Help for the Beginning Gardener: Identify Plants That Are Easy to Grow

Identify Plants for Future Reference

If this is your first year dipping your trowel into the soil – the whole process can seem a bit intimidating at first. Those who’ve gardened for years can forget how that first season of planting can make a person feel like they need to hunt down a copy of Gardening for Dummies. But, take heart first-time gardener. Your first season can be more successful than you think. The trick is to identify plants which don’t require a lot of special conditions or attention. We’ve taken the initiative to suggest a list of likely winners so that you can enjoy growing even if you’ve never planted anything before.

Big Red

Perhaps the most ubiquitous garden vegetable is the plump, juicy tomato. One reason tomatoes are so popular (apart from their delectability) is that they are easy to grow – especially if you pick up a plant started at a nursery. Tomatoes do need a sunny spot but after that, all they ask is some regular watering. Expect to enjoy ripe fruit from July-September.

Go Green

Another perennial favorite in the garden is easy-to-grow green beans. Broad beans are the easiest beans for new gardeners since they don’t need a pole or trellis. They do grab a lot of space but don’t ask for much else. Beans will produce through the summer and produce can be frozen to be enjoyed next winter.

Bell Ringing

Bell peppers are another vegetable which you can find as starter plants nearly everywhere from Big Box stores to grocery stores and local nurseries. Bell peppers grow on a bush and don’t take too much space. They are excellent on summer shish kabobs, on fresh vegetable platters with dip or as additions to favorite summer salads.

Get a Leaf

Lettuce is a light summer vegetable that be more expensive at the grocery store than other vegetables. Thankfully, it’s also an easy plant to grow from seed in your own garden. Many kinds of lettuces are able to be grown, harvested, re-seeded and enjoyed over and over throughout the growing season. They are so simple they are a beginner’s delight.

Crunch Time

If you like crunch, then cucumbers are the easy answer for you. Nothing says summer freshness quite like fresh-grown cucumbers. They are excellent in all kinds of salads, on their own or made into pickles. Cucumber plants do tend to spread and overtake an area.

One other suggestion for you if you are a new gardner is to identify plants with clearly marked stakes so that you can keep your garden tidy and in order. At first, you may not know the difference between weeds and seedlings so it’s important to identify plants well. Later, you’ll want to identify plants according to the variety you’ve planted so that you can decide over time which plants are easiest or taste best to you. At Kincaid Plant Markers we have stakes that are suitable for every level of gardener. We have prices to suit every budget too. Check out our full line on our website and make your first year of gardening a big success.