Vegetable garden: what are the easiest vegetables to grow?

With the arrival of fine weather, we want to spend more time in our garden and why not start growing vegetables that will enable us to make superb soups, mouth-watering salads... Whether you're a beginner or an experienced gardener, there are some vegetables that are easier to grow than others. Here's a closer look at the vegetables that are easy to grow.

Solanaceae

We'll start with a timeless fruit: the tomato. You can find them all year round in the supermarket, but they'll never taste like the ones we pick from our garden and grow with love. There's a place for them in every kitchen garden. You can easily find old varieties like the Green Zebra or the Pineapple tomato, and early varieties like the Marmande. For younger children and those with a sweet tooth, you can opt for cherry or pear tomatoes. They can be eaten straight off the vine or combined with mozzarella balls! To sow tomato seeds, all you need is a good substrate and plenty of light. The best is to place them behind a window, in a greenhouse or outside when the weather permits. They need more than ten hours of sunlight. If your shoots stretch, but the base does not thicken, then your seedlings are not getting enough light. Once your plants have fully grown, you can replant them in your garden in May. We always say that you should wait until after the Ice Saints, i.e. after 15 May. Normally, there is no risk of frost. To find out when you should sow, don't hesitate to get a sowing calendar here.

Potatoes are also very easy to grow and keep for a long time. They are a delight for young and old alike, whether cooked fried, mashed or steamed. There are many varieties, including Amandine and Bintje. To plant potatoes, you'll need tubers that have sprouts. You can plant them in a very sunny spot. The only drawback is that you'll need a lot of space unless you use a potato tower. Simply butter the potatoes to protect them from light and frost. After three months, you can start harvesting them. With a fork, you can dig them up without damaging them.

Courgettes and courgettes

Growing squash couldn't be easier. You can start sowing them from March to April in pots. Squash can't stand the cold, so you'll need to wait until the soil temperature is warm enough before planting them in your vegetable garden. The plants grow well in the sun and need a good supply of manure. Fortunately, squash does well in lightly decomposed manure. Like potatoes, they grow a lot, so to avoid being overgrown, you can grow them high up on a trellis or wire netting. You won't have to do much except watch out for slugs!

Zucchini is a very tasty vegetable. We eat the vegetables, but also the flowers. Like squash, it is an easy vegetable to grow. The plants are often generous and adapt to almost any latitude. You won't need many plants, as courgette plants are often very prolific. Start sowing the seeds and when the plants have reached three leaves, it's time to replant them in the garden. Add compost to the garden at the time of planting. You can mulch the courgette plants to avoid having to add water too often. You can start picking courgettes around two to three months after sowing.

Chard

Chard can be sown in pots, but is best grown in the ground from April onwards. It is important to provide it with water often, as this vegetable needs freshness. Remember to mulch the plants to limit water evaporation. Depending on the variety you plant, you can start harvesting the leaves and ribs a month after planting. Now that you know all about easy cultivation, all that's left to do is get started!