When it comes to my garden, family members have lovingly dubbed it the 'survival of the fittest'-and they're not wrong. But somehow, despite the odds, I've managed to pull off several harvests that were, let's say, decently successful (or at least good enough to feed us!)
My secret? I focus on planting the EASIEST, most FORGIVING, and most RESILIENT vegetables-basically, the ones that grow like weeds.
So, whether you're a beginner gardener about to plant your first garden or someone who (like me) has accidentally murdered more plants than they'd like to admit, here are 15 of the easiest veggies to grow for beginner gardeners in Canada, along with my top tips for success. I've also included my favorite varieties as well as those I will be trying this year.
Grab your gardening gloves, my friends. It's time to sow some seeds!
15 Foolproof Veggies Perfect for Canadian Homesteaders
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1. Peas
Peas are one of the first vegetables I plant in my Canadian garden and they are definitely among the best vegetables to grow in Canada. In fact, they are ideal cool-season crops, thriving in early spring or late summer. They will tolerate light frosts and will germinate in soil temperatures between 4°C to 24°C (39°F to 75°F). Can I get a loud "Hooray"? Come on, let's hear it for peas!!!! If you live in a cool climate, you feel my excitement.
Choose an early-season variety and dig these seeds about an inch and a half into the ground. I love that I don't have to worry about the spring winds whipping them away like the tiny carrot seeds (one reason I don't plant my carrots early in the season). They stay snug in the soil until it's time to reveal themselves.
And then they just grow and grow and grow…you'll need netting or a pea tower (amazon.ca or amazon.com) for those tall growing varieties.
Tip: You can also plant mid-season and late varieties so you'll have a continuous supply of peas. For more planting tips, the University of Saskatchewan has a great pea-growing guide.
Best Variety for Beginners:
Super Sugar Snap Pea
Sugar snap peas are super simple to grow and, as the name suggests, are sweeter than the regular Sugar Snap. You can eat these crunchy snap peas whole - pod and all. My kids gobble these up before they even make it to the house.
New (to me) Variety I'm trying this year:
Homesteader Pea (pre-1908)
As a homesteader, it makes sense to grow these shelling peas, which are great for fresh eating or freezing. They are heat-tolerant and productive, and the seed company that sells them, Harvest Heritage, says they have been a family favorite for years, claiming it to be one of the best tasting!
2. Radishes
This is another crop that can be seeded directly in the garden as soon as your soil can be worked in spring. In fact, it doesn't do well in the summer heat so plant them early. Radishes may be seen as simply a spicy salad topper, but they are amazing roasted in the oven and served as a simple side dish.
They also grow so fast that there isn't time for these guys to perish. They are ready to harvest within 20-30 days! If you're an impatient gardener who wants fast results, plant radishes.
Pro Tips:
- Avoid over-fertilizing since radishes thrive better without too much nitrogen.
- Direct sow your radish seeds in the spring or autumn, and be sure to choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil.
- For more growing tips, the Farmer's Almanac has a complete guide.
Variety I'm growing this year
Cherry Belle Radish
Plant these radishes today, and in 3 weeks, you could be enjoying your first crop. Easy and fast to grow, you'll love these bright red, cherry radishes.
3. Beans
Beans are so easy, beautiful, and fun to grow. And there are SO many choices. Not just yellow or green, but purple and even striped. Have you heard of Dragon's Tongue Bush Bean with its glorious purple streaks? Or how about the majestic, bright purple Royal Burgundy, which can handle cooler soils? Or "Scarlet Runner", which will make you sigh in delight as it proudly shows off its eye-catching red flowers that attract hummingbirds. It's gorgeous, my friends. And every garden needs a little gorgeous. So, plant yourself some beans.
Bush Beans vs. Pole Beans
Beans come in two main types (both are easy to grow!):
Bush beans grow in compact, bushy plants and don't require support. They're perfect for small spaces and quick harvests.
Pole beans, on the other hand, are climbing varieties that need vertical support, like trellises or poles (amazon.ca or amazon.com), but they typically produce more beans over a longer period.
