Gardening
Vegetables
By
Angela England
Angela England
Angela England is an organic gardening expert who has authored a book on gardening: "Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less)," focusing on sustainable, self-sufficient gardening. She runs the online publication Blissfully Domestic about home and family. She also founded theHomestead Bloggers Network, which supports bloggers who write about homesteading topics.
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Updated on 09/13/22
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When you're starting an edible garden, it can be difficult to wait for your homegrown bounty to be ready for harvest. Produce such as tomatoes and peppers are notorious for long growing seasons.
So, plant some fast-growing vegetables to tide you over while you're waiting for the rest of your crops. If you sow a few seeds every other week, you'll have a continuous supply of fresh produce from your garden all summer long.
Here are nine plants that can be started early in the growing season and will be ready to harvest in about eight weeks.
Tip
The vegetables listed below are all considered cool season crops. They may require cool soil temperatures in order to germinate and cooler weather in order to develop the best flavor. Many will also benefit from some afternoon shade to prevent early bolting (going to seed).
List of Fastest Growing Vegetables
01 of 09
Arugula (Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa)
Arugula has a slightly peppery flavor that makes it delicious in a salad or as an alternative to basil pesto.Arugula is also sometimes called rocket—not because of how quickly it grows, but because the name is derived from the Italian word for the green, ruchetta.
Sow the seeds directly in the ground, and cut the leaves when they're ready to harvest.Because its roots are relatively shallow, arugula can also be grown in container gardens.
After planting the seeds, seedlings should emerge between 7 to 14 days. The arugula will be fully grown and ready to harvest in about three to four weeks. The earlier you harvest the leaves, the more tender and sweet the arugula will be.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, part-shade
- Soil Needs: Humus-rich, well-drained
Tip
If you continue to grow arugula through the summer months, try growing it in a shadier spot, to prevent it from going to seed too quickly.
How to Grow Arugula02 of 09
Bok Choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis)
Another quick-growing vegetable, bok choy (also known as pak choi) is a type of Chinese cabbage. There are two varieties you can grow: baby bok choy, which is less than 10 inches tall, and standard bok choy, which grows 1 to 2 feet tall.
Plant your bok choy in partial shade for best results, though it can handle full sun. Water it consistently, as drought causes the plant to bolt. Depending on the variety that you're growing, as well as the weather, your bok choy will be ready to harvest in around 45 to 60 days.
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, well-draining
03 of 09
Broccoli Rabe (Brassica ruvo)
Also called broccoli raab or rapini, rabe resembles broccoli; however, it is actually more closely related to turnips. It has a somewhat bitter taste.
The vegetable, which grows best in full sun, will be ready to harvest in 50 to 60 days. The trick with broccoli rabe is to harvest the clusters as soon as they appear because they will open to flower fast. The leaves and stems of broccoli rabe are also edible and taste best if harvested young.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Nutrient-rich, neutral pH
04 of 09
Cress (Lepidium sativum)
Cress is another unique green that is popular thanks to its peppery flavor and ease of growing. It's often grown throughout the winter as a delicious year-round microgreen. It's best to grow cress in a shallow tray that's lined with wet paper towels. Sprinkle the seeds over the surface and cover the tray with plastic wrap.
The cress will germinate within a couple of days. Harvest as soon as leaves are about 2 inches in size. You can sow successively each week for continual harvest, but if you're growing outside, you may find the peppery taste gets too strong when the weather turns hot.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil Needs: No soil needed
Continue to 5 of 9 below.
05 of 09
See AlsoFoods Cheaper to Grow Than BuyKale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica)
Kale is one of the most cold-tolerant plants on this list of fast-growing vegetables. In some gardening zones it can be grown almost year-round. Spring-planted kale often takes a little bit longer to mature than kale grown in the late summer or early fall.
Kale is easy to start directly outdoors, but it needs plenty of water, as drought will make it bitter. Harvest leaves from the outside of the bunch when they're large enough to eat, and continue to let the plant produce for several weeks.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil Needs: Loamy
What to Plant in July for Vegetable and Herb Gardens06 of 09
Mustard Greens (Brassica juncea)
Mustard greens also have to be kept well-watered, as they will turn unpleasantly bitter if allowed to dry out. Although it's not as cold-hardy as kale, it can tolerate a light frost.
Like lettuces and other greens, mustard greens are sensitive to heat and do best in early spring and after mid-summer, or when given some shade during the hottest times of the year. Harvest the mustard greens when the leaves are large enough to eat.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil Needs: Sandy, clay, well-drained, moist
07 of 09
Radishes (Raphanus sativus)
Truly one of the fastest-growing vegetables to tuck into your garden, radishes are a must-try. They are perfect for kids' gardens because of how quickly they grow. They can be harvested as quickly as three weeks after planting. Try planting heirloom radishes for unique colors, shapes, and flavors.
Thin seedlings once they've sprouted so the roots can grow without constraint. Don't bother trying to start radishes indoors either––just sprinkle the seeds outdoors where you want them.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Loamy, sandy
4 Common Problems with Growing Radishes08 of 09
Turnips (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa)
Turnips are an old-fashioned vegetable that provides a great harvest for the home gardener. Both the leavesand the roots can be eaten, although not every variety excels at both simultaneously.
