15 Fast-Growing Survival Vegetables for Your Crisis Garden
Have you ever heard of a survival garden? A survival garden allows you to feed yourself even in times of crisis by growing fresh, nutritious produce. I've put together a list of 15 fast-growing vegetables that are perfect for a survival garden.
Any gardener will tell you gardening can provide both sustenance and a sense of accomplishment, but not everyone has time to wait for long harvests.
Fortunately, these 15 fast-growing vegetables can be ready to harvest in as little as a month.
Perfect for quick results in a survival situation, these veggies will ensure a steady supply of nutritious food when it's needed most.
1. Baby Carrots – Sweet & Crunchy Survival Garden Favourite
Baby carrots are a sweet and crunchy addition to your garden and grow faster than full-sized varieties.
For best results, use containers at least 6-8 inches deep to accommodate their roots.
Carrots thrive in cool to moderate temperatures and should be planted in loose, well-drained soil.
Carrots don't like being disturbed once planted, so it is best to sow seeds directly and not transplant seedlings.
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring to early summer and autumn
Temperature: 13-24°C or 55-75°F
Support: None required
Tip: Keep soil consistently moist to enhance flavour and texture.
2. Spinach – A Nutrient-Packed Green for Fast Growing Gardens
Spinach is a nutritious leafy green that matures quickly. Sow seeds directly into soil or containers and harvest in about 30 days. Spinach prefers cooler temperatures, so avoid growing during the height of summer to prevent bolting.
In saying that, there are several types of spinaches that love the hot, humid summers in subtropical areas like the ones I feature in this video:
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring and autumn
Temperature: 10-21°C or 50-70°F
Support: None required
Tip: Harvest outer leaves frequently for a continuous supply.
3. Beetroot – A Hardy, Dual-Purpose Vegetable for Quick Harvest
Beetroots are a versatile vegetable, with both their roots and greens being edible.
Cooler weather promotes the best growth, and you can begin harvesting the greens in 30-45 days.
An excellent choice to be able to harvest leaves ongoing and the root when it is ready.
Full root development takes 50-70 days.
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring and autumn
Temperature: 10-21°C or 50-70°F
Support: None required
Tip: Beets are rich in fibre, making them a great choice for healthy digestion.
4. Leafy Lettuce – Quick Harvest for Fresh Salads
Leafy lettuce is a fast grower and can be continuously harvested by planting new seeds every few weeks. It's perfect for salads and sandwiches and grows best in cooler temperatures.
The limitation is that lettuce does not grow well in summer unless you grow it indoors.
Plus, you can harvest this fast-growing vegetable in about 30 days.
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring and autumn
Temperature: 15-21°C or 60-70°F
Support: None required
Tip: For tender, flavourful leaves, grow in partially shaded areas during warmer months.
Read about how you can grow leafy greens like leafy lettuce in an aquaponics system.
5. Swiss Chard – Colourful, Nutritious, and Quick to Grow
Swiss chard provides a long harvest window, with outer leaves ready in about 30 days. The plant will continue to grow and produce throughout the season, making it a resilient choice for survival gardens.
A great plant, filled with lots of iron and other vital nutrients, that if you harvest the outer leaves, you will get a huge harvest off a single plant.
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring to autumn
Temperature: 10-24°C or 50-75°F
Support: None required
Tip: Swiss chard is high in essential vitamins like A, C, and K, making it highly nutritious.
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6. Bok Choy – Fast-Growing Asian Green for Stir-Fries
Bok choy is quick to mature, with baby leaves ready for harvest in 30 days and full-sized heads in just a few weeks more. It's perfect for stir-fries and salads.
This is a favourite of mine to grow in my indoor aquaponics system, as I don't have to worry about the pests that attack it outdoors. It also means that I can grow it year-round inside.
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring and autumn
Temperature: 13-21°C or 55-70°F
Support: None required
Tip: Bok choy is nutrient-dense, packed with vitamins C and K.
7. Kale – Cold-Hardy and Packed with Nutrients
Kale is an excellent choice for survival gardens, known for its high nutritional value. Baby leaves are ready for harvest in 25-30 days, and you can pick leaves continuously as they grow.
Preferring cooler climates, again a favourite to grow indoors. Being a leafy green in aquaponics, it will grow faster than the soil gardens and isn’t prone to pest invasion if grown indoors.
Outdoors in aquaponics, it grows faster than soil, though we need to manage the pests that love to feast too.
Growing Needs:
Season: Spring and autumn
Temperature: 7-24°C or 45-75°F
Support: None required
Tip: Avoid picking the central growing point to ensure continuous leaf production.