Why They're Easy: They practically thrive on neglect-minimal watering and a sunny spot will do the trick. Just remember to plant them after the risk of frost has passed. For more info on growing beans, the Farmer's Almanac has a complete guide.
Variety I'm growing this year:
Provider (Bush Bean)
I really love these green beans. They are very easy to grow and can be planted earlier than other beans, which means I get to eat fresh beans faster! Plus, they're a favorite of Canadian gardening expert Niki Jabbour, who chose them as one of her top picks in her book The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener.
4. Tomatoes
Even if I lived in a 100-square-foot skyrise apartment building, I would find a way to grow tomato plants because nothing compares to the taste of juicy, flavorful, homegrown tomatoes. In fact, tomatoes are a staple in almost every Canadian garden.
And they are so easy to grow. Well, you might want to stay away from those "upside-down" tomato planters. They dry out easily. Best to plant your tomatoes in a large pot or a garden.
Just like beans, there are so many colors and sizes it will make your head spin. The most important consideration in our climate, other than taste, of course, is if there is enough time for the fruit to ripen, so check the seed packets to determine the "days to maturity".
You'll also have to choose between indeterminate (vine) and determinate (bush) varieties. I prefer determinate because a cage such as these: amazon.ca or amazon.com is usually enough to support them. The downside is that all of your tomatoes will ripen almost at the same time. However, we have such a short growing season in Canada that this doesn't matter to me.
If you choose an indeterminate, you will get tomatoes over a longer period, but prepare to prune and stake!
Tips for Success: Tomato plants need an even supply of moisture. Consider laying down a thick layer of mulch to help hold in moisture and prevent weeds from growing.
Beginner's Tip: Start with young plants from a nursery or garden center-this will save you weeks of waiting and ensure a higher success rate.
Varieties I'm growing this year
Mystery Keepers
This is the best storage tomato in my opinion. They ripen from the inside out so they can stay sitting on your counter for months after harvesting them before they turn red.
Sungold
There are many cherry tomato varieties, but I grow these cherry tomatoes every year because they are extra sweet and taste like tangy candy. I eat them right off the vine and throw them in salads.
Fargo Yellow Pear Tomato
These darling (extremely rare) heirloom tomatoes produce the cutest, pear-shaped yellow cherry tomatoes that look like little fairy bells. Try them…just because! They are great for small gardens and one of the most prolific tomatoes you will grow.
42 Days Tomato
An excellent tomato variety for Canada's short growing season. But the name is a little deceiving. It should be 45 Days Tomato because it actually takes 45-50 days from transplant to reach maturity.
Can't decide? Here are the tastiest tomatoes to grow according to experts across Canada.
Before you fill your seed cart…
Seed catalogs make every variety sound irresistible, but beginners do not need 80 seed packets. Ask me how I know. Before you order, here's how to choose seeds for your garden without wasting money.
5. Leafy greens
There is no reason you should have to buy leafy greens if you don't want to. I haven't taken an official poll, but these have to be the easiest of all crops to grow. Every two weeks, I simply sprinkle a few teaspoons of lettuce seeds in my garden and lightly cover with soil. This will guarantee a fresh, continuous supply of leafy greens for all your salad needs.
Warning: Although leaf lettuce is easy to grow, slugs also love it. So, wash your greens carefully! I learned this lesson the hard way. Slug salad, anyone?
Growing Advice: Lettuce grows beautifully in cooler spring or fall weather. You can even grow it in containers if space is tight. For an ongoing harvest, sow seeds every two weeks.
Varieties I'm growing this year
Green Salad Bowl Lettuce (1952)
This is a loose-leaf type of lettuce perfect for sprinkling around the garden. It's an All-America Selections winner and has pretty, light green rosettes of frilly leaves that are bolt resistant.
6. Kale
Kale might be the most beginner-friendly superfood. When other vegetables are succumbing to killing frosts, kale is thriving and getting sweeter! I love growing kale not only because it extends my harvest season, but also because it can be enjoyed in so many ways - salads, smoothies, soups, and even kale chips!
