Fast-Growing Veggies You Can Harvest in Under 1 Month

Gardening teaches patience and attention to detail, but I have to be honest with you, I have no patience and I hate waiting! Sometimes it’s nice to see quick results, especially when you’re getting started and need a little encouragement.

Luckily, not all vegetables require months to mature. Some grow so fast that you can harvest fresh produce in about 30 days. So, if you want to enjoy the fruits (or veggies, in this case) of your labor sooner rather than later, this article is for you.

Below you’ll find the vegetables that, out of everything I planted, have always been the quickest to grow.

Arugula

Arugula is a rapidly growing plant, and therefore a perfect choice if you’re among the gardeners who don’t want to wait long. In some cases, it can be ready to harvest in as little as 20 days.

Remember that arugula thrives in cool weather and partial shade. So, it’s best to plant its seeds during early fall or spring.

Another positive thing is that it doesn’t demand much room to grow. You can plant it in containers, raised beds, or even window boxes. To keep your garden producing, reseed every two weeks, and you’ll have a nonstop supply of delicious arugula.

Keep in mind that its taste can change based on its age. Young arugula leaves have a mild, peppery flavor that intensifies as they mature. I use my arugula in many recipes: inside salads, sandwiches, pasta, and on top of pizzas.

Radishes

Another super-fast garden grower is radish. In fact, some varieties can be ready to eat in just about 21 days. Like arugula, radishes are cool-season veggies. This means they thrive best in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate.

Besides maturing quickly, radishes are also low-maintenance. They prefer plenty of sunlight but can also tolerate partial shade. As long as the soil is loose and well-draining, you don’t have to worry much. Just make sure to place the seeds about an inch apart and water regularly.

Most people grow radishes for their crisp, peppery roots. However, many don’t know that the leafy tops are also edible and quite nutritious. In under a month, you’ll be enjoying flavorful results in salads, as snacks, or roasted.

Spinach

Spinach is so popular, I’ve seen it in vegetable gardens, and one reason it’s so well-loved is its rapid growth. If you love fresh greens and don’t like to wait, spinach can be ready in about 25 days.

As for the right timing to sow spinach, it’s early spring or fall as well. Primarily, this plant prefers full sun, but a bit of shade can help prevent it from bolting too quickly in warmer zones.

Spacing the seeds about two inches apart gives the plants room to thrive and prevents overcrowding, and it’s better to plant them in evenly moist, well-draining soil.

Like most of the leafy greens, you’ll have the choice to harvest baby leaves early for salads or let them grow a bit for cooking or making smoothies.

Lettuce

Oh, you’ll be pleased to know that the queen of leafy greens also grows in no time, of course, I’m talking about lettuce!

Some loose-leaf varieties can be ready to harvest in a matter of 25 to 30 days. This includes types like Red Salad Bowl and Buttercrunch, which offer tender, flavorful leaves.

Lettuce plants enjoy the cool weather and thrive during the spring and fall seasons. They prefer partial shade and don’t take up much space in the garden. As such, you can plant them in your garden’s raised beds or even in smaller containers on your patio.

For best results, sow the lettuce seed in well-draining soil and remember to keep it consistently moist. Moreover, try to keep the area weed-free to help the young plants grow strong and healthy.

Mustard Greens

Mustard greens are not as common in the average American diet as lettuce or spinach, but they are widely used in some cuisines, especially in Asian and African ones.

However, mustard greens seeds germinate very quickly. In the right conditions, you can start harvesting the tender baby leaves in just three weeks.

As another cool-season crop, mustard greens prefer the moderate weather of spring or fall and are very easy to plant. Just sow the seeds in loose, well-draining soil and watch these little sprouts take off.

If you’ve never tried it, mustard greens have a strong, peppery flavor and add a nice zesty kick to salads and sautés. Red Giant has striking purple foliage and a sharp taste similar to horseradish, while amara is known for having one of the mildest flavors among all the varieties.