Starting a vegetable garden is easier than you think! With the right crops, everyone can grow delicious vegetables that would otherwise cost a premium at grocery stores.
Let's explore 15 vegetables that are not only simple to grow but will also help reduce your grocery bills throughout the growing season.
1. Radishes
Perfect for beginners, radishes offer almost instant gratification in the garden.
Why it's easy: These root vegetables mature rapidly, often within 3–6 weeks from planting. They require minimal care and can grow in small spaces like containers or between slower-growing vegetables.
Money-saving benefits: Beyond saving money, homegrown radishes enhance soil health and provide fresh, crisp produce that tastes significantly better than store-bought options. Their quick growth also makes them ideal for succession planting, allowing multiple harvests from the same space.
2. Lettuce
Forget expensive salad mixes! Growing your own lettuce provides endless salad options.
Why it's easy: Lettuce tolerates partial shade and is a "cut-and-come-again" crop, meaning you can harvest outer leaves multiple times from the same plant.
Money-saving benefits: A single packet of mixed lettuce seeds can produce dozens of salads throughout the growing season. When you consider that organic salad greens can cost $3-5 per package, the savings add up quickly.
3. Beans
Whether you choose bush or pole varieties, beans are garden superstars.
Why it's easy: Beans are naturally drought-resistant and require minimal maintenance. As legumes, they even improve your soil by fixing nitrogen.
Money-saving benefits: High in protein and nutrients, homegrown beans offer a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to store-bought varieties. Fresh green beans can be expensive at the market, while dried beans provide exceptional value when grown at home.
4. Peas
Sweet, crisp, and productive – peas are a garden favorite.
Why it's easy: Peas grow well in cool weather and don't require much space, especially if you choose vertical growing options. They're also relatively pest-resistant.
Money-saving benefits: Fresh peas taste incomparably sweeter than store-bought ones. They also improve soil fertility and significantly reduce grocery costs during their productive season.
5. Tomatoes
Nothing compares to the flavor of a sun-ripened homegrown tomato.
Why it's easy: Despite their reputation, tomatoes are surprisingly low-maintenance plants that thrive with basic care like good soil and occasional watering.
Money-saving benefits: Premium heirloom tomatoes can cost $4-6 per pound at farmers' markets, making homegrown varieties an incredible value. They're also more flavorful and free of harmful chemicals often found in store-bought options.
6. Zucchini
Famous for its abundance, zucchini is the gift that keeps on giving.
Why it's easy: Zucchini grows prolifically with minimal effort and is highly productive – sometimes too productive! Just one or two plants can provide enough for a family.
Money-saving benefits: During peak season, a single zucchini plant can produce several pounds of vegetables weekly, dramatically reducing grocery bills. Their versatility in recipes from pasta to baked goods makes them even more valuable.
7. Arugula (Rocket)
This peppery green is a gardener's dream for quick results. Arugula can be ready to harvest in as little as 3-4 weeks after planting, making it perfect for impatient gardeners.
Why it's easy: Arugula thrives in various conditions and can be grown in small spaces or even indoors on a sunny windowsill. It's also perfect for container gardening if you're short on space.
Money-saving benefits: A small packet of arugula seeds costs about the same as one pre-packaged salad mix but will provide multiple harvests throughout the season. Plus, homegrown arugula has a far superior taste and freshness compared to store-bought varieties.
8. Potatoes
Growing potatoes feels like discovering buried treasure in your garden.
Why it's easy: Potatoes can be grown from kitchen scraps (sprouting potatoes) and require little maintenance beyond "hilling" soil around the plants as they grow.
Money-saving benefits: Specialty potatoes like fingerlings or purple varieties can be expensive to purchase but easy to grow. Additionally, homegrown potatoes can be stored for months, providing long-term value.
9. Swiss Chard
This colorful leafy green is both ornamental and delicious.
Why it's easy: Swiss chard is remarkably hardy, grows continuously when harvested correctly, and is less prone to bolting compared to other greens like spinach.
Money-saving benefits: It provides a steady supply of nutritious greens for cooking or salads at a fraction of store prices. A few plants can produce continuous harvests throughout the entire growing season.
10. Spinach
This nutrient powerhouse deserves a place in every garden.
Why it's easy: Spinach grows quickly in cool weather and can be harvested multiple times before bolting in hot weather.
Money-saving benefits: Fresh spinach is tastier than store-bought varieties and provides essential nutrients like iron at a lower cost. Organic spinach can be particularly expensive to purchase, making homegrown an excellent value.
11. Strawberries
These beloved berries bring joy to gardeners of all ages.
Why it's easy: Strawberries require minimal care once established and can produce for several years with proper maintenance.
Money-saving benefits: Organic strawberries are among the most expensive fruits at the grocery store, often commanding premium prices due to their perishability. Growing your own provides significantly better value while delivering superior flavor.
12. Carrots
Sweet, crunchy carrots are garden favorites for good reason.
Why it's easy: Carrots grow well in loose soil with consistent moisture and don't require much attention beyond thinning seedlings if planted densely.
Money-saving benefits: Specialty carrots like purple, yellow, or heirloom varieties can be expensive to purchase but cost just pennies to grow. Once harvested, they store well for months in proper conditions.
13. Herbs (Basil, Parsley, Dill)
Fresh herbs transform ordinary meals into culinary delights.
Why it's easy: Many herbs thrive in small spaces like pots or windowsills with minimal watering. They're perfect for apartment dwellers or those with limited garden space.
Money-saving benefits: Store-bought fresh herbs are notoriously expensive, often costing $2-4 for small bundles that quickly wilt. A single herb plant can provide the equivalent of dozens of store-bought packages throughout the season.
14. Beetroot
These earthy root vegetables offer great value from root to leaf.
Why it's easy: Beetroot is relatively pest-resistant and grows well in cooler weather. The entire plant is edible – roots for roasting or pickling and leaves for sautéing like spinach.
Money-saving benefits: Getting both greens and roots from one plant maximizes garden space and value. Specialty varieties like golden or striped beets can be expensive to purchase but easy to grow from seed.
15. Kale
This superfood thrives in many growing conditions.
Why it's easy: Kale is remarkably cold-hardy and will continue producing even after light frosts, extending your growing season. It's also resistant to many common garden pests.
Money-saving benefits: Organic kale bunches can cost $3-5 at grocery stores, while a packet of seeds costs about the same and produces dozens of harvests. Kale also freezes well, allowing you to preserve your harvest for winter use.
Getting Started with Your Money-Saving Garden
Ready to start growing these easy, cost-effective vegetables? Here are a few tips to maximize your success:
- Start small - Begin with 3-5 vegetables that you enjoy eating regularly
- Consider your climate - Choose varieties that grow well in your region
- Plan for succession - Plant quick-growing crops like radishes between slower-growing vegetables
- Track your garden - Document what works well to improve next season
The Veggie Patch app makes tracking your garden journey simple and intuitive, helping you learn from each growing season while documenting your successes. Unlike rigid planning tools, our approach embraces the natural rhythm of gardening while still optimizing your harvest.
Conclusion
Growing your own vegetables doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of harvesting fresh produce from your own garden. These 15 easy-to-grow vegetables offer excellent returns on minimal investment of time and money.
Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to expand your existing garden, these vegetables provide the perfect starting point for a productive and economical garden. Happy growing!
Ready to take your gardening to the next level? The Veggie Patch app combines a comprehensive seed library, personalized planning timeline, and interactive garden journal to help you grow with confidence. Get started today and turn your garden dreams into a bountiful reality!