This post contains affiliate links, which means I will make a commission at no extra cost to you should you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Great Vegetable Garden Ideas? It’s sometimes recommended that you don’t try to grow vegetables that are readily available at your local supermarket. If a particular vegetable is inexpensive, you might want to skip growing it and just purchase it.
Of course, it can be difficult to find good quality in some types of vegetables, so if there is a big difference in quality, that could be a great reason for growing that type.
Ten Great Vegetable Garden Ideas
This is a list of things that are not only fairly easy for the backyard gardener to try, but are cost effective for growing yourself instead of just buying them at the store.
Tomatoes
Although technically a fruit, its savory nature leads to this little beauty being considered a vegetable by most people. Tomatoes found in stores are usually picked nearly green and then ripened artificially.
This is done to ensure they are tough enough to survive shipping without being smashed, and so they last longer on the shelves. Since tomato quality can be really poor in stores, this is a very good choice. Tomatoes are the most popular choice for vegetable gardeners, because they probably have the most noticeable difference over store bought.
We have talked a lot about tomatoes on this site - you can read more about what we had to say about tomatoes for yourself.
Lettuce
Although iceberg lettuce doesn’t vary that much from store to home, leaf lettuces and other fancy lettuces can taste much sweeter and crisper if grown at home. Plus, exotic lettuces can often be very expensive.
I have to tell you - there is nothing sweeter than that mix of greens right out of your own garden!
Peas
Peas can be very hard to find fresh. Canned peas are often mushy, and although frozen peas are certainly better than canned, they still pale in comparison to fresh peas. Tiny baby peas are sweet, delicate, and delicious, making them well worth the effort.
While I am not a fan of shelled peas and the work they take, I do love peapods in my Chinese food and topping my salads. The sweet crunch is delicious.
Carrots
Store-bought carrots are often woody, tough, and bitter. Even organic carrots often carry a strong bitterness caused by being kept at temperatures that are too cool for too long. Fresh carrots are generally very sweet and delicious.
This E-Z Carrot Salad Recipe is probably one of my favorites to whip up!
Vegetable Garden Ideas: Radishes
Radishes are cheap and easy to find in stores, but most store-bought radishes are already turning pithy. If you’ve ever bitten into a radish that was dry and spongy inside, you’ll understand how bad pithy radishes are. Fresh radishes are delightful!
I love these for garnish and being that perfect edible accent to a veggie tray. Radish roses are pretty easy to make and can be done in advance!
Greens
Although most greens are readily available in stores, they’re often yellowing and wilted by the time you buy them. By growing them yourself, you can be sure you have fresh greens when you want them.
While they are great on their own, we love adding them to pasta like in this recipe: Everything But the Kitchen Sink Pasta
Asparagus
Fresh asparagus is often ridiculously expensive, and canned asparagus is mushy and horrible! The only way to get affordable asparagus that isn’t mushy and bland is to grow it yourself.
It really adds a lot to any dish, like this Instant Pot Lemon Chicken Piccata And Asparagus!
Vegetable Garden Ideas: Peppers
Peppers in stores are often shriveled and pathetic. Plus, peppers that aren’t standard green peppers can often be very expensive. My local store has sold red peppers for as much as $2.99 each, which is crazy! Grow your own and save money.
You can have a lot of fun with these - like our take on stuffed peppers for Halloween: Creepy Stuffed Peppers Jack-O-Lantern Style. It also adds a lot of flavor to most meats that are cooked with them like Our Spicy Skillet Steak and Peppers.
Cucumbers
Store-bought cucumbers are often bitter and dry. If you’ve ever had a dried out, semi-hollow cucumber, you’ll understand the importance of growing your own!
While we love these just sliced and fresh out of the garden, they are awesome for pickles.
Refrigerator pickles are a great way to use the cucumbers and the onions from the garden. The refrigerator pickles are usually ready in under 24 hours, and although no canning is required, you can do so to lengthen its shelf life. Get your recipe of Easy Refrigerator Pickles here
Corn
Sweet corn is a delight to eat when it’s freshly picked. Corn is extremely sensitive to being off the stalk. Once it’s been off the stalk for 6 hours, it starts to deteriorate rapidly. You’ve never had corn until you’ve eaten it cooked fresh.
My hometown of Sun Prairie actually has an annual festival dedicated to this golden goodness!
Of course, these are just Vegetable Garden Ideas. No matter what vegetables you choose to plant, you will have an enjoyable time harvesting them and indulging in your fresh out of the garden flavors!