Because we’re all a little impatient when it comes to homegrown food.
Let’s be honest. We love gardening, but waiting 90 days for a tomato to ripen feels like watching paint dry during a heatwave. Sometimes, you just want to plant something and watch it grow like a weed (but, you know, a tasty one).
If you’re looking for veggies that actually hustle, this list is for you. Whether you’re feeding a family, planting in a small space, or just need a win fast, here are ten vegetables that grow crazy quick and still pull their weight in the kitchen.
1. Radishes (Ready in 20–30 Days)
The ultimate overachievers. You plant them, blink, and suddenly they’re ready. Radishes grow fast, don’t need much space, and are perfect for containers or rows between slower-growing crops. Bonus: the greens are edible too. Sauté them with garlic and olive oil and thank me later.
Best for: impatient gardeners, spring and fall planting
2. Arugula (Ready in 20–25 Days)
Arugula is like the spicy little rebel of the leafy greens world. It grows fast, especially in cooler temps, and adds serious flavor to salads, wraps, and homemade pizzas. Harvest baby leaves early or let it go a little wild for more bite.
Best for: small spaces, cut-and-come-again growing
3. Spinach (Ready in 30–40 Days)
Spinach is basically a multi-tasking machine. It grows fast, it’s loaded with nutrients, and it thrives in cooler weather. Plant a row in early spring or fall and harvest baby leaves in about three weeks. Keep picking, and it’ll keep giving.
Best for: salad lovers, smoothies, early season planting
4. Lettuce (Leaf Varieties) (Ready in 30 Days)
Forget waiting for a full head. Go for loose-leaf varieties like Black Seeded Simpson or Buttercrunch, and you’ll be snipping salad greens before you know it. Harvest outer leaves early and often, and they’ll keep growing.
Best for: beginner gardeners, raised beds, balcony pots
5. Green Onions (Ready in 20–30 Days)
Also called scallions, these guys are fast, flavorful, and don’t need much fuss. You can grow them from seed, or just stick the white ends of store-bought green onions into soil and watch them regrow like magic.
Best for: kitchen gardens, container growing, quick wins
6. Peas (Ready in 50–60 Days)
Okay, so technically not the fastest on this list, but hear me out: you can start harvesting pea shoots (those tender little tendrils) within 2–3 weeks. And when the pods do show up, they’re crisp, sweet, and worth every second.
Best for: vertical gardens, early spring growing, trellises
7. Bush Beans (Ready in 45–60 Days)
Beans are the quiet workhorses of the garden. Plant bush varieties and you’ll get a compact, fast-growing plant that produces handfuls of tender green beans. Plus, they fix nitrogen in your soil, which helps other crops grow better.
Best for: small gardens, succession planting
8. Zucchini (Ready in 45–50 Days)
Zucchini doesn’t just grow fast—it grows a lot. Once it starts producing, you’ll have more squash than you know what to do with (hint: chocolate zucchini bread). Just give it space, sun, and water.
Best for: high-yield gardens, meal prepping, preserving
9. Kale (Ready in 30–40 Days for Baby Leaves)
Kale’s got a reputation as a cold-weather crop, but it grows surprisingly fast in the spring and fall. Baby kale is tender enough for salads, and mature leaves are great for soups or sautéing. Keep harvesting and it’ll keep producing.
Best for: nutrient-dense greens, cut-and-come-again harvests
10. Turnips (Ready in 30–60 Days)
Turnips are underrated. The roots are mild and sweet when harvested young, and the greens are just as useful as collards or mustard greens. Plant them in early spring or late summer for quick results.
Best for: dual-purpose harvests (greens + roots), early season gardens
Pro Tips for Getting the Most Out of Fast Growers
- Succession Planting: Once one crop finishes, plant another. Keep that soil busy.
- Grow in Batches: Don’t plant all your lettuce at once—stagger plantings every 1–2 weeks for a continuous harvest.
- Harvest Early: Many vegetables (like spinach, kale, and lettuce) are tastier and tenderer when picked young.
- Good Soil = Speedy Growth: Fast growers love nutrient-rich soil. Compost is your friend.
Final Thoughts
Fast-growing vegetables aren’t just convenient—they’re satisfying. They’re the garden equivalent of a quick win, and when you’re trying to grow more of your own food, sometimes that’s exactly what you need. Pick a few from this list, get your hands dirty, and you’ll be harvesting before you know it.
And if you’re feeling extra adventurous? Try growing a few of these fast crops indoors during the off-season. Because garden joy doesn’t have to stop at the back door.
Start quick. Eat quicker.
