15 Fast Growing Vegetables for Your Garden
Sweet peppers and tomatoes are some of my favorite things to grow in my garden. But admittedly, they take awhile to produce. That’s why I also love to grow some of these fast growing vegetables.
Whether you’re practicing gardening for homesteading or simply looking to create a garden that can quickly feed you and your family, you’ll appreciate these top fast growing vegetables.
Plus, don’t forget to check out this post on how to make a homemade fruit and vegetable cleaner so you can make sure your food is clean and safe to eat.
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1. Radishes
Radishes are one of the fastest-growing vegetables out there. They’re also incredibly simple to grow, which makes them great vegetables for children’s gardens.
You don’t need to start them inside. Instead, just sow them directly in your pot or garden. These radishes can go from seed to your plate in just 24 days.
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2. Turnips
Turnips are an excellent choice for a fast garden because you’re actually getting two products in one. Not only can you eat the root, but you can also eat the leaves.
They’re also not very fussy. They’re one of the best vegetables that grow in shade, and you can plant them during the entire growing season in most gardening zones. These turnips reach maturity in 30 to 40 days.
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3. Spinach
I love growing spinach in our garden because it offers a variety of benefits. It’s one of the fast growing vegetables, and one of the best vegetables for container gardens.
It’s loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and I can use it in a variety of quick and easy vegetarian recipes.
To grow this spinach, simply plant it in quality dirt, give it some water, and in as little as 28 days you’ll be able to start harvesting it.
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4. Arugula
Arugula has a slightly peppery taste that makes it a wonderful addition to any salad. It’s also high in potassium and vitamin C. Since vitamin C is an important natural cold remedy, having access to a continuous source is very beneficial.
If you’d like to grow arugula in your garden, simply plant it, give it about 15 to 20 days to mature, and then cut some leaves off when you’re ready to harvest.
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5. Lettuce
My garden offers a variety of benefits, like helping me save money at the grocery store. Since I like to have a salad with every dinner, growing lettuce in my garden means I can get it fresh from my backyard instead of having to buy it at the store every week.
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Even better, lettuce reaches maturity very quickly. With this lettuce, I can harvest baby greens in just three weeks or full-size leaves in just over a month.
6. Kale
Kale is one of the most cold-tolerant plants on this list of fast growing vegetables. In some gardening zones, you can grow kale almost year-round. You can easily start kale directly outdoors, just remember it needs plenty of water since too little can make it bitter.
If you really want to have your kale as quickly as possible, these kale baby greens reach maturity in about 25 days. If you prefer something more traditional, this kale reaches maturity in 55 days.
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7. Bok Choy
Bok choy reaches maturity in about 30 days, which makes it ideal for your fast growing garden. You can pick the leaves individually or you can cut the entire bunch. Then you can use the greens in a stir fry, marinated salad, and more.
Related: The Best Cold-Tolerant Vegetables to Grow in Winter
8. Mesclun
Mesclun is a mix of several greens. You don’t have a pay a premium at the grocery store for mesclun when you can easily grow your own.
This mesclun mix has a blend of six leaf lettuces that vary in shape, color, texture, and flavor. Best of all, you can start harvesting the leaves in just three weeks.
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9. Scallions
Scallions are another versatile crop for your garden. They’re sometimes also referred to as green onions, spring onions, or bunching onions. While the onion bulb itself can take a couple months to produce, the edible green stalks are ready in just a few weeks.
10. Broccoli Raab
Broccoli raab goes by several different names, including broccoletti, rapini, and broccoli rabe. While it looks like broccoli, it’s actually more closely related to turnips.
The trick to growing broccoli raab is to harvest the clusters as soon as they appear because they flower fast. This broccoli raab reaches maturity in about 45 days.
Don’t forget that the leaves and stems are also edible. They taste best when you harvest them young. Not sure how to cook broccoli raab? We have a recipe in this collection of vegan recipes.
11. Summer Squash
Not only is summer squash one of the fastest growing vegetables, but it’s also one of the best vegetables to grow in summer. Plus, once your plant starts producing, you’ll have plenty of squash to eat.
This summer squash is ready to harvest in just 45 days and you can harvest it young for the best flavor.
12. Bush Beans
Like summer squash, bush beans are a fast growing vegetable that also offers a high yield. I like to use these bush beans because they’re ready to harvest in 50 days and they’re good for freezing and canning.
This means that not only can we enjoy fresh beans right away, but I can also preserve beans for later months. Just remember that bean plants like to climb, so you’ll need to give them a trellis.
13. Mini Carrots
Mini carrots are an excellent choice for your fast growing garden because they don’t take as long to mature as full-size carrots.
I love to grow these mini carrots because they’re sweet and crisp. They also reach maturity in less than two months.
14. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a good choice for your garden because there’s so much you can do with them. You can pick them right off the plant to eat them fresh or add them to your salads. You can also preserve them by pickling them.
If you’re looking for a good option for your garden, these cucumbers reach maturity in 60 days. Just remember that cucumbers like to run, so you’ll need to give them a trellis.
15. Microgreens
Microgreens are an absolutely amazing plant. They’re packed with flavor and nutrients and very easy to grow. In fact, you can grow most microgreens right on your windowsill, which also makes them one of the best vegetables to grow indoors.
If you’re not sure which type to try, I recommend getting this microgreens collection. It comes with five different varieties, and some are ready to harvest in as little as 10 days.
The Best Fast Growing Vegetables
You don’t have to wait forever for your garden to start producing. Thanks to these fast growing vegetables, you can get food on your table in just a matter of weeks.
More Great Gardening Tips
Now that you see how easy it is to get your garden producing using these fast growing vegetables, are you interested in even more excellent gardening tips? Then be sure to check out a few of our other popular posts:
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