Whether you’ve got a yard you can dig up, a simple raised bed, or just some containers, you might be surprised to know you can still grow a lot of your own food.

Even those of us without green thumbs can still grow some fruits and vegetables!

You’ll have to find out what agricultural zone you live in to assess the proper growing seasons (since they differ depending on your location), but even in the northernmost areas, many fruits and vegetables are still likely to grow for a short period.

Here are 20 plants you might want to give a try if you want to get into edible gardening this year:

1. Cucumbers

There are a variety of cucumbers that taste largely the same but are suited to different soils and temperatures (or even greenhouses).

If you’re growing them from seeds, they need a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate but generally start getting their roots under them in late spring and early summer. They’re also easy to grow from plants you get from the garden center.

Just make sure they have some vertical support so they can grow nice and round – then just let the sun and soil do its thing!

2. Kale

Kale just needs some space and full sun to thrive, but it’s a plant that can also tolerate frost, so you don’t have to worry about losing your crop during a cold snap.

You can even harvest the leaves individually when they’re about the size of your hand, so you can pick a salad every day if you plant a bunch!

It pops when you cook it, but is delicious when sauteed with some garlic. It also makes a great Caesar salad substitute.

3. Leeks

Whether you serve them creamed or sauteed, leeks are one of those delicious foods that people tend to miss out on simply because they’re not familiar with them.

If you’re curious, try growing a few if you have rich, moist soil and a space with at least partial sun.

4. Swiss chard

Swiss chard is so beautiful that you can even grow it as an ornamental. Just look at those stems!

Part of the beet family, they require well-drained soil and partial shade in the afternoons.

You can even twist the leaves off as they grow and they’ll grow right back!

5. Blueberries

Plant your blueberry seedlings in late fall so that they can establish some roots and go through a winter before your first harvest.

They’ll need an acidic, composted soil with a pH of 5 – 5.5, but the reward will be heading out to pick fresh berries in the sun in summer.

6. Spinach

Easy to grow from both seeds and plants, spinach needs good, high-nitrogen soil for maximum nutrient benefit.

As long as you keep your crop well-watered you can pick individual leaves for your daily greens and perhaps even get a whole new crop in the fall if you take good care of them.

7. Bell peppers

Eat them raw, dip ’em in hummus, or toss them in a stir-fry – bell peppers are the perfect summer crop.

In fact, most peppers are pretty easy to grow and the small ones can even be grown in a pot on your patio!

Bell peppers need lots of warmth to grow to their full potential, so mid-summer is your best bet to see them at their best.

8. Blackberries and raspberries

Both types of berries prefer soil with a pH of 6, so you’re likely to be able to grow them together.

Giving them a trellis to climb will keep them off the ground and some netting will keep the birds from feasting on your fruit.

9. Cabbage

There are lots of different types of cabbage, so do some research on what grows best in your area and when you want to be able to harvest it before you choose a specific type.

From coleslaw to stir fry, an open, sunny spot in your yard is the perfect place to try out this yummy, versitile plant.

10. Garlic

It’s a little more labor-intensive and garlic is fairly cheap at the store, so most people don’t bother to grow it, but there’s just something deliciously different about having fresh garlic!

A sunny spot with well-drained soil will keep these growing strong until it’s time to pull them up from underground.

11. Strawberries

From beds to boxes, you can grow strawberries in any number of places on your property, even if you don’t have a lot of space.

They need rich soil with lots of compost and many of them have adapted to grow best in sunlight (so double check), but the only real challenge is making sure they get some air circulating around them so dampness doesn’t lead to mold growth.

12. Tomatoes

There’s no one good way to grow tomatoes since there are nearly 10,000 varieties that you can grow from seeds or plants.

In general, some nutrient-rich soil (or potting soil if you’re keeping them contained), a trellis or cage to support their growth, and some watering and pruning when needed will get you started on your fresh tomato garden.

13. Zucchini and squashes

Well-drained soil, full sun, and not getting carried away with planting too many are the secrets to success with zucchini and other flowering squashes.

They’ll grow along the ground (unless you decide to string them up) and begin to take over if they’re given the right conditions, so this is one plant that requires pruning unless you REALLY like zucchini.

And the flowers are edible too!

14. Green onions

Not only can you grow green onions in your yard, but if you have no space at all, you can regrow them from the ones you buy at the store INSIDE your home in nothing but a bowl of clean water!

Most green onions meant to be grown outside are the non-bulbing type, so you can pull them out of rich soil easily, chop off the parts you need, and replant the roots for another round.

15. Romaine lettuce

This is another vegetable that you can grow from scraps, either from your garden or the grocery store.

If you’re planting it outside, it takes about 50 days to grow to maturity, but if you have well-drained soil you can even grow lettuces in a pot on your porch.

16. Onions

Full sun and well-drained soil deep enough to hold the bulb are the foundations of good onion growing.

You can also harvest young onions as scallions!

17. Carrots

You’ll need to have a deep spot to grow carrots unless you like them small and stubby.

All the hard work occurs before planting since you want to make sure the veggies grow unobstructed by rocks or anything else lurking deep in your soil.

You’ll also need good compost to imbue them with the vitamins and minerals you need and to ward off pests.

But once they are growing, you can just pull them and enjoy!

18. Peas

No matter what kind of peas you plant you’ll need well-drained soil and full sun to get your greens.

You’ll also need to support them with some sort of trellis so they can climb – but that only makes them look more decorative!

19. Radishes

A place that gets afternoon shade and just about any soil with good enough drainage will do if you want to grow radishes.

The only trick is to harvest them when the roots are the size of a quarter for the best flavor.

20. Grapes

There’s no need to plant a vineyard unless you’re going to undertake the massive task of winemaking.

But plucking grapes off the vine in late summer and popping them into your mouth is just as fun – and they truly make for a beautiful garden.

Any well-drained soil will do as long as you plant them in a sunny position and cover them up during cold snaps.

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Source: GrowVeg
H/t Buzzfeed, Garden Tech,