Is there a fool-proof veg?

[veggiechicken]

Imagine a new member joins who has never grown a vegetable in their life before and they ask the Vine for suggestions on what to grow first.

You need to suggest something which is easy to grow, doesn't suffer with pests or diseases and doesn't need a greenhouse or any special equipment.

What would you recommend that will be a success and won't put them off growing veg for the rest of their life?

[nickdub]

mustard and cress - you don't even need a garden, and you can eat your crop in a boiled egg sandwich.

[mrbadexample]

Nothing more bombproof than rhubarb.

But if you want a non-fruity vegetable, then radishes. Easy, quick, unlikely to get diseased, and you only need to rinse the mud off and they're ready.

[bramble]

Well. I don't think there is any veg that is totally disease proof but, if I had to recommend anything it would be first early potatoes..
Just dig a hole, drop a potato in and wait the required amount of time, e.g., 12 to 14 weeks and you have a crop without any effort.

[Chestnut]

I would suggest growing a few different crops. Few diseases affect multiple plant groups, and a mixture means weather conditions are bound to suit at least one crop....
Spuds, runner beans, beetroot, courgettes, peas, salad leaves, rhubarb and autumn raspberries would be my choices. Raspberries need netting, but taste yummy!

[rary]

I would suggest growing chard, can be used as a salad leaf when young, when it grows a bit the stems can be used in stir fry and leaf steamed ad a veg.

[veggiechicken]

Nothing more bombproof than rhubarb.

But if you want a non-fruity vegetable, then radishes. Easy, quick, unlikely to get diseased, and you only need to rinse the mud off and they're ready.

I agree with rhubarb.
...........but radish??
Its funny how the books say radish are easy - but, when put to the test, there were few people who agreed. Only Potty, I think, who gives some good advice in this thread. https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...5-a_83072.html

I found out some of the reasons why I had problems. Sowing seeds too close together, not watering enough and, very importantly, not picking them soon enough, before they became tough and woody.

[mrbadexample]

I agree with rhubarb.
...........but radish??
Its funny how the books say radish are easy - but, when put to the test, there were few people who agreed. Only Potty, I think, who gives some good advice in this thread. https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...5-a_83072.html

I found out some of the reasons why I had problems. Sowing seeds too close together, not watering enough and, very importantly, not picking them soon enough, before they became tough and woody.

Reading that thread makes me think you've overcomplicated things. Once I've planted my spuds I sprinkle radish seed over the bed, water and wait. Some fail, of course, but I always get radishes.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Peashoots for me!

Sow in a pot of compost indoors (preferably light and cool), then snip them off at about 6" to add to salad or as a garnish. Now, you aren't going to get fat on them, but it is a delightful taste of summer, even when it is cold and grey outside.

[Feral007]

Rainbow chard (because some colours grow better in different climates - red is the best here) and red russian kale.
I did find radish impossibly easy....but murphy's law of gardening - I discovered I dislike radish, a lot.

[Nannysally99]

First early spuds for me

[Small pumpkin]

I'd probably adivse they grow what ever they liked best. None of it's rocket science and none of it fool proof . As long as they didn't start with cauliflower we all know those things are impossible to grow

[Philthy]

I'd love to be able to grow radish. The slugs however have other ideas.

My suggestion would be herbs, either a pot on a balcony or next to a back door, or on a smaller scale just on the kitchen windowsill. Buy plants from pretty much anywhere, pot up and water now and again, that's about it. Thyme gets woody after awhile, borage can get quite big, but things like rosemary grow much more slowly. Basil, chives, any soft leaves really would suit I think. And everyone uses herbs to some degree.

[Snoop Puss]

Dwarf French beans. Sow them late enough (meaning when it's warm enough) and you can't fail. Keep picking and they'll keep on coming. Plus, fresh French beans are quite expensive to buy.

Courgettes. Sow them late enough and you're pretty well guaranteed a harvest.

I was going to say radishes, but flea beetle can be a problem.

[Jimny14]

Well as above really, no point growing what you don't eat, early spuds beetroot and courgette tends to do well here, we found carrots easy in bags made up with v sandy soil (we're on heavy stony clay), then there's rhubarb which just does its own thing and black currants too have been pretty self sufficient. Probably the best thing to do to find suitable crops would be to talk to someone v local who's been growing for years for decent variety advice.