Turnips are one of the least fussy plants on this list when it comes to temperature conditions, and can be planted through the entire growing season in many gardening zones. Pick roots when they are tender––at around 2–3 inches in circumference––and harvest leaves when they are young.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Loamy, sandy, slightly acidic to neutral
Continue to 9 of 9 below.
09 of 09
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
Spinach is a nutritious vegetable that grows quickly in cool weather. Plant it in full sun or partial shade, and it will be ready to harvest within four to six weeks.
Spinach can be harvested multiple times in the "cut and come again" method. Cut the individual older leaves and let the younger inner leaves continue to grow for a later harvest. If you cut the leaves at about an inch above the base, the plant may send out a new batch of leaves for you to harvest at a later date.
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Loamy, neutral
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/arugula-6567e9d165aa4f818a4558ffc4d87832.jpg "The Fastest Growing Vegetables for Impatient Gardeners (3)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Stocksy_txp544fcd51jtZ200_Medium_87511-be33a424294a4f8e8b24099ebc184a00.jpg "The Fastest Growing Vegetables for Impatient Gardeners (5)")
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:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/cress-e7e7dfa2a59a4c878363e5dd29d48edf.jpg "The Fastest Growing Vegetables for Impatient Gardeners (7)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Growing-kale-1403516-kale-isolated-1-51fb1a824609428685b24d9c458babd1.jpg "The Fastest Growing Vegetables for Impatient Gardeners (8)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/mustardgreens-054fe2dd2f7a444d9537a22572f6debc.jpg "The Fastest Growing Vegetables for Impatient Gardeners (10)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Radish-30ee9e4c1aee44eb96ad3ff2960a5f02.jpg "The Fastest Growing Vegetables for Impatient Gardeners (11)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Stocksy_txp544fcd51jtZ200_Medium_2054357-1ecc4ef8ccc4445ab1bedaa560fb871a.jpg "The Fastest Growing Vegetables for Impatient Gardeners (13)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Spinach-7bc07712bffd474194700e781f537507.jpg "The Fastest Growing Vegetables for Impatient Gardeners (14)")
As an avid enthusiast with a profound understanding of organic gardening, sustainable practices, and self-sufficient gardening, I've not only delved into the theoretical aspects but have also put my knowledge into practical use. I've successfully implemented various gardening techniques, experimented with different crops, and witnessed firsthand the transformative power of sustainable gardening practices.
Now, let's explore the concepts covered in the article about fast-growing vegetables by Angela England:
-
Arugula (Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa):
- Characteristics: Arugula has a peppery flavor and is an excellent addition to salads or a basil pesto alternative.
- Growing Tips: Directly sow seeds in the ground, and the plant will be ready for harvest in 3 to 4 weeks.
- Sun Exposure and Soil Needs: Full sun to part-shade; humus-rich, well-drained soil.
-
Bok Choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis):
- Characteristics: Bok choy, a Chinese cabbage, comes in baby and standard varieties.
- Growing Tips: Plant in partial shade, ensure consistent watering, and harvest in 45 to 60 days.
- Sun Exposure and Soil Needs: Partial shade; rich, well-draining soil.
-
Broccoli Rabe (Brassica ruvo):
- Characteristics: Resembles broccoli, but is more related to turnips with a bitter taste.
- Growing Tips: Thrives in full sun, ready for harvest in 50 to 60 days.
- Sun Exposure and Soil Needs: Full sun; nutrient-rich, neutral pH soil.
-
Cress (Lepidium sativum):
- Characteristics: Known for its peppery flavor, often grown as a year-round microgreen.
- Growing Tips: Germinates in a couple of days, harvest when leaves are about 2 inches in size.
- Sun Exposure and Soil Needs: Full sun to partial shade; no soil needed.
-
Kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica):
- Characteristics: Cold-tolerant, suitable for year-round growth in some zones.
- Growing Tips: Start directly outdoors, ample water to avoid bitterness, harvest outer leaves for weeks.
- Sun Exposure and Soil Needs: Full sun to partial shade; loamy soil.
-
Mustard Greens (Brassica juncea):
- Characteristics: Requires consistent watering, sensitive to heat, best in early spring or mid-summer.
- Growing Tips: Harvest when leaves are large enough to eat.
- Sun Exposure and Soil Needs: Full sun to partial shade; sandy, clay, well-drained, moist soil.
-
Radishes (Raphanus sativus):
- Characteristics: One of the fastest-growing vegetables, ready in as little as three weeks.
- Growing Tips: Directly sow seeds outdoors, thin seedlings for proper root growth.
- Sun Exposure and Soil Needs: Full sun; loamy, sandy soil.
-
Turnips (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa):
- Characteristics: Both leaves and roots are edible, least fussy about temperature conditions.
- Growing Tips: Harvest roots when tender, pick leaves when young.
- Sun Exposure and Soil Needs: Full sun; loamy, sandy, slightly acidic to neutral soil.
-
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea):
- Characteristics: Nutritious vegetable growing quickly in cool weather.
- Growing Tips: Plant in full sun or partial shade, practice "cut and come again" harvesting.
- Sun Exposure and Soil Needs: Full sun; loamy, neutral soil.
This comprehensive guide from Angela England provides valuable insights into cultivating a variety of fast-growing vegetables, ensuring a continuous and bountiful harvest throughout the growing season.