For more growing tips, check out How to Harvest Kale for Maximum Yields.
Varieties I'm growing this year
Ragged Jack Kale
My son's name is Jack, so it's only fitting that I choose the kale variety called Ragged Jack! It's a delicious heritage variety introduced into Canada by Russian traders in 1885. The beautiful, cold-hardy plants have bluish-green leaves with purplish veins.
Winter Blend
This is an especially hardy variety of kale that's perfect for cold climates. It will supply you with nutritious leaves for juicing or fresh eating during those long, winter months.
7. Spinach
Spinach thrives in the cooler seasons of spring and fall, making it a great option across much of Canada. Although spinach typically takes 35 to 50 days to reach full maturity, you can start harvesting baby leaves in as little as 3 to 4 weeks (20-30 days) after planting.
Pro Tip: Harvest young plants early and often to encourage continued production.
8. Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a beginner gardener's best friend. It's almost impossible to kill and is so pretty to look at with its colorful leaves. I plant swiss chard instead of spinach because it handles the heat better.
Fun Fact: You can keep harvesting its leafy stems throughout the season as long as you leave the central crown intact.
Variety I'm growing this year
Rhubarb Supreme
This variety is easy to grow and has excellent bolt resistance (prematurely going to seed due to heat, stress, or long daylight hours).
9. Carrots
Did you know carrots will grow even in sub-par soil? And that's why I love the carrot.
Now, if you are a gardener, you may be thinking," - You're wrong!" Many sources will tell you that if your soil is too heavy or rocky, you'll need to plant your carrots in a raised bed. But if this were true, I would have never been able to grow a single carrot.
Although they do prefer lighter, looser soil so they can grow to their full and long potential, I have had success growing decent-sized carrots even in my clay soil. I even managed to grow a carrot in my garden path. So, don't be afraid to plant carrots. They are hardy, resilient, and fantastic for new gardeners. They can tolerate a bit of frost and love well-drained sandy soil.
One caveat: You should clear large rocks from your carrot planting area if you want completely straight, even growth.
Tip for Success: Thin out young plants to avoid crowding, ensuring plump, healthy carrots.
Varieties I'm planting this year
Purple Dragon Carrot
I prefer a plain, old, regular orange carrot, but the kids get a kick out of the purple ones, and they say they taste better. These carrots are actually orange inside with a yellow core.
Danvers Half-long Carrot
If you have shallow soil like me, you may want to try the Danvers Half-Long carrot. They are about 6 inches long and have that perfect, sweet, crunchy carrot taste.
Scarlet Nantes Carrot
This is another excellent carrot variety that has survived in my garden. Dependable, nearly coreless, sweet, and stores well - What more could you want in a carrot?
Little Finger Carrot
These sweet-tasting baby carrots are so small (3-4 inches long) that you can grow them in containers. They're great for pickling, canning, or eating fresh out of the garden.
And if you end up with more carrots than you can eat fresh, these easy fermented carrots are one of the simplest ways to preserve them.
10. Beets
As a northern gardener, my vegetable plot would not be complete without beets. This is a frost-tolerant, cold-hardy vegetable that ranks high among the easiest vegetables to grow in Canada's unpredictable spring and autumn seasons.
Beets also offer a two-for-one deal-they provide both edible roots and tender greens.
The only problem is that I often forget to take them out of the ground until they have grown past their optimal size, making these roots a lot tougher than they otherwise would be.
If you can remember to harvest them on time and keep sowing every few weeks throughout the spring and summer, you can enjoy beets into the fall.
Pro Tip: Sow beets directly in the ground and thin out the seedlings once they've sprouted.
Variety I'm planting this year
Red Ace Organic
Red Ace Organic is a recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It's the perfect all-purpose beet and, in mild winter gardens, this variety can be harvested all winter.
