7 Fast-Growing Vegetables You Can Plant Right Now

Cabbages

Lotte Berendsen, certified gardening expert for the PlantIn app, says sowing your cabbages now will give you a perfect summer crop to use in fresh salads. Depending on the variety, cabbage takes about 60 to 100 days to reach maturity.

“Cabbages prefer at least 6 hours of full sun and frequent watering,” Berendsen says. “Inconsistent watering will likely result in stunted and off-tasting leaves, so make sure to keep an eye on your veggie’s watering needs.”

Cabbage is also cold-hardy, so you can still grow it into the fall season if you get a late start planting it.

Sun Exposure: Full sun

USDA Zones: 2-11

Carrots

You can have carrots ready to harvest within 60 to 80 days of planting. However, baby carrots grow faster and can mature within 4 to 6 weeks. Berendsen says these veggies are incredibly easy to grow and maintain, and the taste of store-bought carrots does not compare to home grown.

“Growing your carrots in the right soil mix is essential,” Berendsen says. “Avoid soils that contain large rocks or are too dense, this will inhibit the formation and growth of your carrots and result in stunted crops,” She also recommends giving your carrots about 1 inch of water per week to provide them with the consistent moisture they require.

Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

USDA Zones: 2-11

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are another versatile, fast-growing vegetable you can plant right now. Depending on the type you grow, you can have a cucumber crop in 50 to 70 days. “In our opinion, cucumbers are indispensable for summer vegetable gardens,” Berendsen says. “These squashes offer many possibilities in the kitchen, and growing them at home is much easier than you may think.”

She recommends providing a trellis or other support for your cucumbers to climb up. This will allow the plant to obtain more sun and grow bigger and stronger fruits.

“Water your cucumbers to keep the soil moist, but avoid watering directly on the leaves,” Berendsen continues. “These are prone to powdery mildew, a fungal disease which occurs frequently for plants whose leaves are excessively wet.”

Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

USDA Zones: 2-11

Peas

Peas are one of the best fast-growing vegetables to plant if you’re a beginner gardener. They’re relatively low-maintenance, and most varieties can be ready to pick in 50 to 70 days. Berendsen says peas are easy to grow, not to mention incredibly nutritious, and absolutely delicious.

“Growing peas in your garden is definitely worth the effort,” she says. “Once growing, peas require very little watering and can often thrive off rainwater alone. Ensure they’re given a sunny position to ensure healthy and abundant growth.”

“If you want to ensure you can enjoy fresh peas throughout the summer, sow the seeds at 2-week intervals,” she continues. “This will provide a constant supply of delicious, healthy peas straight from your garden.”

Sun Exposure: Full sun (Can tolerate some shade in hot climates)

USDA Zones: 3-11

Beets

Beets are a fast-growing root vegetable, and their striking foliage can add visual appeal to your garden while they grow. Typically, their leaves are medium to dark green in color, but some types can have red or maroon foliage. Depending on conditions and variety, beets can be grown in 50 to 70 days.

“If you’re not a beet lover, try growing them at home,” Berendsen says. “We are sure you’ll change your mind. Beets are sweet, juicy, and full of powerful antioxidants. They can be added to salads raw, cooked for dinner, or even pickled.”

“Beets are very beginner-friendly, as they grow in almost all soil types and can withstand a variety of conditions,” she adds. “They’re also great to grow in containers, so if you have a balcony, consider growing these versatile veggies this year.”

Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

USDA Zones: 2-10

Eggplant

Eggplants require warm and tropical conditions to thrive, making early spring the perfect time to plant these veggies. You can also grow these very well in a greenhouse, as they love the warmth.

“To keep your eggplant crops happy, water the soil whenever it feels dry and encourage high humidity,” Berendsen says. “Misting can be helpful. Give the plant as much sun as it can get and regularly feed with a high-potassium fertilizer.”

Growing eggplant from transplants speeds up the process, and plants can reach maturity within 65 to 80 days. “Eggplants take a little more work to grow, but they make up for it in flavor and nutrients,” Berendsen encourages.

Sun Exposure: Full sun

USDA Zones: 5-12

Spinach

If you’re looking for a fast-growing vegetable that can be grown indoors or outdoors, then spinach is a great pick. Although growing conditions and care affect how fast the plant grows, in most cases, spinach can reach maturity within 45 to 50 days.

“Perhaps the king of the leafy greens, spinach is one of the most nutritious veggies on the planet,” Berendsen says. “This crop can be harvested as a cut-and-come-again veggie, meaning that you can continue to harvest fresh leaves while leaving the plant in the ground, producing more.”

She also informs that spinach does not appreciate heat and drought, so make sure you offer the plant some type of shade during the hottest parts of the afternoon. “In heat stress, spinach can wilt, and the leaves become limp and inedible. Keep the soil moist but the leaves dry. This helps to prevent possible mildew or other infections, which the crop is prone to,” she says.

Sun Exposure: Full sun and partial shade

USDA Zones: 3-9