10 Easy-to-Grow Vegetables for Year-Round Gardening Success
Easy-to-Grow Vegetables That Thrive in Every Season
Starting a vegetable garden can be incredibly rewarding—especially when you focus on easy-to-grow vegetables that thrive all year round. Whether you're new to gardening or have years of experience, choosing hardy, all-year-round plants means you'll always have fresh, homegrown food just a few steps away.
With the right selection and a bit of planning, you can keep your garden thriving through summer heat, winter chills, and everything in between. As a gardener with over 30 years of hands-in-the-soil experience, and 15 years working with aquaponics systems—I’m excited to share my favourite year-round gardening tips and the best veggies to grow in every season.
Just starting your vegetable gardening journey? Learn from my mistakes in my blog about the 15 things I wish I knew before starting my vegetable garden.
1. Spinach
Spinach is a versatile, cold-hardy vegetable that thrives in both spring and fall. It's packed with vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritious addition to your meals. Spinach prefers cooler temperatures, ideally between 7-24°C (45-75°F), and can be grown in partial shade. If temperatures get too high, it may bolt (flower and go to seed), so provide shade in the summer months.
Tip: Sow seeds every few weeks for a continuous harvest, and try growing in containers if space is limited.
2. Kale
Kale is one of the easiest and most resilient leafy greens to grow. It can withstand cold weather and even improves in flavour after a frost. Kale grows best in temperatures between 16-21°C (60-70°F) but can survive in much colder conditions with some protection.
Tip: Harvest leaves from the bottom up, allowing the plant to continue producing new growth for months on end.
3. Lettuce
Lettuce varieties like loose-leaf, butterhead, and romaine are perfect for year-round growth. They flourish in cool weather but can also be grown in shaded areas during summer. The ideal growing temperature is between 7-24°C (45-75°F). If you live in a hot climate, opt for heat-resistant varieties.
Tip: Succession planting every 2-3 weeks ensures a steady supply of fresh lettuce for salads and sandwiches.
4. Carrots
Carrots are root vegetables that can be planted almost any time of the year, depending on your climate. They grow best in loose, sandy soil with temperatures between 13-24°C (55-75°F). Some varieties can even be overwintered for an early spring harvest.
Tip: Thin seedlings to allow enough space for roots to develop properly and ensure straight, healthy carrots.
5. Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a hardy green that tolerates both heat and cold, making it an ideal year-round vegetable. It grows well in temperatures ranging from 10-29°C (50-85°F). Chard is also a great cut-and-come-again plant, meaning you can harvest leaves while allowing the plant to keep growing.
Tip: Use chard in salads, soups, and sautés for a nutritious boost, and grow rainbow chard for a splash of colour in your garden.
Start your new vegetable garden with the FREE Online Aquaponics Essentials Course?
This is a great free resource to really understand how aquaponics is a sustainable ecosystem that will grow your organic food is a productive way.
You learn how all the 'parts' make up the 'whole', and helps to give you the foundations of understanding aquaponics and how it's a beginner friendly gardening option.
Sign up for the FREE Aquaponics Course here.
6. Radishes
Radishes are quick-growing root vegetables that mature in as little as 3-4 weeks. They prefer cooler weather and can be grown in temperatures between 10-21°C (50-70°F). They are an excellent choice for beginners due to their fast turnaround.
Tip: Sow radish seeds in early spring and autumn for the best results, and try different varieties like French Breakfast or Daikon radishes.
7. Green Onions (Scallions)
Green onions are easy to grow and can be harvested multiple times throughout the year. They thrive in temperatures between 13-24°C (55-75°F) and can tolerate light frosts. You can start them from seed or regrow them from kitchen scraps by placing the roots in water before replanting them in soil.
Tip: Plant green onion sets or seeds for a continuous supply, and snip off leaves as needed without uprooting the whole plant.
8. Beets
Beets are cool-weather crops that can be grown in both spring and autumn. They do best in temperatures between 10-21°C (50-70°F). Both the roots and the greens are edible, making them a versatile crop to grow in your garden.
Tip: Sow beet seeds every few weeks for a continuous harvest and try golden or striped varieties for something different.
9. Peas
Peas are excellent cool-season crops that can be grown in early spring and fall. They thrive in temperatures between 13-24°C (55-75°F) and are a fantastic nitrogen-fixing plant, meaning they help improve your soil quality.
Tip: Provide support for climbing varieties with trellises or stakes to maximise space and improve airflow around the plants.
10. Arugula
Arugula is a fast-growing leafy green with a distinct, peppery flavour. It grows best in cool temperatures, between 7-18°C (45-65°F), and can be grown year-round with proper protection from extreme heat or cold.
Tip: Harvest young leaves for the best flavour, and grow in containers for an easy kitchen garden addition.
Want more ideas for which vegetables to include in your garden? Check out this list of 13 fast growing vegetables that are easy to grow.
Why Year-Round Vegetable Gardening Is Easier Than You Think
Growing your own vegetables year-round is not only possible but also highly rewarding. By choosing resilient and easy-to-grow veggies like spinach, kale, and radishes, you can enjoy fresh produce from your garden no matter the season. Whether you're growing in raised beds, containers, or an aquaponic system, these vegetables will provide you with nutritious, homegrown food all year long.
If you're new to gardening, start with a few of these easy options and experiment with different planting schedules. Gardening is all about learning and adapting to your local climate and conditions.
So, what are you waiting for? Get your hands in the soil and start growing today!
Happy gardening!
Learn More About Aquaponics
Check out the COURSES page to learn how you can get started with aquaponics now. Click HERE.
Check out My YouTube Channel 'Candy The Aquaponics Lady'
Aquaponics is an ecosystem, and with anything it takes time to learn how it works. So, sit back and binge watch my 'how to' playlist and the 'Water Quality Made Simple' Playlist, and learn the next steps in your aquaponics system as you create the ecosystem.
Here are the next 2 videos I recommend you watching to create your ecosystem ~ before you add any fish
How Aquaponics Works as an Ecosystem
Why Aquaponics is the best, and most sustainable form of gardening in small spaces
Learn More About Aquaponics
Check out the COURSES page to learn how you can get started with aquaponics now. Click HERE.
Want to get your Eyes and Hands on the FREE Online Aquaponics Essentials Course?
This is a great free resource to really understand how aquaponics is a sustainable ecosystem that will grow your organic food is a productive way.
You learn how all the 'parts' make up the 'whole', and helps to give you the foundations of understanding aquaponics.
Sign up HERE
Want to help out and Feed my Fish?? (They don't drink coffee)
Candy Alexander is a dedicated aquaponics enthusiast with a wealth of formal training in aquaculture. Over the past 15 years, Candy has been deeply immersed in both commercial and backyard aquaponics, honing her skills and expertise in this sustainable farming method.
Candy's passion lies in making aquaponics accessible to everyone. With a mission to simplify aquaponics, she believes that anyone can embark on this sustainable journey.
She encourages those new to aquaponics to "kick the tires" without a significant financial investment. Her guidance focuses on helping people start their aquaponics journey with small-scale systems, ensuring a low barrier to entry for newcomers.
Candy shares practical tips, step-by-step guides, and personal stories to inspire and guide readers on their aquaponics adventure. Whether you're a seasoned farmer or a curious beginner, Candy Alexander is your go-to source for simplifying aquaponics and fostering a sustainable gardening experience.
