GMG's Friday Find: Best Veggies to Grow from Seed

Growing your own food is incredibly gratifying and rewarding.  There's something about picking your groceries off the vine and from the soil that taps into our inner connection with nature, and our sense of shared purpose.  We tend the soil, the soil returns bounty for our health and well being.  Starting veggies from seed is where it all begins.  Farmer John Fendley of the Sustainable Seed Company suggests these simple seeds for beginners to have success in the garden:

BEETS - Because beets like cool weather, they do best after the harsh winter cold and before the mid-summer heat. They can also be grown in late summer for a tasty fall harvest.

RADISHES - Radishes are another cool weather veggie. Stagger planting of radishes in the spring and fall and enjoy the crisp veggie in salads or grilled for a vitamin K kick.

LETTUCE - Lettuces come in many varieties so you're sure to find several you enjoy.  Another lover of cool weather, lettuce can also be staggered so you can enjoy them into summer and again in the fall.  As the weather warms, lettuce likes a little shade so it's a perfect veggie to grow near taller plants like tomatoes and beans.

BEANS - There are many varieties of beans, from thin to foot long and are one of the easiest veggies to grow.  Just sow directly into warm soil with staking or even in a container with the bush varieties. Beans will produce for weeks and weeks to enjoy all summer and into the fall.

CUCUMBER -  A versatile veggie, cucumbers can be grown in containers, raised beds or rows. A cucumber's needs are simple, at least 6-8 hours of sun a day and lots of water.  Since they grow as bushes the yield is abundant, which is handy as the cucumber is jam-packed with vitamins (one cucumber provides most of your daily vitamin needs), is a great facial mask, and can even be used as a cleaner, slug remover, breath freshener or mirror de-fogger.  One veggie with tons of great uses, plus delicious, the cucumber is a must plant vegetable.

TOMATOES - Finally, the tomato.  There is truly nothing like a fresh picked summer tomato.  Varieties are somewhat endless, from heirloom to orange, to plum or cherry.  Actually the fruit of a tomato plant, there are few dishes that a tomato won't go well with, from salads to soups and sauces.  Tomato plants can be grown in containers or in the ground.  Many varieties need staking or caging, yet most tomato plants will yield throughout the summer into fall.  And storing tomatoes for winter use is easy, simply toss into a freezer bag and defrost for later use to perk up your winter soups and sauces.

As Farmer John says, "Your garden is the ultimate grocery store because it's convenient and tailored to your taste. But there are a multitude of other benefits to vegetable gardening such as saving money, eating healthier food and burning calories."  Farmer John, we totally agree. 

~Peggy
Garden Media Group