8. Mustard Greens – Spicy, Fast-Growing Leafy Green
Mustard greens are fast-growing vegetables that are ideal for warmer temperatures. Ready in about 30 days, these greens add a spicy kick to salads and stir-fries.
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring to early summer
Temperature: 15-24°C or 60-75°F
Support: None required
Tip: Mustard greens are high in antioxidants and vitamins A and K.
9. Green Onions – Cut-and-Come-Again Crop for Continuous Harvest
Green onions are easy to grow and regrow from kitchen scraps, making them perfect for urban gardening. They mature in around 30 days and can be grown in either soil or water.
Super easy to grow in most areas.
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring and autumn
Temperature: 10-24°C or 50-75°F
Support: None required
Tip: Green onions are rich in vitamins A and C and can be harvested continuously.
10. Turnips – Dual-Purpose Root & Greens for Quick Harvest
Turnips provide both edible greens and roots. Harvest the greens in about 30 days and the roots in 30-60 days. They prefer cooler weather and do well in both raised beds and containers.
One thing I love about growing turnips is the rich leaves that grow. I tend to blanch and freeze these for soups later or add fresh to stir-fries. There is nothing like being able to use the whole plant for food.
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring and autumn
Temperature: 10-21°C or 50-70°F
Support: None required
Tip: Turnips are high in vitamin C and fibre, which are great for boosting immunity.
Learn More About Aquaponics and Fast Growing Food
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11. Arugula (or Rocket to the Aussies) – Peppery Greens Ready in Just 3 Weeks
Rocket/ Arugula adds a peppery bite to dishes and is one of the fastest-growing greens. It's ready to harvest in about 20-30 days and grows back year after year if left to reseed.
Very much a cold weather plant ~ though if you are growing indoors, say in your aquaponics system, this is a plant you can grow all year round in the cool indoors.
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring and autumn
Temperature: 7-18°C or 45-65°F
Support: None required
Tip: Rocket/ Arugula is packed with vitamins A and K, boosting bone health and vision.
12. Garden Cress – A Super-Speedy, Peppery Green for Any Space
One of the fastest-growing greens, garden cress matures in as little as two weeks. It's perfect for small spaces or indoor gardening.
This is a great addition to your salads and any smoothies if you are so inclined. A great way to get the extra vitamin boost that is easy to grow.
Note that there is a difference between garden cress and watercress ~ and don't put either in your aquaponics system, as the roots will take over your grow bed, clog your pipes and use most of the fertiliser quickly. It loves growing in water.
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring and autumn
Temperature: 10-21°C or 50-70°F
Support: None required
Tip: Garden cress is high in vitamin C and is perfect for immune support.
13. Radishes – The Fastest-Growing Survival Garden Staple
Radishes are extremely fast-growing, with a harvest time of just 3-4 weeks. They thrive in cooler weather and add a crisp, peppery flavour to salads.
Again, you can eat both the red radish as well as the leaves ~ but they are so nutritious and easy to grow.
This is one plant that I often have in my aquaponics system (yes, it grows well), as it is a fast-growing vegetable that gives great health benefits.
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring and autumn
Temperature: 10-18°C or 50-65°F
Support: None required
Tip: Radishes are an excellent source of vitamin C and potassium.
14. Fenugreek – A Unique, Fast-Growing Herb for Survival Gardens
Fenugreek is a unique, flavourful herb commonly used in Asian cooking. It's quick to grow, with leaves ready for harvest in about 20 days.
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Late spring to summer
Temperature: 21-29°C or 70-85°F
Support: None required
Tip: Fenugreek is high in iron, making it great for boosting red blood cell production.
15. Sunflower Shoots – Nutritious Microgreens Ready in Days
Sunflower shoots are a nutrient-dense, fast-growing crop. Harvest them once they have developed two leaves, usually within 12-14 days.
Great to eat the shoots or grow the sunflower plant and eat the sunflower seeds raw or cooked, or as a special treat, roast the head of the sunflower and eat it like corn on the cob. Yum!
Growing Tips and Needs:
Season: Spring and summer
Temperature: 15-24°C or 60-75°F
Support: None required
Tip: Sunflower shoots are packed with vitamins A, B, D, and E, offering a quick nutritional boost.
Get Sorted with a Survival Garden Using These Fast-Growing Vegetables
These fast-growing vegetables are perfect for a survival garden, providing nutritious food quickly during times of crisis.
Whether you're working with limited space or need rapid results, these crops can help ensure a reliable source of fresh produce in just a few weeks.
Check out My YouTube Channel 'Candy The Aquaponics Lady'
Aquaponics is an ecosystem, and with anything it takes time to learn how it works.
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
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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.