Five Garden Plants That Are Perfect For Beginners

*This is a collaborative post on garden plants that are perfect for beginners

Maybe you’ve recently moved house and found yourself with a garden for the first time or perhaps you’re just looking for a new hobby. Either way, gardening is a great way to spend your time and can create an extra space at home for you to enjoy.

As a newbie gardener it isn’t always easy to know where to begin but here are five plants that are perfect for beginners to grow in their first garden

Garden plants that are perfect for beginners: Marigolds

Marigolds are bright, cheery flowers that will bring a wonderful splash of colour to any garden. They’re also great at attracting pollinators so ideal if you want to help save the bees!

Marigolds are half-hardy annuals that can be grown from seed or seedlings. You can sow your marigold seeds indoors in early spring and introduce them outside once the last of the frost has passed or plant them directly outside in late spring. Marigolds sown in early spring will bloom in early summer, and those sown later will flower later.

Marigolds thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and require minimal maintenance once planted. They’re also excellent ‘companion’ flowers, which means they can be planted alongside fruits and veggies to help deter pests with their strong scent.

Marigolds die off in autumn when the weather turns colder but you can use the seeds from your existing marigolds to propagate new seeds for next spring.

Zinnias

Zinnias are colourful annual flowers that come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are loved for their daisy-like appearance and long flowering season.

They thrive in hot, dry conditions, making them tolerant of drought and ideal for beginner gardeners who might forget the occasional water! Zinnias can fill gaps in flower beds or be grown in containers. If you like the idea of having cut flowers fresh from your garden inside your home, zinnias look lovely in vases.

To give your zinnias the best chance, avoid cool, shady areas in your garden and protect them from slugs, especially as seedlings.

Garden plants that are perfect for beginners: Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a popular choice for beginner gardeners because they’re relatively easy to grow and produce a bountiful harvest that can be used in all manner of dishes from salads to soups and stews.

Tomatoes can be started from seed indoors or bought as young plants and grown outdoors in pots or in the ground. They grow particularly well in a greenhouse but if you haven’t got space for a full one in your garden, don’t worry – the same effects can be achieved with a mini greenhouse on a patio or deck.

Tomato plants do require a little TLC. They need full sun, well-drained soil, and regular watering and feeding to thrive but the extra effort is worth it for the end result.

Another great thing about growing tomatoes at home is that there are so many varieties of tomato plant to choose from, including super-sweet cherry tomatoes, salad tomatoes and beefsteak varieties.

Basil

Basil is a fragrant herb that is easy to grow in containers or in the ground. It can be grown indoors or outdoors so is ideal for beginner gardeners who may only have a window box or patio to work with. 

Basil is very easy to care for – it just requires warmth, regular watering and protection from pests like slugs and snails. The great thing about basil is that the more you use it, the more it grows, so taking regular cuttings and harvesting its leaves not only encourages the plant to grow but also means you have a delicious herb that can be used to flavour pasta dishes or make pesto. You can also use it on salads or even to make ice cream!

Garden plants that are perfect for beginners: Lavender

Lavender is a shrub that’s well known for its pretty, fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage. It can be grown in pots or the ground, provided the soil is free-draining. Lavender loves the sun and is drought tolerant so it’s always better to under rather than overwater your lavender.

Avoid cool, damp, shady spots in your garden and opt for areas that get full sun. Lavender is very attractive to pollinators like bees and also comes with many benefits for humans too! It can be used in cooking, to soothe skin, ease stress and aid sleep.