Is one of your goals to eat more vegetables? Growing your own is a fun and rewarding way to put more produce into your diet. Think of gardening as taking your houseplants to the next level. Whether or not you have a green thumb (yet!), anyone can grow a few fresh additions with a little creativity and planning. Not sure where to start? Read on for our top plants to grow if you want something extra fresh for your plate. 

what to plant in your garden

What to Plant In Your Garden

Although there are many vegetables you can play in your garden for fresh produce all summer long, we're sticking with easy, abundant options that allow for plenty of meal variety. We also include a few tips for keeping these veggies happy and thriving.

 

Cherry Tomatoes 

Cherry tomatoes are a delicious addition to just about any meal and make a tasty snack on their own. When roasted in the oven, they instantly level up sauces, soups, or grain bowls. Fresh, they’re the ideal salad topper. Plus, they’re easy to grow and come in many fun colors and shapes. 

Growing Tips and Tricks for Tomatos

Tomato plants love hot weather and full sun and are best grown outdoors (hello, pollinators!) Once the plants are well established they are pretty hardy and drought tolerant, but they must be watered heavily to produce the most fruit.

If you’re growing in a container on a deck or patio, consider choosing a more compact variety, as cherry tomato plants are known for getting tall. Starting tomatoes from seed is tricky and time-consuming, so your best bet is to buy started tomato plants from your local garden center or farmers market. A trellis or fence for the plant to lean on will help keep your tomatoes off the ground and out of reach of slugs and other animals that might want a taste. And don’t forget to fertilize! As we do, a big, beautiful tomato plant needs food to thrive!

 

Lettuce

We’ve all done it...you buy salad greens at the grocery store or farmers market, and either you eat them immediately and have to go back for more in two days, or you don’t… and they look sad in your fridge pretty quickly. There is a better way! Anyone with a windowsill, porch, patio, or corner of a yard can easily grow their own lettuce for a fresh supply constantly on hand. You might be surprised at how much more flavorful homegrown lettuce can be!

Growing Tips and Tricks for Lettuce

Lettuce grows well in a cooler spot where the soil can be kept evenly moist. Part shade is perfect Because they don’t need direct sunlight; lettuces are also a perfect candidate for a windowsill planter or other lower-light growing method. If all you have is blasting sun, that’s okay too! Just look for varieties that are selected for heat tolerance. Lettuce can be seeded close together for cut salad greens or further apart for full “heads.” A seed mix is also a great option for many different colors and textures in one seed packet. 

 

Fresh Herbs

One of the easiest ways to add quick flavor (and an instant gourmet touch) to any meal is with fresh herbs. They taste and smell amazing, and it's hard to go wrong when you can pick them right off your windowsill.  Fresh dill will take a salad from basic to wow in seconds, and a few basil leaves elevate anything with tomatoes. Thyme and rosemary are the seasonings you didn’t know your chicken needed, and mint? Hello mojitos!  Luckily, most herbs are easy to grow in pots, windowsill planters, raised beds, or backyard gardens. 

Tips and Tricks for Growing Herbs

Herbs are super easy to grow from starts purchased at your local garden center or farmers market. Some, like mint or lemon balm, can even be dug up from an existing plant (beware that mint spreads and can take over a garden). Gently transplant your new plants into their future home, water thoroughly, and you are good to go.

If you have a little more time and are feeling adventurous, many herbs are easy to start from seed yourself. Parsley, cilantro, dill, and basil are great candidates for this. Just sow seeds according to the packet directions and water regularly. Before you know it you will see tiny little baby herbs coming up. Herb seedlings need to be kept evenly moist and benefit from full sun. If your seedlings are super tall and falling over, that’s a sure sign that they could use more light. 

 

String Beans

Fresh string beans are so different from their canned or frozen cousins that you’d be forgiven for not knowing how incredibly delicious they are. They’re an easy way to add some color to your plate. Green, yellow, and purple, flat or round, bush or climbing, there are many different varieties to grow. 

How to Grow String Beans

Beans are grown best outdoors in full sun. If you don’t have enough space for them, consider choosing climbing varieties to maximize vertical space. Beans are one of those vegetables that are surprisingly easy to grow from seed. Just follow the sowing directions on the packet, add water, and you’ll start to see the bean plants coming up within a couple of days. Before long, those plants will have flowers and then a short wait for actual beans.

The key to delicious, tender beans is picking them before they get too large (bigger is not better with beans!). And, as long as you keep picking them, your plants will give you more. Bonus- bean plants and their symbiotic root bacteria take nitrogen out of the atmosphere and fix it in the soil, creating their own fertilizer. What’s not to love? 

 

Final Thoughts On Planting Your Own Veggies

No matter how much space you have, you can get creative and grow your own veggies. If you're new, start small and focus on veggies that you know you'll enjoy and eat quickly. Then, you can get more creative and adventurous from there!

Veggies are an important part of a well-rounded diet. They provide essential vitamins and minerals for optimal health and also provide fiber, which is key to digestive health, regularity, and so much more.

If you need help incorporating more veggies into your routine, WAG Nutrition Coaching can help. Your coach will provide suggestions based on your schedule, prepping routine, and food preferences so you can enjoy your food while working towards your goals.