13 Vegetables You Should Be Growing From Seed

Growing vegetables from seed can be a rewarding way to start your garden. It gives you control over what you plant and lets you enjoy fresh, homegrown produce. Whether you’re new to gardening or looking to expand, starting from seed offers a chance to learn and experiment.

You can save money, have a wider variety of plants, and enjoy the satisfaction of watching your vegetables grow from the very beginning. With the right choices, your garden can thrive and provide tasty, nutritious vegetables throughout the season.

Carrots

Fresh carrots with green leafy tops arranged on wooden cutting board, showing bright orange roots and thin root tips
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You should sow carrot seeds about two inches apart to give them space to grow. As the plants develop, thinning helps your carrots grow bigger and gives you tasty young greens to enjoy.

Interplanting radishes with your carrots can protect the fragile seedlings and improve growth. Carrots take time, but growing them from seed is simple and rewarding. For tips, check out growing carrots from seed.

Lettuce

You can start lettuce seeds indoors or directly in your garden. It grows quickly and is perfect for cut-and-come-again harvesting, so you get fresh leaves regularly.

Lettuce prefers cooler weather, making it great for early spring or fall planting. It also does well in containers if space is limited.

Growing your own lettuce means crisp, fresh greens ready for salads whenever you want. For more tips, check this lettuce growing advice.

Radishes

Colorful assortment of fresh radishes in white, red, pink, and purple varieties with thin roots and green leaves attached
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Radishes are one of the fastest vegetables you can grow from seed. You’ll see results in as little as four weeks, making them perfect for quick harvests.

They grow well in small spaces and cool weather. Plant them alongside broccoli or spinach to help your radishes thrive naturally.

Growing radishes is simple, and the crisp, mild roots are great in salads or snacks. Check out more tips on growing radishes from seed here.

Beets

Fresh beetroots with vibrant purple stems and green leafy tops arranged on dark slate surface, showing roots and bulbs
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You can start beets from seed easily and enjoy fresh roots all season. Sow them every few weeks to get a steady harvest.

Beets grow well with plants like cauliflower, which share similar growing needs. Make sure your soil is loose and well-drained for the best results.

For more tips on growing beets successfully, check out this guide on beet growing from seed to harvest.

Bush Beans

Soil-stained hands holding fresh harvest of vibrant purple bush beans against grassy background, showcasing freshly picked produce
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You’ll like growing bush beans because they don’t need support like climbing varieties. Just sow the seeds when the soil is warm and frost is gone.

They germinate quickly and grow fast, making them great for beginners. Plus, you can plant them directly in your garden without starting indoors. For tips, check out this guide on bush beans.

Snap Peas

Hand holding five fresh green snap peas against wooden deck background, showing glossy pods with stems
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Snap peas are easy to grow and perfect for beginners. You can start them indoors or sow seeds directly in your garden.

They need full sun and a trellis to climb for the best yield. Plant your seeds in well-drained soil and keep them moist but not soggy.

Growing snap peas from seed gives you fresh, crunchy pods to enjoy all season. For more tips, check out this guide on growing sugar snap peas.

Kale

Close-up of fresh kale plants growing outdoors, showing curly ruffled leaves with visible veins in bright sunlight
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You’ll find kale is a great vegetable to grow from seed because it’s hardy and easy to start indoors or directly in the garden. It thrives in cooler weather, making it perfect for early spring or fall planting.

Once established, your kale plants will provide you with fresh, nutritious leaves for months. Plus, you can harvest outer leaves continuously without harming the plant. Growing your own kale means you get to enjoy it at its freshest!

Cucumbers

Fresh green cucumbers piled together, showing bright skin and some yellow flower remnants at their ends
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You can start cucumbers by planting seeds directly into your garden once the frost risk is gone. Make sure your soil temperature is at least 65°F for the best results.

Direct sowing helps avoid root disturbance and encourages healthier growth. Cucumbers grow quickly and enjoy warm soil, so planting at the right time is key for a good harvest.

For more details on growing cucumbers, check out this guide on how to grow your own cucumbers.

Tomatoes

Bright red tomatoes clustered together, with green stems and calyxes visible on several fruits throughout the pile
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You should start tomatoes from seed in spring for the best results. They need warmth and plenty of light to thrive. Growing from seed gives you more variety options than buying seedlings.

Consider varieties like Italian Roma Bush if you want sauce-ready tomatoes. Tomatoes grow well alongside certain companion plants that can help improve their health and yield. See more about companion plants here.

Peppers


Colorful assortment of chili peppers in red, green, and yellow varieties piled together with stems attached
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Peppers are a great choice to start from seed because you get many varieties to try. You can grow sweet bell peppers or spicy types depending on your taste.

Give each plant enough space—usually about 9 plants fit in a 4′ x 4′ area. Start with extra seeds so you have enough healthy plants for your garden. For more tips, check out vegetable planting advice for peppers.

Eggplants

Young eggplants growing on plant with glossy purple fruit, green leaves, and small lavender flowers in sunlight
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You should start eggplant seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. This gives your plants a strong head start in a warm environment.

Once your tomato plants are set outside, you can transplant your eggplants a week or two later. Eggplants love warmth, so plant them when the soil is consistently warm.

Growing from seed lets you choose from many varieties, giving you more control over your harvest and flavors. For tips, you can check out growing eggplants advice.

Summer Squash

You can easily grow summer squash like zucchini and patty-pan from seed. Plant them in warm soil after the last frost for best results.

These plants grow quickly and produce plenty of squash throughout the season. Give them space to spread out and plenty of sunlight.

Starting summer squash from seed lets you try different varieties and enjoy fresh harvests all summer long. Learn more about growing summer squash from seed here.

Zucchini

You can start zucchini easily from seed once your soil warms up above 65℉ (18ºC). They love heat, so wait until the danger of frost has passed.

Plant a few seeds directly in your garden or in containers to get fresh zucchini all summer long. Make sure to give them plenty of space and good airflow by pruning leaves if needed.

For more tips, check out how to grow zucchini.

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