Although impatience isn’t the finest trait, there are certain vegetables out there that you grow pretty quick and harvest in less than 30 days!
Keep in mind, however, that growing times can vary based on factors like climate, soil quality, and growing conditions. The vegetables we’re going to discuss today are just generally known to give quick harvests.
Now, let’s get into it!
13 Fast-Growing Vegetables You Can Harvest In Under 30 Days
13) Radishes
Radishes are known to have a sharp, peppery flavor and are used in salads, stews, or as a garnish for other savory dishes.
They’re typically planted early in spring and only take 3-5 days to germinate. Baby radishes can be harvested in as little as 20-40 days whereas full-sized ones take up to 30-40 days.
12) Arugula
This mild, peppery leafy green is used in salads, sandwiches, and some other savory dishes that would benefit from a mustardy kick. Arugula can be planted in the fall and takes 5-7 days to germinate after sowing.
Harvest baby arugula leaves in 20-40 days and full-sized leaves after 30-40. They’re real easy to grow.
11) Spinach
Spinach is typically planted in late winter or early fall and is used to add an earthy, sweet flavor to savory dishes and smoothies.
Its seeds take about 5-9 days to germinate and baby spinach leaves are ready to harvest in 20-30 days. If you want bigger leaves, however, you may need to wait 10-15 days more.
10) Baby Kale
Baby kale has a similar flavor profile to regular kale and is typically consumed by people looking to lose weight and get healthy because it tastes… Not so pleasant.
Its seeds take 5-8 days to fully germinate and the miniature leafy green is ready to harvest in 25-30 days.
8) Mizuna
Mizuna looks somewhat similar to arugula but has a spicier flavor that adds a kick to stir-fries and tastes heavenly when paired with filling meaty dishes.
Its seeds take no longer than 4-8 days to germinate and baby mizuna leaves are ready to harvest in 20-25 days whereas full-sized ones may need another 15-20 days.
9) Lettuce
Lettuce seeds can be sown either in early spring or fall and typically take 7-10 days to germinate.
Baby leaves can be harvested in as little as 20-25 days whereas full-sized lettuce leaves may take up to 40-45 days to mature.
7) Mustard Greens
Mustard greens have this pungent, peppery taste but it’s surprisingly pleasant in cooked dishes. They’re planted early in spring and take only 3-5 days to germinate.
You can enjoy full-sized mustard greens in 20-25 days of planting.
6) Turnip Greens
I’ve only tasted turnip greens once and let’s just say I’ll probably never try them again. They have this bitter, earthy flavor that I can just never find pleasant.
Anyways, these greens take 3-5 days to germinate after sowing and can be harvested 20-25 days later. Larger leaves are ready to harvest in 30-40 days.
5) Bok Choy (Baby Size)
One area where baby bok choy takes the cake is its shape. Trust me, you’ll never find a more visually appealing vegetable in a stew or salad.
The good thing is that it takes only 5-7 days to germinate and can be harvested in no more than 20-30 days.
4) Watercress
A lot of people say watercress tastes similar to spinach but has slightly more peppery undertones; I say that’s true.
Typically planted around early to mid spring, this leafy vegetable grows baby leaves in as little as 20-25 days after 5-7 days of germination. If you want full-sized leaves, you’ll need to wait 40-60 days.
3) Microgreens
If you haven’t tried microgreens even after all the hype they’ve recently generated on social media, trust me, you haven’t missed out on anything. They taste…well…similar to grass.
These tiny vegetable greens take 2-4 days to germinate and are ready to harvest in only 10-14 days!
2) Green Onions
We all know what scallions taste like; I mean they’re quite literally the garnish for every savory dish you can think of. They’re grown in early spring and will take 7-10 days to germinate and be ready to harvest in about 25-30 days.
1) Tatsoi
Tatsoi is an extremely productive leafy vegetable that has an appearance similar to bok choy. It’s slightly spicy, mustardy, and quite delicious.
You can expect tatsoi leaves to germinate in 5-7 days and be ready to harvest in another 20-25 days.
Conclusion
Although patience offers the sweetest fruit, there’s nothing wrong with wanting quick results, especially when it’s in the garden.
Fast-growing vegetables keep you engaged with quick harvests as long as the crops are properly maintained.
If you have kids, planting these vegetables can be a fun and rewarding way to introduce them to gardening.
