices make you more likely to stick with it—and enjoy it.
5. Water Gently—Not Perfectly
Plants need water, but they’re forgiving. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. If you forget for a day or two, they’ll likely be fine. You're learning. Be kind to yourself.
6. Use a Watering Can or Even a Cup
No hose? No problem. A plastic cup, old juice bottle, or small watering can does the job.
7. Watch for Sprouts (Your First Win!)
Within a few days to a week, you’ll see green poking up. Let yourself feel proud. That’s yours.
8. Let the Kids Help in Tiny Ways
Even toddlers can sprinkle seeds or water with a cup. No perfection needed—just participation.
9. Harvest as You Go
Lettuce, herbs, and baby greens can be snipped a little at a time. Radishes, beans, and zucchini come fast in summer. Pick and eat while it’s fun—not stressful.
10. Celebrate the Imperfect Garden
Some leaves may yellow. Some plants may not thrive. But you showed up. You created life from dirt. And that’s a big deal.
A Loving Message to Squish
Dear Squish,
You watched me dig my hands into the dirt even when I was tired, even when I didn’t know what I was doing.
You saw seeds go into the soil and vegetables come out. You saw that growth doesn’t happen overnight—but it does happen.
Someday you’ll remember that we made salads from things we grew. That we cheered over radishes. That we slowed down long enough to grow something real.
And maybe you’ll grow something too.
Love always Growing With You
Mom and Dad
5 Easy Amazon Finds to Get You Started
Here are five items to help you start without running all over town:
Great for containers. No mixing required.
Fabric Grow Bags (5-10 Gallon Size)
Portable, breathable, and reusable.
Easy-to-grow veggies made for summer planting.
Compact Watering Can (Indoor/Outdoor)
Cute enough to leave out, easy enough for kids.
Bamboo Plant Labels with Marker
Let kids write names, dates, or doodles.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on an item and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products that we truly believe in and use in our own home.
A Mindful Moment
You don’t need to become a “gardener.”
You don’t need to get it perfect.
You just need to plant one seed. One container. One intention.
And that can be enough.
🌿 This week, pick just one veggie to grow.
Post a photo, tag it #SquishGardens, and show us your “just started” story.
Because around here, we grow together—one tiny step at a time.
