Best vegetables to grow for beginners | Botanic Gardens of Sydney (2024)

Growing your own plants and veggies can be extremely rewarding. It can save you money, and it's good for your health and wellbeing.

Getting started

To grow any good plants and vegetables you have to set up for yourself up for success. You will need…

Good soil: The best soil mix for vegetable gardens is organic that includes compost, manure, rock dust and mulch. Qualities to look for in a good soil is good fertility and texture.

When creating the best organic soil mix for a vegetable garden, determination of soil pH is essential before adding any soil amendments. A slightly acid pH between 6.0 and 6.8 is optimal to grow most vegetables.

Adding one or more types of organic matter helps create the healthiest soil to support vegetable growth and development.

Container or earth: There are many different ways to plant your veggies – garden beds, plots in the ground, planters, pots, vertical gardens and more. Whatever space you have you can grow veggies.

Just remember if you are growing in a container you must have holes in the bottom of each – up to four holes is good. No plants like soggy bottoms!

Food:Like us, plants need food. Once your vegetables are established you should keep them well fed with fertiliser. You can buy compost, or make your own at home.

Organic fertiliser is best for vegetables so you know what is growing your food.If you are not fussed and want non-organic you can look to your local nursery for what they recommend for vegetables.

Work compost and a little bit of pelletised manure-based fertiliser through the soil, followed by mulch, to a depth of about 5-7 cm about two weeks out from planting. Your plants will thank you.

Sunshine: How much sunlight your plants are able to get during the day will determine what you can plant. Veggies prefer to be in full sun but there are some varieties that like to grow in partial shade. Remember to read up on your vegetable of choice and take what they like into consideration before planting.

Leafy greens are some of the most versatile and healthiest veggies for you. There is a huge range to choose from including lettuce, kale, silver beet, rocket, spinach and more.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is traditionally a cool season veggie but it can grow all year round. Plan to add to your garden in spring or autumn. Lettuce seedlings can actually handle a little bit of frost too. Loose leaf varieties grow better in warmer weather conditions. Pick and eat varieties are the best to grow at home.

Available as seedlings, but also germinates readily from seed. Sprinkle in some seed at any time of year and this quick growing vegetable will be ready in weeks. In full heat of summer it is recommend to plant your seedlings in partially shaded spots in your patch or pot. You could plant beans or sweet corn around them to provide some shade as they grow for the hotter months.

Greens need well-drained soil with loads of organic matter or compost and some mulch. Seedlings will benefit if you prepare your soil about two weeks from planting.

Top tip: Water well and keep moist to prevent bitter flavour. Also, if you grow leaf lettuce – when harvesting pull off the bottom leaves instead of cutting the whole thing and the plant will keep growing for you!

Nothing grows faster than radishes or turnips! Want a quick success and to feel like a master gardener? Then just plop a few radish or turnips seeds in a pot and within weeks you can see the little roots start to swell. Carrots are best planted in late summer to early autumn and grown over winter.

Top tip: Don’t throw the tops away, they are edible too and make a great pesto or cooked greens. Only takes a few minutes to serve them up.

Did you know? The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is the site of Australia’s first European farm. In 1788, nine acres of corn were planted near the Governor’s House. The site overlooked an area distinguished by the name Farm Cove. The first crops were planted out of season, the soil quality was poor and rats raided the patch.

Cucumbers love the heat of summer and resent cool wet weather. They like adequate drainage and fertile soil. There are two main types of cucumbers to grow for slicing and pickling. Slicing types are long and usually grow to 15-20 cms while pickling types are shorter 7-10 cm.

Top tip: Cucumbers are especially easy to grow but need a trellis or strings to climb on. Great for adding instant shade to your summer patio while adding some crunch to your salads.

Broccoli is a great vegetable to cultivate during the cooler months. Only a few generations ago it was considered an exotic Italian vegetable but today it's a mainstream vegetable and diet staple for many. Broccoli is best sown in summer or autumn. Seeds are best sown in starter pots or trays then transferred when they are about 7 cm.

Top tip: Broccoli is susceptible to a soil-borne problem called club root, which causes plants to wilt on hot days, so make sure you plant in a different plant or pot each year to reduce this from happening.

Peas are easy to grow and a great first time plant for kids or novice green thumbs. Easy to grow anytime of year except summer. They hate the hot weather. There are three varieties of peas that will suit your garden and cooking needs: sweet peas (inedible pods), snow peas (edible flat pods with small peas inside) and snap peas (edible pods with full-sized peas inside). They are a great companion plant for other veggies.

Top tip: If your plant looks a bit too big or if you want something new to try, snap off some of the new shoots for a salad or stir fry. They are all the rage in the culinary world now and guess what? They taste just like fresh peas.

Everyone wants to grow their own strawberries, and nothing is more deliscious than one straight from your patio or backyard. That is if you can beat the possums, co*ckatoos, slugs and your neighbours to them first.

Top tip: Strawberries are quite attractive plants and actually make great hanging baskets or balcony plants. Make sure when purchasing plants that they are listed as “Everbearing”. This way you will get a longer period of production.

Other suitable veggies, especially to plant and grow at this time of year in NSW, includes Mustard Greens, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Rocket, Peas, Silverbeet, Beets, Potatoes, and Spinach.