11. Herbs
If you enjoy herbs, then pick up as many as you like because there is a very good chance none of them will die. I have yet to kill an herb. Basil, dill, parsley, oregano, fennel, rosemary…they all grow really easily. In fact, if you are nervous about starting a garden, why not start with a simple herb garden? You don't even need to plant a garden because they do really well (and sometimes better!) in containers
12. Onions
Onions have survived since the Bronze Age, so it's unsurprising that they are easy to grow, right? They are incredibly low-maintenance and perfect for gardens, large or small. Although I've never planted onions by seed, I plant onion sets every spring so I don't have to stress about seedlings or spacing. And by mid-summer, I have good-sized bulbs. It's as easy as that!
Growing Secret: Onions thrive when given consistent watering and lots of sunlight. For more growing tips, check out the Farmer's Almanac's complete guide.
13. Garlic
The most difficult part about growing garlic is remembering to plant it. Or motivating oneself to plant it at the end of the growing season. In our climate, you have to plant cloves in the fall, and then you reap the rewards the following year.
14. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are easy to grow for anyone other than me because I have a hard time consistently watering them. Cucumbers love moisture and will thrive when you keep the soil evenly moist. If you can do this and you don't mind installing a trellis (such as amazon.ca or amazon.com), cucumbers are incredibly rewarding for beginners to grow. They sprout fast (5 to 7 days), grow quickly (in as little as 50 days), and a single plant will produce many cucumbers over the growing season - perfect for fresh eating, lunch boxes, and pickling projects like my crunchy lacto-fermented pickles.
Cucumbers come in two main types:
- Slicing Cucumbers (ideal for salads and snacking)
- Pickling Cucumbers (perfect for canning and preserving
Pro Tip: If you're starting indoors to get a head start, sow seeds in small pots 3-4 weeks before moving them outside. Make sure there's no risk of frost when transplanting.
Varieties I'm planting this year:
Muncher Cucumber
If cucumbers are hard for you to digest, you'll love this bitter-free, Middle Eastern type cucumber with smooth green skin and crisp, sweet flesh. Muncher Cucumbers are great for pickling and slicing.
Mini-Me F1 Certified Organic
These cucumbers are smaller (just 2.5 to 3 inches) so they are perfect for snacking and lunch boxes! Mini-Me is also an early variety that produces lots of tasty cuks.
15. Zucchini
Warning! You will only need to plant one zucchini in your garden! A single plant can yield enough to feed a family. It's fast-growing and prolific. In fact, even with only one plant, there is a good chance you will grow too many zucchini unless you really love them. When that happens, my fermented zucchini is an easy way to use up all that zucchini before it takes over your kitchen.
Pro Advice: Make sure you give zucchini plenty of space since vines can spread quite a bit.
So, do you agree? Are these the easiest vegetables to grow, or do you have one to add to the list? Let me know in the comments below.
No Green Thumb? No Problem! Follow These Beginner Gardening Tips
- Start small. Don't overwhelm yourself by planting too many crops in your first year. Focus on a few of the easiest veggies and expand gradually. I learned this the hard way after ordering way too many seeds for my first small garden, so if seed catalogs make you want to grow everything, here are my tips on choosing seeds for your garden without wasting money.
- Use aged manure or compost. Enrich your soil with organic matter to give your plants a nutritious boost.
- Regular Watering. Vegetables like steady moisture-but don't overwater, as soggy, wet soil can damage roots.
- Choose a gardening spot in full sun. Most vegetables need around 6-8 hours of sunlight per day to thrive.
- Research your growing zone. There are many different varieties of each kind of vegetable. To find the perfect variety that will grow well in your Canadian climate, find your growing zone on the Government of Canada's Plant Hardiness Site or use this handy map.
- Determine your frost dates: You'll also need to determine your first frost date of the season and last frost date of the season. Between these dates is when it is likely safe to plant your garden without any risk of frost killing your plants. The best way to determine these dates is to check with other local gardeners, as there are many variables, such as microclimates within an area, that can cause fluctuations in your frost dates. However, Vesey Seeds has a list of the average Canadian frost dates that will give you a good idea.
Happy gardening!
Ready to add fruit to your garden?
Raspberries are one of the EASIEST fruits to grow. Here's how to choose the best raspberry variety for your garden and plant your first cane.
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