Fastest Growing Vegetables

Succession planting allows you to use the same gardening space for different crops. In order for this to work, begin the growing season by planting quick growing vegetables. Once the fast growing vegetables mature, you can harvest them and plant the vegetables that take longer to mature. If the growing season is long enough, you can even plant another round of fast growing vegetables in time for a fall harvest.

Radishes are the fastest-growing vegetable. They grow so quickly that they work well when introducing children to gardening. They are ready for harvest 21 to 35 days after sowing the seeds. Children do not have a long, boring wait for the quick growing vegetables to mature. Plant radish seeds at 10-day intervals to enjoy a continual supply throughout the entire growing season. They prefer cool weather growing conditions and tolerate light shade. Harvest them when they are the size of a small grape during hot weather or they will turn bitter. Harvest them when they are slightly larger than a cherry during cool weather. Radish tolerates light frost.

Lettuce prefers cool weather conditions, so plant it early in the spring and late in the summer. The outer leaves are ready to harvest within four weeks of sowing the seeds. This quick growing vegetable prefers full sun and plenty of water. Fertilize lettuce with a fertilizer high in nitrogen. It can tolerate light shade and light frost.

Spinach is one of the fastest-growing vegetables. This cool weather loving plant is ready for harvest within four to six weeks of sowing the seeds. Harvest the oldest, largest leaves first. Sow spinach seeds under taller plants to extend the growing season. The plants bolt and go to seed once summer heat begins to set in and days get longer. Do not crowd the plants. Crowded plants tend to bolt regardless of weather conditions. Fertilize spinach often; it requires a lot of nitrogen. Spinach performs best in rich, well-drained moist soil. Spread mulch around young spinach plants to keep the soil moist. Sow spinach seeds early in spring and again in late summer for a fall harvest. Spinach tolerates light frost.

Turnips are one of the fastest-growing vegetables that turn bitter in hot weather. Turnip greens are ready for harvest approximately 40 days after sowing the seeds. Harvest a few greens at a time so the turnip root continues to develop. The roots take 60 days to mature. Harvest roots when they are approximately 3 inches wide. Plant this fast-growing vegetable early in spring. Provide loose, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Maintain a regular watering schedule to prevent the plants from bolting and going to seed. Plant this fast growing vegetable early in the spring and again late in the summer. They tolerate light frost and cold weather makes them sweeter.