Quick Seed to Harvest Crops

Quick to harvest crops are not just great choices for impatient gardeners, but are ideal for in between seasons or simply for a constant rotation of plants to harvest all season.

Don’t let gaps in your garden go to weeds! Plan for quick growing edibles instead. There are several fast growing cool season vegetables that you can plant and harvest before warm season crops are even planted and again after they are harvested. Or if you grow these quick harvesting crops in containers you can have a constant rotation by moving containers into some shade through the heat of the season. Just plant a few seeds every week for a constant supply of produce.

Radishes

Seed to harvest for radishes is about 25 days, about the fastest growing vegetable. And so very easy to grow! Watch for the seedlings to sprout in just a few days. And don’t leave them grow too long or they will get woody and the flavor will be hot. Ideal growing temperature is 60-65 degrees.

Leafy Salad Greens

A great variety of leafy greens are very quick to harvest. Butter lettuce will be ready to harvest in about 50 days; Arugula in 40 days; Kale in 25 days; Swiss Chard in about 60 days; and Spinach in 30 to 40 days. Ideal growing temperature is 60-70 degrees.

Bok Choy

Chinese Cabbage, or Bok Choy, is a compact quick growing cabbage, harvested in 45-60 days. Don’t let it dry out and bolt. Bok Choy is pretty tolerant of temperature swings and will be content to grow in 55-70 degrees.

Carrots

Seed to harvest for finger sized carrots is about 50 days. Be careful not to purchase full size carrot varieties. Carrots are a warm season vegetable and will need warm soil temperatures to germinate but do grow best in cooler soil temperatures. Plan for these fill ins late season.

Broccoli Rabe

Also known as Rapini, it will harvest in 50-60 days. Be sure to harvest the small clusters just after they appear as they flower very quickly. Broccoli Rabe is content to grow in 40 to 75 degrees so you can plant both a spring and fall crop.

Turnip

Turnip and Rapini are relatives, and both are tolerant of the wide 40 to 75 degree range in temperature. Seed to harvest for turnip is 30 to 60 days. Plant in spring and in fall.

Bush Beans

Seed to harvest time for bush beans can vary by variety so look for quick to harvest at 50-60 days. Bush beans are a warm season vegetable so you can plant these when temperatures are from 65 to 85 degrees

Herbs

And don’t forget your cooking herbs! Several are quick harvesting and can be sown a few seeds a week for continuous harvesting. Try cilantro, parsley, chervil, even basil.

The best way to get good fast production is by planting in well prepared soil. Be sure your soil is loose and nutrient enriched by mixing in compost. Or, of course, in top quality potting soil for container crops.