10 Best Easy to Grow Vegetables UK 2024 | Mr. Fothergill's, De Ree and More

Salad leaves like rocket and oak leaf lettuce are excellent ones to begin with, as they grow well both in the ground and in pots. There are plenty of varieties to choose from and can be harvested just three weeks later, so they don't require too much tending. They also keep growing, so you can reap the benefits time and time again. 

Our choice of rocket is from the well-known brand Mr. Fothergill's. It is an easy-to-grow variety, full of flavour with a slightly peppery taste. The packet comes with clear instructions on how to seed, with 500 seeds per pack – that should be more than enough for home use.

Radishes are another simple grower, and they make delicious crunchy additions to salads. They can be sown directly into the ground or grown in small containers, making them suitable for a wide variety of first-time gardeners. The seeds themselves are pretty large, making them easy to handle, and they can be ready to harvest in just a couple of weeks.

We've chosen the French Breakfast variety from De Ree. The seeds come in packs of around 270, which is plenty, but not too much, and they come with great instructions for successful germination. The reviews for this brand are incredible, with nearly every person having a successful experience of producing big, colourful veg!

Onions are another one that's not often thought of as a beginner veg, but they are virtually maintenance-free, making them perfect for newbies. Simply plant the bulbs into well-drained soil and leave them to do their thing! You can grow them from seeds, but it's much easier to grow them from baby onions, called sets.

There are many varieties to choose from, but why not start with the basics that we all use in the kitchen – yellow onions? This choice from Bolly Bulbs gives you 25 sets which is more than enough, and the reviews testify that they consistently produce a decent yield. Plant them in spring, ready for summer.

Tomatoes are always a go-to for any gardener, experienced or beginner. They're also perfect for kids to try because they're so easy and quick to produce fruit. Bushy varieties such as Romello are particularly good because they can be grown in small window boxes and don't require any pruning or maintenance apart from the occasional drink.

The packets from Own Grown are an excellent option as they come with a variety of bush seeds so that you'll never get bored. There's enough there for around 50 plants which should last you a good while, and Own Grown include precise, detailed instructions on the packet so there should be no chance of anything going wrong!

If you happen to eat lots of spicy food, chillies might be the best ones for you. They are incredibly easy to grow, requiring just a tiny space on a sunny windowsill or pot outside. Just like tomatoes, you can pretty much leave them to grow whilst plucking the occasional chilli when it's ready.

We've gone for the Thompson & Morgan Hot Chilli and Sweet Peppers Grow Kit. The kit contains a bunch of chilli and pepper seeds, complete with pots, plant markers, compost plugs and garden snips. This makes them excellent for those who haven't yet purchased all the goods that gardening requires!

After a root veg that's super easy to grow? Give beetroot a try. They do require a little work, spacing out the seedlings once they begin to pop through, but it's so worth it to pull up the gorgeous, deep purples to slice up in a salad or roast in the oven. Best of all, they're ready to harvest in just under 2 months.

We've gone for the Boltardy variety from trusty Mr. Fothergill's. They're resistant, delicious, and have an excellent success rate from their customers. The seeds have an even all-round colour and texture and are incredibly evenly shaped, which means the overall quality should be top-notch. 

Many people don't consider planting potatoes as a beginner, but they are actually an excellent choice. Potatoes can be grown in the ground, but they can also be grown in a bin or a potato sack which can sit just about anywhere! They do, however, require a bit of patience as they take 10-20 weeks to be ready for harvest. 

These seed potatoes from Jamieson Brothers have excellent reviews and an outstanding success rate from home gardeners. You get about 20-25 per pack to start you off along with easy-to-follow instructions. Plus, Maris Pipers are one of the UK's favourites – perfect for enticing guests over to try your home-grown produce!

Peas are another easy grower, especially when you pick a small, compact variety like 'Half Pint Peas'. They can be grown outside or in a container and can even grow flowers to make your patio look even prettier! You do often need something to support the stems as they grow, so bear that in mind whilst planning out your space.

Mr. Fothergill's seeds are an excellent choice for peas. They produce dwarf plants, which don't occupy too much space, and they have a prolonged harvest so you can keep enjoying fresh peas for months. These are also suitable for late sowing, so no worries if you get a little behind on planting your veg!

Beans are one of those versatile vegetables that go with almost anything, so they are a great addition to a newbie veg patch! Broad beans can be planted in small pots, then taken outside to either a balcony or a garden to continue to flourish. They do take quite a while to bear fruit, though, so a little patience is needed with this one. 

Thompson & Morgan produce packs of 35 Robin Hood Broad Bean seeds, which might not sound like a lot, but each plant can produce a serious amount of veg. They also provide ample advice on how to grow their beans based on whether you've got a garden or just a few pots, as well as advising on germination times and what you can expect throughout the process.

Courgettes are renowned for being one of the easiest vegetables to grow from seeds because they produce an abundance of veg from just a couple of plants. These Ambassador courgette seeds are a great buy in particular as the variation is ideal for growing in small spaces, plus it's resistant to certain common viruses. 

However, they need direct sunlight and regular watering, so ensure that you can provide it with the sun exposure required. The seeds also come in minimal, zip-lock packaging with no instructions other than those on the website, so it's recommended to do a bit of research before planting.